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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – The Green Bay Packers turned to defensive lineman rookie James Looney to get ready to face Los Angeles star defensive star tackle Aaron Donald.
Other than sharing jersey No. 99, Looney and Donald have little in common. Looney was one of Green Bay's seventh-round draft picks this year, Donald, meanwhile, is the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year and leads the NFL with eight sacks.
Still, Looney made for a solid Donald stand-in for the Packers this week.
"I think Looney actually did a good job at this Donald trying to emulate," said Taylor Lane's left guard, "and being that elusive, athletic, active kind of guy for us."
At 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds, Donald is equal parts of speed and strength, tenaciousness and technique. The Rams' first-round pick in 2014, his 4.68-second time in the 40-yard dash before that draft is tied for the best for any defensive lineman in the history of the NFL combines.
That speed is almost impossible to mimic on the practice field. Aim, Looney's 4.89 time was among the fastest for an interior defensive lineman at this year's combines.
"I think the biggest thing is you've gotten a full day," Corey Linsley said. "Looney was in there and heck of a job. He put in a good work week. He did a hell of a job. Kudos to him. "
No matter how to prepare for the week, Donald has been a terror.
After posting 11 sacks and five-forced fumbles last season, he had four sacks in last week's rout of San Francisco, the most by any player in the league this season. Rams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips moves him up and down the defensive line. Against the 49ers, he had defensive end, defensive tackle and right defensive tackle.
"He's unique, there's no doubt about it," coach Packers Mike McCarthy said. "He has the whole deal. He's so powerful and quick. What he is able to do in phone-booth football is the challenge. He's got great power (and) quickness, and he's obviously very much in tune with what other guy is doing. I think he has very good instincts and awareness, and his anticipation is very high. "
Green Bay has struggled to protect the quarterback this season. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 19 times in six games and has won No. 23 in sack percentage. Donald, a Pro Bowler following each of his four seasons, will provide a major challenge for the linemen, quarterback and coaches.
Coming off their bye week, Donald has been at the forefront of the coaches' thoughts on Green Bay enters a challenge to five-game stretch against the Rams, Patriots, Dolphins, Seahawks and Vikings – teams with a combined record of 23-10- 1.
"We have given a lot of thought to every single one of us," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "We want to know where 99 is. We want to know how we are going to handle 99. "
So does every offense, but Donald has sacked a lot of game plans in his four-plus seasons.
"You've got to be aware of where he's at," Rodgers said. "He's one of the most dominant players that the league has seen in a number of years. . He's a threat inside. You've got to find a way to get along, get him down and get him some different looks. "
NOTES: The Packers are relatively healthy coming off their bye-week break. Rodgers is off the shoulder report, Geronimo Allison (hamstring) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (snout). Receiver Randall Cobb (hamstring) is questionable but fully participated in practice. Cobb missed the last three games, while Allison and Alexander missed the last two. … After practice, the team left for Los Angeles.
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