Good week for ESPN to rip Aaron Donald

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RamsOfCastamere

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He posted this so the Cowboys OL can feel better going into Sunday. We all know what's going to happen Primetime Sunday Night!
 

FrantikRam

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......eye test backs this up.

AD is incredible - but generally, if he doesn't make a splash play tackling the runner in the backfield, teams scheme against his penetration and it's one of the reasons we've struggled against the run
 

SeminoleRam

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He posted this so the Cowboys OL can feel better going into Sunday. We all know what's going to happen Primetime Sunday Night!

Thank You ESPN! Personally, I think that the LAST thing the Cowboys (Or, ANY other NFL Team!) wants/needs to do is for someone to give the BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER in the NFL (Aaron Donald!) anymore FUEL/MOTIVATION for this Sunday’s Game! I am feeling better about this game every day!!!
 

Flint

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......eye test backs this up.

AD is incredible - but generally, if he doesn't make a splash play tackling the runner in the backfield, teams scheme against his penetration and it's one of the reasons we've struggled against the run
Which is why we were all pretty excited to have a real anchor like Ashawn in the middle... oh well.
 

Mackeyser

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That was the D that Fisher and Wade both ran with respect to AD... play the run on the way to the QB.

Staley is having him stay home a bit more and that's better.

He'll actually get more pass rushing attempts if they can get teams into more 3rd and longs

I really think the gap integrity that has been an issue for AD (maybe my ONLY gripe) will be substantially better this year.

And you KNOW he's gonna get that pressure, so...
 

PhillyRam

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8
......eye test backs this up.

AD is incredible - but generally, if he doesn't make a splash play tackling the runner in the backfield, teams scheme against his penetration and it's one of the reasons we've struggled against the run
Oh, I am not say ng there isn't some truth to it... Just glad they posted this this week.

Yeah, his aggression works against the run defense at times and I am assuming that is one of the things he is not liking about the new defense where they likely will rein that in some.

Just hope this focuses him a bit more on the run this week.
 

Mackeyser

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I thought he was liking the focus on playing the run.
 

jap

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Oh, Aaron is average alright, especially since he has to bypass two, three or four blockers to get to the opponent with the rock. Would any other defender be as good as 'average' with that type of attention?
 

AvengerRam

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Oh, Aaron is average alright, especially since he has to bypass two, three or four blockers to get to the opponent with the rock. Would any other defender be as good as 'average' with that type of attention?
Exactly.

Seth Walder and the entire ESPN “stats” department molest collies.
 

tempests

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Eh, whatever. All those headlines saying Donald is the most dominant defender in the league is old news. ESPN needs headlines for their "new stat" so why not bring down the league's most recognizable defensive player? Every other run defense metric I've seen has him ranked as one of the league's best run defenders. And the "eye test" backs that up.

Donald's a freelancer. Embrace it. Rams will never have a DT as good as him again.
 

RamDino

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If Aaron Donald was blocked one on one, he would be in the backfield on every play. He cannot be blocked one on one, and would be tackling the runner in the backfield, or simply disrupting every single play. ESPN is a mess. They have fallen so far since Prime Time.
 

fearsomefour

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He gives up his gap a fair amount of the time.
He is a special player.

Unrelated: Jerry Rice rated as average on WR screen passes.

Idiots.
 

ScotsRam

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Eh, whatever. All those headlines saying Donald is the most dominant defender in the league is old news. ESPN needs headlines for their "new stat" so why not bring down the league's most recognizable defensive player? Every other run defense metric I've seen has him ranked as one of the league's best run defenders. And the "eye test" backs that up.

Donald's a freelancer. Embrace it. Rams will never have a DT as good as him again.

The Rams might never have another PLAYER as good again, never mind a DT.
 

Psycho_X

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Aaron Donald is soooo over rated. He sucks. There’s no way he could make a difference on Sunday.

Someone pass that along to him please. I want to see Hulk smash. Just don’t use my name please.
 

Ramer

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......eye test backs this up.

AD is incredible - but generally, if he doesn't make a splash play tackling the runner in the backfield, teams scheme against his penetration and it's one of the reasons we've struggled against the run
IMHO having the OL guy miss his block because 99 is up field is not struggling.. i would say more of a scheme..and that's on coaches
 

Memento

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https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/aaron-donald-run-defender-analytics-rams

These guys are great. They basically analyze BSPN's run defense data and shut it down at the end by not only saying that Donald's a star player who should be allowed to do what he does best because he's a star player, but that he'd be worse if he focused more on the run instead of disrupting passing plays.
 

Snaz

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https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/aaron-donald-run-defender-analytics-rams

These guys are great. They basically analyze BSPN's run defense data and shut it down at the end by not only saying that Donald's a star player who should be allowed to do what he does best because he's a star player, but that he'd be worse if he focused more on the run instead of disrupting passing plays.

Makes me hope they don't change his style of play, just get better DL and LBs to do their job better..
 

NoCoNite

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......eye test backs this up.

AD is incredible - but generally, if he doesn't make a splash play tackling the runner in the backfield, teams scheme against his penetration and it's one of the reasons we've struggled against the run

containing isn’t his job in a 3-4. If you have a video of this you should post it. If they’re letting him just penetrate then he’d be in the backfield before they get the hand off. If they’re sending 2 guys on a DEnd in a 3-4 then the front 7 is facing 3-4 blockers.
No way does this add up to the run woes being ADs fault. It’s probably bc we lack talent at LB.