"It's not really (about getting him to) elevate… we were just talking about it this morning," Shula said. "We don't want him to put any extra pressure on himself, just like we talked about with [Kobie Turner](/team/players-roster/kobie-turner/) last year. You don't got to replace (former Rams defensive lineman) Aaron Donald. You don't have to do anything else — just be the best version of yourself. That's all we're challenging him to do is understand his ops (opportunities) within the scheme of the defense, which we started to do in the middle of the season last year, and to just be himself. We're not looking for any stats, not looking for anything — just want him to play hard and be his best self every single day."
"I don't really feel too much pressure," Verse said. "If I am who I am and I take the strides that are needed to be taken, I'm going to be the best version of me and I'm going to be able to help the team in any facet that they need."
One of the traits that Verse who he is is the amount of talking he does – in-game or during practice against his own teammates. He has carried that over into challenging a franchise legend in the weight room.
During that same appearance on Schefter's podcast earlier this week, Verse said he saw Donald's "little Instagram posts" and challenged him to a work out. "He's not ready for that," Verse said on the podcast.
It got back to Donald, who responded Wednesday by challenging Verse to an "old man workout" at his Los Angeles home. Verse answered telling Donald, "all I need is a date and time," and upping the stakes further by telling Donald that if he gets through the old man workout, Donald has to come to the Rams' facility to get a "young man workout" in.