Donald
- Thread starter DiehardPanther
- Start date
He is even better than I thought he would be. I saw some film last week of him shedding double team blocks and making the tackle by himself right at or before the line of scrimmage. He is the complete package. Strong enough to shed double teams or quick enough to penetrate before they engage him and his ability to get to the QB is as good or better than any interior lineman who has ever played. The next sure fire Pitt Hall-of-famer, after Fitz of course!
"Awesome" is a word used a little too much today... but he is deserving.
Hopefully the Rams can make the big game, and he can dominate on the biggest stage. Really, that's the only thing I'm remotely following the playoffs now for.
Hopefully the Rams can make the big game, and he can dominate on the biggest stage. Really, that's the only thing I'm remotely following the playoffs now for.
Awesome Hall of Fame player who played on 6-6 teams when he was here.. Story of Pitts life right there
Donald does things on a consistent basis that you don't see any other defensive lineman doing. Truly dominant and hopefully has two more wins left in him this season.
He's close to a HoF lock right now. He's one of 3 players to win consecutive DPOYs (LT and Watt); he is a 4 time 1st Team All Pro (the most ever in the modern era for a defensive player is 8, Donald could easily get 2-3 more); most single-season sacks by a DT; he's on his way to most sacks all-time by a DT. He's incredible.
I agree. It sounds insane as some others have stated. Only a 5-year career and under my scenario, I also think he'd be a lock if he decided to retire in March. He won Def POY twice and finished 2nd twice and was ROY the other year.
Gale Sayers is another player that I thought of when I asked the question. He only played 5 years and was an easy selection. 5 years seems to be the line to gain. However the other players in the HoF with 5 years had careers cut short due to injury or military service. The committee might be inclined to snub someone who just quit unless they would use the concussions excuse. This is all purely hypothetical though.
Tons of players are in the HoF with only 9 year careers including many of the All-Time greats.
"Lock" was probably too strong but he's been awesome. Unlike Shady who I think is on the outside looking in right now, I think that he'll be an absolute lock with as few as 2 more All-Pro seasons. He might be the most dominant player since Jim Brown.
Yes, this is a better way of putting it. He's probably 50/50 to get in if he retires today. If he gets a third DPOY next year, it's over - he's tied with the most all time.
A fifth 1st Team All Pro would give him as many as guys like Jack Youngblood, Deacon Jones, Ed Reed, Butkus, and Derrick Brooks.
A sixth is as many as Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott, Alan Page, and Jack Lambert.
There are fewer than 25 guys in NFL history that have 7+ First Team All Pro.
The NFL will do another All-Decade team in January 2020 and he's sure to be on it despite only playing for 60% of the decade. That's another check-mark.
So you can see why people are talking about him as one of the best ever.
My favorite aspect about AD is the fact that he got paid and continues to keep his mouth shut, work hard and dominate. He will go down as one of the greatezt to ever play the game. His family is proud.
I only saw one game of his this year. First defensive series, he was a step away from a tackle on every play as the other team went right down the field and scored a TD. His only impact was getting into scuffles after the whistle including a huge fight after the X-point where he fought the entire other team and should've been tossed. Next drive he was actually benched! After a TV timeout, the announcers revealed why Donald went nuts. They showed iso replays of the first drive. He was getting held, tripped, and even horsecollered on every play including getting chop blocked as he was getting ready to block the XP. The Rams sat him to cool him off. After showing the replays, the Rsms O promptly turned the ball over inside their own 20. In goes Donald.
1st Down: Donald tackle for loss.
2nd Down: Donald sack.
3rd Down: Donald sack.
4th Down: Donald blocked FGA.
1st Down: Donald tackle for loss.
2nd Down: Donald sack.
3rd Down: Donald sack.
4th Down: Donald blocked FGA.
Yeah. It has to be frustrating to be a dominant defensive player in an offensive league. They do call a lot of holding penalties (seemingly), but only to manipulate game flow and even things out at times. They'll usually willingly, even happily allow a really dominant guy to be thwarted, to help the offense, or nudge a favored team along (in many ways the officiating might be the most interesting thing to see in the games tomorrow; how biased and for whom? I think Mahomes is hot so they'll help the Chiefs as much as reasonable; possibly LA too for that large market; so maybe Donald will be given freedom, but it would likely be favored for LAs offense, no so much defense).
Donald (and others) could probably be actually far more dominant than they are if honest blocking was actually and consistently w enforced).
The most dominant player since Jim Brown? History didn’t start yesterday. Here are the sacks totals from age 24-32 for Reggie White: 13,18,21,18,11,14,15,14,13. At age 37 he registered 16 sacks. Lawrence Taylor had 182 sacks in 184 games. Donald has 59.5 in 78 games.
Donald is undeniably a great player, but he has a LOOONG way to go to get into the conversation of being the GOAT.
White and Taylor were great as well but I give Donald the edge over Taylor because LT was more one dimensional. White is pretty close. I wouldn't scoff at White having been more dominant. Donald is DT. Grading him against those other 2 based on sacks is real stupid.
Agreed. Here are White’s tackle totals in the same time period: 100,98,76,133,123,83,100,81,79. Donald has never had more than 69 tackles in a season in his career. Comparing the players is stupid. Donald would have to raise his level and then do it for the next 10 years to be included in the conversation.
I think Shady, now 25th all-time with 10,600 yards needs another 1,600 yards and then he’s a lock. They are not going to keep the 12th, or 13th, leading rusher out of the HoF. He needs just over 2,100 to get to Dorsett in 10th.
Leverage like nobody else to ever play the position. Strength, explosion, leverage, aggression, competitive drive, technique. He has ‘em all in spades-the perfect specimen.
Imo, ad doesn't use leverage in a conventional way. Say the way James Harrison, Casey Hampton, or even a Warren Sapp. AD often is high out of his stance. But, he understands how to get skinny at times especially on down blocks or scoop blocks. He also knows how to manipulate force with different hand and arm techniques. His eye and hand coordination completely flows with his lower body - that is his rarest skill imo. That is hard to master. He plays DL like a great linebacker does at the 2ND level. His instincts are extremely rare.
He does struggle at times (not often) vs playside gap runs. He eats up zone runs because he's too quick.
I'm very interested to see how the rams inside game matches up vs the patriots inside run.
You can't compare an interior guy to a DE. It's just so much easier to double-team them and they never get a matchup with the weakest player on the OL (a TE).
The thing with Reggie is he did play all along the DL.
DT is easier to be doubled in the run game but not in the pass game per se.
If you're in an under front or bear front it's very hard to double a 3 Tech.
Reggie is still by far the most complete DL to ever play. It's not even close.
White was an interior guy. He is still probably the best interior DL ever. AD is young, has a ton of football left to play, and is making a strong case though.
that said, the game has changed as well. Reggie played in the dropback days when pass plays took a little longer to develop and QBs were less mobile and held the ball longer.
Taylor was an OLB and edge rushing specialist, the best one there ever was--but not comparable to an interior DL.
TBH, I think ad plays his position the way LT played his. AD doesn't play like a traditional DT.
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Cant compare him to LT,LT played outside. Reggie White would be a better comparison and Aaron, if he continues the way he is playing, will be right there. O lineman are allowed a lot more leeway with arms outside their bodies now(holding) than when the other 2 played.
During White's time teams ran the ball 60-65% of the time (more tackles by interior lineman). Longer pass routes so more time in the pocket equal more sacks. Today teams pass 65-70% and use RPO so less time in the pocket and a lot of 5 yard pass plays. Different era different play styles.
I expect they'll be well prepared as they always are. Likely try to read where they think he'll try to penetrate and run the other way. Bait him into penetration and then misdirect.
And if he is in danger of blowing up the play and touching precious Tom, the center will just tackle him, and the officials will gleefully allow it, as usual with the Pats.
I would assume he will be double teamed most of the game. You are right about misdirection and implement the Trap. I am really hoping he has a big game, and the Rams win.
Yeah, he’s basically a lock right now regardless of how next Sunday’s football game turns out.
He could probably retire after this year’s Super Bowl and STILL be pretty well assured of making the Hall of Fame. His resume is already that ludicrously impressive.
I think the only question now is does he go down with the Reggie White’s, Joe Greene’s, Deacon Jones’s of the world as the greatest defensive linemen of all time. Incidentally, JJ Watt is having that type of career as well.
If Donald is able to lead a Rams upset over the great Patriots dynasty, that certainly wouldn’t hurt his legacy, let me put it that way. Playing in Los Angeles doesn’t hurt him either.
Donald is not going anywhere and the Rams are going to get better. They are still a pretty young team. There’s not a lot around him on defense and he still exceptionally dominant.
I think he is basically a mortal lock for both the pro and college football halls of fame.
The rams defensive front with speed and strength will cause problems for Brady. If Brady has to hold the ball a split second longer or has to move laterally he is going to get hit enough times that will cause the patriots offense to sputter. The rams only need 28 points to win this game. I think at the end of the night the star that is Aaron Donald is going to shine the brightest.
