I just don't see how it can be true that "Donald's play has not made the defense any better."
So the below is an attempt to outline my thoughts and try to understand what you're saying here. It's possible that you can further elucidate your position in a way that will help me see it, but right now I don't.
The tackles and penetration and pressures just don't matter?
The nearly universal respect and even awe expressed about AD around the league by not only writers and analysts, but also fellow players, is a mirage?
There are multiple reasons why the Rams have not won lately. And multiple reasons why the defense has appeared to underachieve at times.
But it seems to me that all of that
would only be worse without Aaron Donald. Every time he comes up the middle on a QB, and either gets a sack, or flushes him into another defender, or forces a throwaway, is a stop for the defense. And other DT's just can't do it at the rate that Donald does.
True, he cannot and has not dragged the team to a winning record by himself, and in spite of all the other dysfunction going on. But what player could have?
Until this team has an offense that helps the defense, both with points and possession time, the defense will get tired, and become less effective.
Again, I don't see that fact as being proof of Aaron Donald's futility. It just means that football is still a team game, and even a superstar needs help.
BUT, when the help arrives, having the superstar can mean the difference between good and great.
I seem to recall that you've talked about lack of forced turnovers, strip sacks, etc. My thoughts are that it is simply harder to do that from the DT position. AD creates middle pressure. The QB sees it coming. It still creates sacks and throwaways, but gives the QB time to pull the ball in.
When Quinn was in his heyday, he was coming wide from the edge, and often circling beyond the QB's peripheral vision. The strip sacks occurred when he could whack the QB's arm as it was being brought back into throwing position. Usually they never saw it coming. Great stuff and I would love to have it back (no pun intended). It's in the nature of the difference between an interior rusher and an edge rusher. They complement one another.
But what Donald does is also very effective. I would submit that the ridiculous offense the Rams had would have had even fewer chances, and the Rams would have been blownout by bigger scores without Donald.
I want to see Aaron Donald on a Ram team that actually gives his talent a chance to MAKE a difference.
