Remember when ESPN’s run-stop win rate metric tried to argue that Aaron Donald was just an average run defender? That was less than two years ago, and everything he’s done since then has shown he’s truly one of the best run defenders in football.
Yes, he takes more chances than most players by beating his man quickly and jumping into the backfield, but more often than not, that results in a negative play for the offense. He did that three times last season against the Vikings alone, absolutely wrecking Minnesota’s rushing play single-handedly.
This three-play clip shared by Nate Tice of The Athletic shows just how good Donald is against the run.
Aaron Donald destroying 3 Vikings run plays by himself pic.twitter.com/lEKwwTXu1I
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) July 5, 2022
There’s really nothing the running back can do when his blockers barely get a finger on Donald before he’s in the backfield. He’s waiting for the back before the running back even hands him the ball, which isn’t something you see many defensive tackles do.
Enjoy Donald’s dominance while you can because we may never see another player like him.
