Aaron Donald is a Freak of Nature

Aaron Donald isn’t exactly an unknown commodity. Last year’s first round pick for the Rams has already been selected to one pro bowl as a rookie, and was named defensive rookie of the year. He was selected defensive player of the week in the season opening victory over the Seahawks.

But I thought I would just put a quick homage to Donald here. All of these plays come from within an 8-play span in the third quarter.

First, it was David DeCastro getting worked as Donald came back inside to stuff a LeVeon Bell run before he barely got a chance to look up from the handoff. Next, it was center Cody Wallace getting the Donald treatment, in an almost unfair speed matchup with Donald’s quick swim move to again give Bell no chance to get started.

He’s so good at getting a lineman to lean one direction and then quickly coming back and beating them. The final one was his sack, which came immediately before the Big Ben injury. Again, it was Wallace who had the unenviable task of going one-on-one with Donald.

Three plays for -15 yards in the span of eight total plays, from a defensive tackle. That’s pretty dang good. I know that J.J. Watt moves around a little more as a 3-4 DE, but Donald had as impressive a game as Watt normally turns in. Like is often the case with Watt, it wasn’t enough for a team result. The Steelers came out throwing very quick passes to neutralize Donald, because expecting the line to hold up with pressure in the middle is a tall task. It will be interesting to see if he can be the difference maker in a big game in Arizona.

[GIFs by Michael Shamburger]

from The Big Lead http://ift.tt/1N5MYvG