Aaron Donald, how do we contain him?

[VectorPrime]

Aaron Donald has got to be without question the most dominate defensive player in the league today. Now, going up against great defensive players is a regular occurrence for the Patriots and Tom Brady. In fact, they have a historic knack for matching up against the most statistically prolific pass rushers in the league and blanking them on the state sheet. Has JJ Watt even touched Brady? The problem is that, as far as I can remember, those players are usually dominate edge rushers. Whether by putting a TE to help block or by Brady just getting the ball out fast we’ve always been able to deal with them.

But Donald is different. He makes his living bringing inside pressure. And as every single media personality will note, Brady like all pocket QBs has struggled with consistent interior pressure. Get in Brady’s face fast and bad things tend to happen.

Obviously stopping Donald will be the most obvious thing in the world for Dante and the offensive line. The entire game may rely on it. But how do they do it? Does Andrews, who is a bit undersized, and our guards have the ability to make sure he isn’t a game breaker? What have other teams done to try and limit Donald and is the Pats offense capable of doing that? For obvious reasons the answer isn’t to rely on Brady making plays while escaping the pocket.

I would really appreciate if some of the more Xs and Os people on here can give some insight into how they think this matchup might play out.

 

[VectorPrime]

I guess no one knows...

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Same way we contained him in 2016. We held him to 3 tackles and 1 QB hit. He’s a great player, but we’ve faced guys like him before.

Rams vs. Patriots - Box Score - December 4, 2016 - ESPN

 

[BelichicksHoodie]

Same way we contained him in 2016. We held him to 3 tackles and 1 QB hit. He’s a great player, but we’ve faced guys like him before.

Rams vs. Patriots - Box Score - December 4, 2016 - ESPN

To be fair he's a better player now than he was two years ago, Brockers also played like crap that year. Totally different beast that defensive line is going into this game.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

To be fair he's a better player now than he was two years ago, Brockers also played like crap that year. Totally different beast that defensive line is going into this game.

Yeah he totally is a better player. But we have game planned for great defensive players like him before including JJ Watt, Von Miller, Chris Jones, etc. he’ll be a major handful along with Brockers and Suh no doubt.

 

[n1997y]

To be fair he's a better player now than he was two years ago, Brockers also played like crap that year. Totally different beast that defensive line is going into this game.

Our O line is also better. Maybe one of our best ever, and that’s saying a lot.

 

[Kid~Brady]

So a few things here:

1. We all know he's the best DL in the game, by far. Interior pressure up the middle is any QBs nightmare. For one, we could double team him with the hopes to stop him, but at least slow him down enough for Brady to have some time back there.

2. The quick pass to receivers, dink and dunk, bubble screens to neutralize the pass rush if he does begin to take over. If the OL does begin to struggle with him, this gameplan always helps in these situations. He can't wreck anything if he doesn't have time to do so and we have the best QB and receiving core for exactly this. The last 2 games we've opened with 7 min + drives to take most of the first quarter.

3. Dante: Honestly, this OL has been freaking amazing. I have a ton of faith in them and Scar to configure something to not let him wreck the game. He'll most likely get his plays in, however, as previously mentioned, we've planned for guys like him. He's not the only interior lineman the Patriots have had to face.

4. Gronk: He's shown to be an unbelievable blocker and able to help on the OL possibly. I remember Gronk blocking Haloti Ngata single handedly before so I imagine he could help some there if needed.

Not saying this will be easy peasy but he's still just one guy. They will undoubtedly game plan for him either way.

 

[Redman443]

Bring an extra guy and double him

 

[Sciz]

Chris Jones had roughly 3/4 as many sacks and 3/4 as many QB hits as Donald and the Patriots just shut him out other than his batted pass. There’s no other player in the NFL like Donald, but Jones is pretty much as close as it gets.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Donald is so quick, powerful and elite with his hands. His swim move is absurd.

I remember Damien Woody was asked how to stop Donald and he said he would take the fight to him. His point was for the OL to not go into a backpedal but stay in the same spot and/or go fwd a little as if you were going to run the ball. Put him on the defensive and if he get by you, he won't be coming as fast and would be farther away from the QB.

It makes sense. Just don't know if its realistic. I'm sure people have tried this and had mixed success in its application.

 

[Racervx54]

They same way we have done it the last 2 games...

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

Jet sweeps with Patterson, screens with White, quick slants with Gronk and Jules, runs with Sony, play action in "obvious" run formations.

Basically, be the Patriots.

 

[UFGatorPat]

Donald is so quick, powerful and elite with his hands. His swim move is absurd.

I remember Damien Woody was asked how to stop Donald and he said he would take the fight to him. His point was for the OL to not go into a backpedal but stay in the same spot and/or go fwd a little as if you were going to run the ball. Put him on the defensive and if he get by you, he won't be coming as fast and would be farther away from the QB.

It makes sense. Just don't know if its realistic. I'm sure people have tried this and had mixed success in its application.

Yes, this.

And get him and Suh moving a lot sideline to sideline early in the game. Jet sweeps and sweep looks, RB swing throws, a few off tackle runs with Sony, maybe CP a time or two.

I would run at Donald and double team him some, and let Suh overpursue. If you run at Suh, Donald will knife through and make a TFL.

He’s on another level so we have to do what we do, but do some things early to throw him off guard. I feel somewhat confident our defense can hold them under 17, could even surprise and be like 10-14 if we avoid a major turnover, batted passes, etc.