Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Donald 2014: all the awards & some highlights
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December 30, 2014 at 10:12 pm #24223
znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Rams DT Aaron Donald named to NFL Network’s top 100 players in voting by players. He’s No. 92.
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This topic was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by zn.
December 30, 2014 at 10:12 pm #15086znModeratorfrom The 2014 MMQB Awards
By Peter King
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/12/30/nfl-awards-mvp-rookie-coach/4/
Three candidates dominated voting in this category. “It was tough for one to stand out above that group but Aaron Donald did that on a consistent basis,” explains Ben Stockwell of Pro Football Focus. “When you can come in and put your body of work immediately up against the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy and Kyle Williams you’ve had some sort of a rookie season. Donald’s rookie season placed him among the best defensive linemen in the league for the 2014 season, at least in the bracket below J.J. Watt.”
December 30, 2014 at 10:26 pm #15087
AgamemnonParticipantAnd he did it all year long, even after opposing teams knew about him. No rookie wall or anything. He hit the field running.
AgamemnonDecember 30, 2014 at 10:54 pm #15089AgamemnonParticipanthttp://www.stlouisrams.com/videos/videos/AD4DROY-Candidacy-Video/4837fb00-5198-4e6a-9910-f6cffa73af2c
#AD4DROY Candidacy Video
Watch and listen as the St. Louis Rams tell you why Aaron Donald should be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. AgamemnonDecember 31, 2014 at 7:18 am #15100
PA RamParticipantI bet there are a lot of teams kicking themselves for passing on him.
Great draft pick and I’m looking forward to enjoying his work in horns for years to come.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
December 31, 2014 at 4:30 pm #15146
DakParticipantI think he’s good. No, really. I do.
December 31, 2014 at 4:36 pm #15148znModeratorAll 22: Aaron Donald
Will Witherspoon breaks down film of Aaron Donald’s sack against the Seattle Seahawks.
http://www.stlouisrams.com/videos/videos/All-22-Aaron-Donald/6b65a866-2dc-4503-8f46-f40c9a009899
January 31, 2015 at 8:59 pm #24783znModeratorfrom PFF’s Top 101 of 2014: 20 to 11
PFF Analysis Team | May 18, 2015
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/18/pffs-top-101-of-2014-20-to-11/
18. Aaron Donald, ID, St. Louis Rams
What a rookie year! Donald didn’t start until Week 6 but still managed to not only log 724 snaps but also earn the highest grade of any defensive tackle. That was the level of dominance the former Pittsburgh Panther produced. There was a feeling he was too small heading out of college but his ability to penetrate made him more than just a situational player, with him earning marks in run defense comparable to his excellent work pass rushing.
Best Performance: Week 10, SL @ ARZ, +5.7
Key Stat: Finished in the Top 10 in both Run Stop Percentage and Pass Rushing Productivity.
January 31, 2015 at 8:59 pm #17753znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Rams DT Aaron Donald named AP Defensive rookie of the year.
January 31, 2015 at 9:15 pm #17755znModeratorAaron Donald wins Defensive Rookie of the Year
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/
In the early 2000s, the St. Louis Rams had a knack for drafting defensive tackles in the first round, only to see them fail to pan out or never ascend much above the level of average. Names like Damione Lewis, Jimmy Kennedy, Ryan Pickett and Adam Carriker were all first-round selections but only Pickett (the lowest drafted of the three, by the way) turned into a good NFL player.
That history of misses on first-round defensive tackles was wiped away Saturday night when defensive tackle Aaron Donald added the crown jewel of rookie defensive awards, claiming the “official” Defensive Rookie of the Year award at the NFL Honors Awards show.
Donald had already been feted with major awards such as a Pro Bowl trip and the Pro Football Writers of America’s version of the defensive rookie of the year, but Saturday’s trophy is the one that is recognized as the primary honor as voted on by the Associated Press panel of voters.
“It’s a blessing,” Donald said. “It’s huge. It’s something you dream about coming into the NFL. To be able to accomplish it is just amazing.
“I always set my goals high. I wanted to get double digit sacks and things like that but you always have to set high goals so you have something to chase. You have got to have that mindset to stay hungry, stay humble and just continue to work.”
For Donald, it was an award well earned as he beat out other top candidates such as Oakland linebacker Khalil Mack and Baltimore linebacker C.J. Mosley. In the process, Donald becomes the first Ram since linebacker Isiah Robertson in 1971 to win the award and only the second Ram to earn it since it’s inception.
Donald proved one of the Rams’ best players, let alone rookies in 2014, with a breakout season that coaches, teammates, media and fans saw coming almost from the moment the team drafted him No. 13 overall.
“I’m thrilled to congratulate Aaron on this tremendous achievement,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “From the moment he arrived in St. louis last spring, Aaron worked extremely hard to prepare himself for a great rookie season and he certainly delivered. His production on the field speaks for itself. As an entire organization, we’re very proud of Aaron and we celebrate with him.”
Donald’s nine sacks led all rookies and represent the most by any first-year player in the past three years. That total was second most on the team behind defensive end Robert Quinn and eclipsed the eight from Detroit defensive end Ezekiel Ansah last year and Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin in 2012. It’s also the sixth most by a rookie defensive tackle since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Those nine sacks were the second most among all defensive tackles in the NFL in 2014, trailing only behind the 10 of Buffalo’s Marcell Dareus. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus graded Donald as the best defensive tackle in the NFL. Donald also had 17 tackles for loss, the most by a rookie defensive lineman in league history.
January 31, 2015 at 9:17 pm #17756znModeratorJanuary 31, 2015 at 11:47 pm #17761znModerator“Donald also had 17 tackles for loss, the most by a rookie defensive lineman in league history.”
February 1, 2015 at 10:22 am #17766znModeratorAaron Donald Wins DROY
Congratulations to defensive tackle Aaron Donald on being named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
http://www.stlouisrams.com/videos/videos/Aaron-Donald-Wins-DROY/323f2d45-703e-4a02-8099-d947e0cc28e8
February 1, 2015 at 2:26 pm #17779znModerator“He’s probably the best rookie I’ve ever played with, and I’ve played with some really good football players,” defensive end William Hayes said at the end of the regular season. “But we will be remembering his name 15, 20 years from now, I can promise you that. He’s something special.”
…
Donald’s 9.0 sacks also rank as the sixth most by a rookie defensive tackle since the stat became official in 1982. Additionally, only three interior rushers in franchise history have posted more sacks in a season than Donald in 2014.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for that kid,” defensive end Chris Long said. “He’s just been a pro since he got here. He can hang with the guys, he’s a good locker room dude, and he’s a hell of a player. He’s been pro ready since he got here, and I just admire the way he plays the game, the way he brings intensity and physicality to Sunday, and he’s a good teammate.”
February 19, 2015 at 12:14 am #18687znModeratorFrom Combine Recap: Day 1
Myles Simmons
http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-eve … 4d8901fe4f
2) Donald left an impression
By now we all know that Aaron Donald was both the AP and PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year for his impressive first-year campaign in which he recorded 9.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. This was largely a continuation of the defensive tackle’s play at Pitt, where he recorded an NCAA-leading 28.5 sacks in his senior season.
So what does that have to do with the combine? Well, at his press conference today, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson had some particularly complimentary words about the Rams’ D-tackle.
“I would say the toughest D-lineman I played against in my career is Aaron Donald,” Tomlinson said. “He’s a really, really tough guy to block. He’s a really quick, fast-twitch, powerful guy. And he moves well for a big-bodied person.”
Pitt and Duke played one another in 2013, Pitt’s first season in the ACC, with Donald’s Alma Mater coming away with a 58-55 victory.
May 7, 2015 at 3:50 pm #24267znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Rams DT Aaron Donald named to NFL Network’s top 100 players in voting by players. He’s No. 92.
The vid:
May 18, 2015 at 5:45 pm #24790
HerzogParticipantAaron Donald, ID, St. Louis Rams
What a rookie year! Donald didn’t start until Week 6 but still managed to not only log 724 snaps but also earn the highest grade of any defensive tackle. That was the level of dominance the former Pittsburgh Panther produced. There was a feeling he was too small heading out of college but his ability to penetrate made him more than just a situational player, with him earning marks in run defense comparable to his excellent work pass rushing.
Best Performance: Week 10, SL @ ARZ, +5.7
Key Stat: Finished in the Top 10 in both Run Stop Percentage and Pass Rushing Productivity.
What a great pick that was.
May 29, 2015 at 10:21 pm #25508znModeratorMay 31, 2015 at 5:51 pm #25613znModeratorfrom Fastest 40 Yard Dash
http://www.freelapusa.com/fastest-40-yard-dash/
Fastest NFL players by position (Donald 4.68 40, #1 among DTs in combine history)
Of course, there is a difference between speed and quickness (you can be fast and not quick, quick and not fast, and rarely, both – like Donald smiling smiley ). Former Defensive Pleyer of the Year, BAL LB Terrell Suggs ran a shockingly slow 40 time (4.8-4.9 range?), but his HC or DC (Rex Ryan at the time?) said he would be more worried if a pass rusher had to run 40 yards to get to the QB. Point taken. Traits/attributes like burst and short area quickness can be more important. With Donald, as noted, you get the freakishly accelerated get off, plus his mutant/extreme outlier size/speed combo. Suggs is proof a slow but quick DE/OLB can get to the QB with regularity. But better is to be fast and quick. Plus Donald has an inherent “shortest distance” advantage, with a reduced vector from the inside, going against generally less athletic interior OL (relative to DEs lined up wide against often more athletic OTs). On top of that, Donald is a student of the informal martial art that comprises hand-to-hand combat in the trenches practiced by NFL linemen, as well as a mature beyond his years repertoire of pass rush moves, and ability to string them together. He is good against the run as well as being a generational athletic prodigy and pass rushing talent for his position, defensive tackle. As a YOUNG complete player with a well rounded game, I wouldn’t say he can’t improve (maybe he gets washed out in the run against bigger, more athletic OL at times?), but as a pass rusher, it is hard to imagine him doing much better as a rookie – Defensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, PFF or Football Outsiders metrics indicating he was the #1 DT in the league, over even newly made highest paid defensive player in league history, Suh. But he could improve even there, even for a natural and potential all time great (maybe in the pantheon with fellow Rams Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen, barring injury, when its all said and done?), coaches and players often say the biggest improvement is made between years one and two, he may have been been recalibrating internal, unspoken, instinctive speed to power ratios, mixing up and adapting better, more efficient/effective pass rush moves and tactics by varying, individualizing and personalizing them for different opponents, etc.
May 31, 2015 at 6:36 pm #25615
bnwBlockedAaron Donald, ID, St. Louis Rams
What a rookie year! Donald didn’t start until Week 6 but still managed to not only log 724 snaps but also earn the highest grade of any defensive tackle. That was the level of dominance the former Pittsburgh Panther produced. There was a feeling he was too small heading out of college but his ability to penetrate made him more than just a situational player, with him earning marks in run defense comparable to his excellent work pass rushing.
Best Performance: Week 10, SL @ ARZ, +5.7
Key Stat: Finished in the Top 10 in both Run Stop Percentage and Pass Rushing Productivity.
What a great pick that was.
Yes it was. What impresses me most about him is he closes the deal so often. Did his production increase once Long returned or was it consistent throughout the season.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
May 31, 2015 at 7:22 pm #25619
InvaderRamModeratori think his production was consistent once he started. before and after chris long.
he and robert quinn are obviously the foundation for this defense. just need ogletree and one of the defensive backs to emerge as difference makers. and i think this defense has a chance to be special. should be fun to watch.
June 3, 2015 at 10:42 pm #25796znModeratorWill Rams’ Aaron Donald soon be the best defensive tackle in the NFL?
By Tim Weaver
I think everybody knew that Aaron Donald was going to be a solid NFL player when the St. Louis Rams selected him at number 13 overall in last year’s draft, but I don’t think anybody anticipated this.
Donald took the league by storm last season and earned himself a spot on a number of prestigious lists, including the NFL top 100.
What is Donald’s ceiling? According to one NFL analyst, the sky is the limit…
Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated spent some time this week watching Donald in the film room and came away very impressed. In fact, he thinks that in a few years Donald will be the best defensive tackle in the league:
Andy Benoit @Andy_Benoit
Watching Rams D vs. Seahawks O. Aaron Donald might have best all-around initial explosiveness in NFL for a DT.Andy Benoit @Andy_Benoit
Watching Rams DT Aaron Donald exclusively on film, you get a much deeper appreciation for him. He’ll be best DT in NFL within 3 years.That’s some high praise.
For my part, I can’t see Donald surpassing Ndamukong Suh that quick, but there may not be anybody else even close right now.
June 4, 2015 at 9:41 am #25815znModeratorMorning Ram-blings: Aaron Donald’s place in ’14 draft re-rank
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — With a one year sample size to evaluate the 2014 NFL rookie class, we can draw our share of conclusions. Of course, it’s still way too early to make sweeping judgments on any of the players after just one season. But we saw enough from some to know that the future is awfully bright.
On Wednesday, ESPN NFL Insider columnist Mike Sando, with the help of some veteran talent evaluators, re-ranked the 2014 NFL draft. Insider To the surprise of nobody, St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald ascended greatly from his original draft spot at No. 13 overall.
In the new rankings, Sando has Donald at No. 2 overall, only behind Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack. Donald only lasted to No. 13 in the first place because of his lack of size but it certainly turned out great for the Rams. At 13th overall, Donald was one of the draft’s biggest bargains. His quickness, hand use and ability to create leverage make Donald one of the most exciting interior defenders in the league.
With a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl already to his name, Donald’s future is undoubtedly bright and one could make the argument that he’s already the best player in the 2014 draft class.
Elsewhere on the list, offensive tackle Greg Robinson checks in at No. 22. That’s not all that encouraging considering the Rams used the second overall pick on him. Dallas offensive lineman Zack Martin, whom the Rams had as their second-ranked offensive lineman only behind Robinson, is No. 10 on the list.
But in fairness to Robinson, it was widely known that he was going to take some time to get up to speed as a pass protector. The Rams are expecting a big step forward for him in Year 2 but he’s the very definition of a player better judged after three years in the league.
Those are the only two Rams to land on the list, a list that includes mostly first-round choices with the exception of Oakland quarterback David Carr, Miami receiver Jarvis Landry and a few others. I could make a good argument for Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines, too, but his due will probably come if he continues to be consistent.
June 10, 2015 at 9:14 pm #26095znModeratorDonald Working to Improve in Year 2
Myles Simmons
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald made plenty of waves last year when he burst on the scene as a rookie. The Pitt product looked poised to have a special season from his first game when he took down Vikings running back Adrian Peterson for a 6-yard loss, and that potential was realized as he finished 2014 leading all first-year players with 9.0 sacks in addition to his 17.0 tackles for loss.
That’s an excellent season for any defensive tackle — let alone a rookie who moved into the starting lineup Week 6 against the 49ers. And the national media recognized Donald’s prowess by bestowing him both the Pro Football Writers of America and Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
“He was kind of a ready-made star,” said fellow defensive lineman Chris Long.
Despite the numerous accolades the defensive tackle has racked up going back to his college days as a Panther, Donald remains relentless in his desire to improve. He said in an interview with stlouisrams.com on Tuesday that in addition to his work in the weight room, he spent a lot of time in the offseason studying both his good and bad film from his DROY season.
“I learned a lot about myself from what I did last year,” Donald said, adding that he wants to get better at his overall game, from pass rushing to stopping the run.
Donald’s teammates and coaches have long extolled his on-field performance, with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams saying last season that one of his goals as a coach was to not disturb the DTs already stellar instincts. That’s a sentiment Long echoed on Tuesday, saying that Donald really has no need to grow.
“For my dollar, he’s the best D-tackle in football as far as rushing the passer and being disruptive. He was like that Day 1 when he got here,” Long said. “He just needs to stay at the same level and keep honing his skills.”
If Donald is to improve as he expects to, one factor will be working with Williams as his coordinator for a second season. The defensive tackle said the continuity aids in knowing expectations for both the coach and players.
“At the same time you learn what he wants, he learns how you play and can go off that,” Donald said. “So you want to build a relationship and have that chemistry with a coach.”
“You get a lot more comfortable,” Donald continued, “and I think you play a little bit faster because there’s a lot of stuff we’ve got, in terms of different schemes and the playbook.”
The continuity extends through Donald’s defensive teammates, as all 11 of the Rams’ regular starters — and many of the team’s rotation players — from 2014 remain with the club.
“I think we had a solid year last year, but we’re expecting bigger things from us this year,” Donald said. “We have a better feel for how each other plays out there, so I’m just excited about this upcoming year.”
And so as the Rams continue OTAs through next week, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is looking forward to a significantly improved 2015. Look out, NFL.
“Last year was just the beginning,” Donald said. “It’s the start of something to build off of.”[
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