Aaron Donald

[JonRam99]

I wonder if Donald is pacing himself for the bigger games to really turn it up even more. The season is not a sprint but a marathon.

I'm thinking this as well. He's picking his shots.

He ALMOST had James Connor in the backfield on his 4th down TD run, soooo close & you could tell AD was pissed about it.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I'm thinking this as well. He's picking his shots.

He ALMOST had James Connor in the backfield on his 4th down TD run, soooo close & you could tell AD was pissed about it.

It's definitely a smart approach. I'm sure after last year in GB, he wants to be as fresh and healthy as possible to dial it up a notch so he can impact the game that much more in the playoffs. I'm assuming it's a delicate balance as his reaction to that Connor miss shows how much of a competitor he is.

 

[Merlin]

Don't talk him up on reddit! They think he should be arrested for being a violent criminal.

Yeah reddit is all unwashed masses and populist opinion. I use it for Eve Online only because it's valuable for talking shit but I'd get a migraine trying to talk something important like football over there.

 

[Boston Ram]

Last night was a thing of beauty! He knew he had to take that game over and set the tone on the first play of the game! Reminds me of how he dominated in the playoffs last year before tweeking his ribs.

AD....simply the best.

 

[Merlin]

Nothing I want more than to see 99 hoisting a Lombardi. They gotta get that done.

 

[OldSchool]

Yeah reddit is all unwashed masses and populist opinion. I use it for Eve Online only because it's valuable for talking shit but I'd get a migraine trying to talk something important like football over there.

It’s hard to tell which is worse, Reddit or Twitter. Both I really just use for sports info and a certain off topic thread.

 

[FarNorth]

This man deserves his own thread every single week since he’s been here but last nights game was something special.

It seemed AD did something to impact the game on almost every play. Even the plays where he didn’t register stats, he was either affecting the play, or affecting the Cardinals decisions and Murrays mental health pre-snap.

Now I know this is really nothing new, some games are more dominant than others but AD’s greatness has been remarkably consistent. Admittedly, I sometimes find myself “numb” to the greatness of AD as I am so used to seeing it every game that I have to remind myself “wait that’s not normal what he just did, other players don’t throw offensive guards at quarterback’s”.

What I am trying to say here is don’t forget to appreciate the time we have 99 (especially in his prime) as he won’t be around forever and you are likely witnessing the greatest to ever do it.

No doubt about how great AD was last night. What to me is even more promising is that the D line as a whole also played great. The synergy was really working with AD, Floyd, Miller, and Gaines.

We are now really starting to see the impact of adding Von Miller. Miller handed AD at least one sack when he got to but whiffed on Murray. Imo Miller is about to break out.

Great play from the D-line is essential for a playoff run. Right now Rams are showing it.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1470815304930537476

 

[wolfdogg]

To be fair, I still think he is slowing down.

He's still the best DT in the game. And by a wide margin. A generational talent and elite player. But father time is undefeated. Donald was superhuman last night. But it's also week 14. The past few years, Donald would have had a handful of superhuman performances by now. I don't think we can say that he has this year.

Aaron Donald will be elite for some time yet, but time flies. Before we know it, he will be elite, but no longer completely separated from the rest of the pack of elite DTs. Then he will be very good. Then just good. Then he will probably retire, as the best to ever do it. He's still easily the best in the NFL, IMO. But his past few seasons were even more impactful than this one, if you can imagine that, and I suspect will go down as his "career years".

I think the Rams brass knows that there are only 2-3 more years or so left of Donald being able to single-highhandedly wreck every single game, and are going all in to not waste his prime.

AD is currently the highest rated PLAYER on PFF and will probably end up with at least 14 sacks (had 13 last year) He also surpassed his 2020 hurries a couple weeks ago and is one TFL shy of 2020s number. He's still prime time, baby!

Yearly averages and this YTD

TFL............18.............12
Solo tkl....34..............24
Asst tkl.....18.............37. (Career high)
Sacks.........12.............10
Qb hits......28.............20

 

[Kupped]

I was one thinking Donald had slowed down this season.
I'm thinking that I'm definitely more wrong than right. I mean.. he could be percentage points less effective than in the past.. but it's entirely possible that he finishes with his second highest sack total in his career.
I know the Micah Parsons hype train is going strong.. but if Donald can finish strong.. top 5 in sacks? He'll be a DPOY candidate, for sure.

 

[NJRamsFan]

View: https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1470815304930537476

THIS RIGHT HERE IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF STUFF IM TALKING ABOUT!!


What AD did on that play is not human. He turned an NFL OG into a tackle sled and literally threw him at the QB.... far too often I take things like that for granted and forget just how special a play like that is......AD is the GOAT and you can't convince me otherwise

 

[NJRamsFan]

I was one thinking Donald had slowed down this season.
I'm thinking that I'm definitely more wrong than right. I mean.. he could be percentage points less effective than in the past.. but it's entirely possible that he finishes with his second highest sack total in his career.
I know the Micah Parsons hype train is going strong.. but if Donald can finish strong.. top 5 in sacks? He'll be a DPOY candidate, for sure.

I think perhaps some people are seeing the impact of the rest of our defense somewhat nullifying AD's ability to reck a game and misinterpreting it for AD's decline. Those 2 step drops to the uncovered middle of our defense take the "ball out of his hands" if you will. If you look at the data, he is just as dominant as he has been in years past. Just because he is not having the best year of his career, doesn't mean he is declining it's just that even he can't put up 20 sacks every year. his performance has been on par with most of his career and just as dominant.

 

[FarNorth]

I think perhaps some people are seeing the impact of the rest of our defense somewhat nullifying AD's ability to reck a game and misinterpreting it for AD's decline. Those 2 step drops to the uncovered middle of our defense take the "ball out of his hands" if you will. If you look at the data, he is just as dominant as he has been in years past. Just because he is not having the best year of his career, doesn't mean he is declining it's just that even he can't put up 20 sacks every year. his performance has been on par with most of his career and just as dominant.

Imo we have not had the players around him this year for AD to get 20 sacks. And maybe not the scheme or line calls that we had last year.

But I think this is going to change with Miller now syncing up with AD and Floyd. I expect a lot more sacks and pressures across the board going forward.

 

[NJRamsFan]

Imo we have not had the players around him this year for AD to get 20 sacks. And maybe not the scheme or line calls that we had last year.

But I think this is going to change with Miller now syncing up with AD and Floyd. I expect a lot more sacks and pressures across the board going forward.

Agreed. As much as I hate to admit it I don't think it was coincidence that when he had 20 he shared a line with Suh. Not that donkeykong was so great he just had to be accounted for....that and we played more press man back then.

 

[Merlin]

I think perhaps some people are seeing the impact of the rest of our defense somewhat nullifying AD's ability to reck a game and misinterpreting it for AD's decline. Those 2 step drops to the uncovered middle of our defense take the "ball out of his hands" if you will. If you look at the data, he is just as dominant as he has been in years past. Just because he is not having the best year of his career, doesn't mean he is declining it's just that even he can't put up 20 sacks every year. his performance has been on par with most of his career and just as dominant.

I think you're right.

Having Gaines stepping up at NT has helped AD but so has Von on the edge. Von is a big, strong, physical MFer. He's not the twitchy fuck he was earlier in his career the guy is powerful and we're seeing that power's effect on our front.

Floyd's a load physically even for an OT. So is Von and if you want to see it just check those short yardage plays last night wow. Gaines is a load for interior OL even when doubled. All of a sudden our fast/quick HoF 3T is surrounded by POWER and it is benefitting him, that combination just works.

 

[Mackeyser]

It’s hard to tell which is worse, Reddit or Twitter. Both I really just use for sports info and a certain off topic thread.

Marvel Phase 4?

 

[rdlkgliders]

I think as time passes and more offenses show any form of success against A.D the league takes notice. It is no longer a suggestion but a rule, if you want to minimize A.D's effect on the game.....get the ball out quick, If you don't have that ability through personnel or play design you will most likely pay. The A.D effect is best contained through a very quickly developing pass play. The teams that often succeed against our D get rid of the ball in a hurry and more and more teams are making this their mantra

 

[BatteringRambo]

I went to Jinjer and Suicide Silence Sunday night, off the norm split shift (same day never again dumbest shit ever, think of Peyton, who I work for) Monday of work. Still caught the game. I'm 100 percent of AD99. Retire his name before he retires same with hall of fame etc. Maybe best defensive player EVER!

 

[RamDino]

To be fair, I still think he is slowing down.

I don't think he is slowing down at all. They guy is double and triple-teamed on every play, and he is still "unblock-able". Offensive coordinators entire game plans are to neutralize him, by running away from him, or by trying to get the ball out quickly. And even after all of the above, his PFF grade is still in the nineties. He is a game-wrecker, just like he always has been. Don't allow his lack of sacks to define his play, although I do agree that he is not getting any younger, and we might not be seeing "the best" Aaron Donald for much longer.

 

[Steve808]

He is truly the first player since Lawrence Taylor where I watch him every play. I find him before the snap and he is what I watch. It is amazing that just him being on the field changes everything about how I watch the game. Normally I am watching the Lines and the Linebackers. I know most people watch the guy with the football, but you miss so much doing that. But when AD plays, just like LT, he does things that you wouldn't see. Some of the shit AD does is absolutely Matrix-esque. I can't tell you how many times a game I rewind a play 3 or 4 times just to see how he did what he did. Even watching him from the snap, I am like, how is he in the backfield that fast? It is truly a gift to be able to watch. There are a lot of great players in the NFL, but Guys like AD are truly a once in a lifetime talent, and like @NJRamsFan said, enjoy it while we can.

And he's even more amazing when the refs actually call holding on the linemen who hold him on nearly every play. I shake my head when we get through entire games and not a single holding call is made against our opponents.

Not to mention Stafford getting hit helmet to helmet and face masked with no calls while our team gets flagged for breathing on opposing QBs.