The Philadelphia Eagles struggled to protect Carson Wentz on Sunday. Now they face Aaron Donald.
One of the more stunning results of Week 1 was how the Washington Football Team was able to dismantle the protection around Carson Wentz. Washington sacked the Philadelphia Eagles passer eight times en route to their victory, leaving Wentz and head coach Doug Pederson wondering exactly how they can right the ship.
They’ll need an answer fast, because this guy is coming to town:
Aaron Donald continued his one-man wrecking crew ways on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, pressuring Dak Prescott early and often and providing the timeline with many clips like this. Donald was credited with four tackles (one solo), a sack and a tackle for the loss. But as the film indicates, his disruptive presence up front was a huge factor in the Los Angeles Rams’ victory over the visiting Cowboys.
Donald got his sack on the first possession of the game from Dallas. Facing a 2nd and 9 in Rams territory, the Cowboys want to double-team Donald in this protection scheme, but the Rams employ a blitz from the second level that forces one of the offensive lineman to scrape off Donald and help out. That leaves Zack Martin, an elite offensive lineman, alone on Donald, and the defender forces his way to Prescott for the sack:
On this third down play, Donald aligns on the left tackle. But he cuts to the inside and uses a powerful bull rush move to drive the pocket back into the lap of Prescott, putting the quarterback under duress again and forcing an underthrown pass:
On a second down play in the fourth quarter, Donald uses a powerful push/pull move on the left guard before getting to Prescott just as he releases a throw:
Then of course there is this moment from the second quarter:
In case you missed the end of this play, watch how Donald destroys everyone in his path, including running back Ezekiel Elliott:
Finally, remember that debate last week about Donald’s run defense? Take a look at this play. On the final play of the first quarter the Cowboys face a 1st and 10 on their own 20-yard line. Prescott aligns in the shotgun with Elliott standing to his right. They will run to the left side here, pulling the left tackle and the left guard in front of the running back:
Of course, that means the tight end has to block down on Donald.
It does not go well:
Donald gets upfield in a flash, knifing into the backfield past the block attempt. Even though Elliott has a convoy of body mass in front of him – and the Rams are outflanked to the edge – Donald’s penetration forces the running back to stop and change direction in the backfield. Elliott cuts away from the convoy on the edge and into the interior, where the Rams have the advantage. He is stopped for no gain.
This week Donald gets to operate against a team that struggled to protect its passer in its opening game, leading to moments like this:
Getting Lane Johnson back will be a start. But if the Eagles cannot protect Wentz better on Sunday, your Twitter timeline will be filled with even more video clips of Donald destroying worlds.
