49ers vs. Rams: 5 vital matchups to watch in Week 4 on Monday night
By Peter Panacy
49ers vs. Rams matchup No. 2: Aaron Donald vs. Colton McKivitz
There are reasons to believe the first three matchups listed actually favor the 49ers in one way or another.
This isn’t the case when looking at what the Rams will likely want to do with perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald against a banged-up Niners offensive line, a unit that just lost All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams for the next few weeks with a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 3.
San Francisco will ask third-year reserve lineman Colton McKivitz to fill in for Williams. And while it’s possible the 49ers could turn to a player who seemingly has given Donald fits over the last three seasons, Daniel Brunskill, Brunskill himself is just making his way back from injury and might be needed at center instead of at tackle.
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Either way, one can expect LA to fully exploit this lopsided matchup in the best way possible, perhaps lining Donald up over the left tackle spot.
Unsurprisingly, Donald is already off to another hot start with two sacks, three tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits over the first three weeks of the season.
Even as just a pocket-wrecking force, Donald is going to make a substantial impact during the game, and the key factor will be whether or not McKivitz and Co. can absorb as much as possible.