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  4. title => "\u2018He\u2019s a legit monster\u2019: How the Ravens are focused on stopping Aaron Donald\u00a0"
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  6. article_body => "<p>OWINGS MILLS, Md. \u2014&nbsp;Matt Skura was&nbsp;the first member of the Ravens to find out how good Aaron Donald is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In a September game between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YSlvm7kMGBg\">Pittsburgh and Duke in 2013<\/a>, Skura lined up at center for Duke and Donald, a defensive tackle for Pitt, lined up in a three-technique over the right guard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On the snap, Duke\u2019s right guard pulled left and Donald followed. Skura\u2019s job was to block back on Donald and fill the hole.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Donald blew through the line, and by Skura, and tackled Duke quarterback Brandon Connette and running back Josh Snead at the same time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was like, \u2018Alright, this guy, he\u2019s pretty legit,\u2019\u201d Skura recalled with a grin. \u201cI just saw him flash before my eyes and he already made the play. He\u2019s gotten bigger and faster and stronger since then, so I know it\u2019s going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Donald\u2019s \u2018double tackle\u2019 was at the start of his mystique, a career with a host of accolades in his five-years in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p>He was named AP Defensive Rookie of The Year in 2014, has won back-to-back AP Defensive Player of The Year awards, was selected to five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams and holds the record for most sacks (20.5) from a defensive tackle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a legit monster,\u201d Mark Ingram said. \u201cYou talk about an animal, a game-wrecker, a game-changer, that\u2019s who it is. If you don\u2019t have the proper gameplan for him, he\u2019ll ruin your day, as simple as that. So, we respect him, and we\u2019re going to have to know where he\u2019s at, at all times and be able to neutralize him so he doesn\u2019t ruin our game.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Aaron Donald with the hesi\/club\/arm over. Finesse the OL &amp; keep them guessing. Looking like a WR releasing off the line.<br><br>PS - This is normal speed! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PassRush?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PassRush<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LARams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LARams<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AA8kjPknki\">pic.twitter.com\/AA8kjPknki<\/a><\/p>&mdash; DLineVids (@dlinevids1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dlinevids1\/status\/1196293273343553536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>At just 6-foot-1, Donald uses his speed and quickness off the ball to beat offensive linemen to their spots. And when it comes time, he\u2019s able to use his power to barrel through whoever tries to block him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost guys have one or two really good moves, whether it\u2019s bull rush is their main way they win, and then they\u2019ll have a change-up move,\u201d Marshal Yanda said. \u201cHe has an outside move, a bull rush and an inside move that are all very, very, very effective. So, that\u2019s what makes him really good.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I just thought you should know that despite being double and triple teamed, Aaron Donald has more QB pressures (40) and more TFL (16) than any other Defensive linemen. His 8 sacks are also more than any other defensive tackle. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cqq83du4Hr\">pic.twitter.com\/cqq83du4Hr<\/a><\/p>&mdash; jonah (@j_OH_nah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/j_OH_nah\/status\/1197287690816737281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 20, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Donald\u2019s ability to move around the line of scrimmage, both before and after the snap, will make life incredibly difficult on Monday in Los Angeles for the Ravens offensive front.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In particular, he\u2019s nearly impossible to slow down on stunts and plays where he can utilize his lateral quickness to beat the offensive line.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously, Aaron Donald is one of the best players in the world,\u201d Orlando Brown Jr. said. \u201cHe's very competitive. He makes plays. He's got pressures. He's got sacks, TFLs \u2014 all those things. I feel like his statistics pretty much speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Predominantly, Donald lines up as the Rams right defensive tackle in Wade Phillips\u2019 3-4 defensive scheme. So while he can move around, he\u2019ll predominantly be lined up against the left side of the Ravens\u2019 offensive line, which from left to right goes: Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman and Matt Skura.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a hell of a player,\u201d Bozeman, a second-year pro, said. \u201cHe\u2019s a complete, all-around great player. We\u2019re going to have our hands full this week. I respect the man in every aspect of the game. He\u2019s a complete player. This will be a good opportunity for me to see what I\u2019m made of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So while the seemingly larger-than-life figure of Donald awaits the Ravens offensive front, they\u2019re viewing Monday\u2019s game as a barometer to test themselves against perhaps the best player in football.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><br>\u201cI think you always want the best, and you always want to play your best against the best,\u201d Skura said. \u201cThat\u2019s definitely going to be a unique challenge for all of us. Any time you get to go against one of the best, or the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, you always get pumped up for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If there were a team to stop the NFL's best defender, though, the Ravens think they're it.<\/p>\n<p>They enter Week 12 with the league\u2019s best rushing attack, a ground game that\u2019s averaging 203 yards per game at a 5.7 yards per play clip. They\u2019ve also allowed just 19 sacks through their first 10 games, good for sixth in the league.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But Monday will come the greatest test, at least individually, they\u2019ll go up against all year long.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis speed off the ball, his explosiveness, his technique, his ability to read offensive linemen, get his hands off of him \u2014 everything he does is with power and explosion,\u201d Skura said. \u201cThat\u2019s something we\u2019re going to have to try and handle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Rams\u2019 defensive front isn\u2019t just Donald, as they boast a talented group of pass-rushers that includes Michael Brockers, Clay Matthews and Dante Fowler.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But the unit goes as Donald does, and that\u2019s exactly who Ravens will be faced with stopping on Monday in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe all have to do our jobs,\u201d Bozeman said. \u201cIf you get help, great, if you don\u2019t, you just have to man up and make the block.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE RAVENS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ravens vs. Rams:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ravens\/ravens-vs-rams-schedule-time-tv-channel-live-stream\">How to watch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ohio State vs. Penn State:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/5-prospects-redskins-and-ravens-fans-should-be-watching-ohio-state-vs-penn-state\">Prospects to look out for<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>The Ravens' Secret:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ravens\/eric-weddle-claims-he-wont-give-ravens-secrets-rams\">Weddle refuses to spill the beans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Ravens

Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Matt Skura was the first member of the Ravens to find out how good Aaron Donald is. 

In a September game between Pittsburgh and Duke in 2013, Skura lined up at center for Duke and Donald, a defensive tackle for Pitt, lined up in a three-technique over the right guard. 

On the snap, Duke’s right guard pulled left and Donald followed. Skura’s job was to block back on Donald and fill the hole. 

Instead, Donald blew through the line, and by Skura, and tackled Duke quarterback Brandon Connette and running back Josh Snead at the same time. 

“I was like, ‘Alright, this guy, he’s pretty legit,’” Skura recalled with a grin. “I just saw him flash before my eyes and he already made the play. He’s gotten bigger and faster and stronger since then, so I know it’s going to be fun.”

Donald’s ‘double tackle’ was at the start of his mystique, a career with a host of accolades in his five-years in the NFL.

He was named AP Defensive Rookie of The Year in 2014, has won back-to-back AP Defensive Player of The Year awards, was selected to five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams and holds the record for most sacks (20.5) from a defensive tackle. 

“He’s a legit monster,” Mark Ingram said. “You talk about an animal, a game-wrecker, a game-changer, that’s who it is. If you don’t have the proper gameplan for him, he’ll ruin your day, as simple as that. So, we respect him, and we’re going to have to know where he’s at, at all times and be able to neutralize him so he doesn’t ruin our game.”

 

At just 6-foot-1, Donald uses his speed and quickness off the ball to beat offensive linemen to their spots. And when it comes time, he’s able to use his power to barrel through whoever tries to block him. 

“Most guys have one or two really good moves, whether it’s bull rush is their main way they win, and then they’ll have a change-up move,” Marshal Yanda said. “He has an outside move, a bull rush and an inside move that are all very, very, very effective. So, that’s what makes him really good.”

Donald’s ability to move around the line of scrimmage, both before and after the snap, will make life incredibly difficult on Monday in Los Angeles for the Ravens offensive front. 

In particular, he’s nearly impossible to slow down on stunts and plays where he can utilize his lateral quickness to beat the offensive line.

“Obviously, Aaron Donald is one of the best players in the world,” Orlando Brown Jr. said. “He's very competitive. He makes plays. He's got pressures. He's got sacks, TFLs — all those things. I feel like his statistics pretty much speak for itself.”

Predominantly, Donald lines up as the Rams right defensive tackle in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defensive scheme. So while he can move around, he’ll predominantly be lined up against the left side of the Ravens’ offensive line, which from left to right goes: Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman and Matt Skura.

“He’s a hell of a player,” Bozeman, a second-year pro, said. “He’s a complete, all-around great player. We’re going to have our hands full this week. I respect the man in every aspect of the game. He’s a complete player. This will be a good opportunity for me to see what I’m made of.”

So while the seemingly larger-than-life figure of Donald awaits the Ravens offensive front, they’re viewing Monday’s game as a barometer to test themselves against perhaps the best player in football. 


“I think you always want the best, and you always want to play your best against the best,” Skura said. “That’s definitely going to be a unique challenge for all of us. Any time you get to go against one of the best, or the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, you always get pumped up for it.”

If there were a team to stop the NFL's best defender, though, the Ravens think they're it.

They enter Week 12 with the league’s best rushing attack, a ground game that’s averaging 203 yards per game at a 5.7 yards per play clip. They’ve also allowed just 19 sacks through their first 10 games, good for sixth in the league. 

 

But Monday will come the greatest test, at least individually, they’ll go up against all year long. 

“His speed off the ball, his explosiveness, his technique, his ability to read offensive linemen, get his hands off of him — everything he does is with power and explosion,” Skura said. “That’s something we’re going to have to try and handle.”

The Rams’ defensive front isn’t just Donald, as they boast a talented group of pass-rushers that includes Michael Brockers, Clay Matthews and Dante Fowler. 

But the unit goes as Donald does, and that’s exactly who Ravens will be faced with stopping on Monday in Los Angeles.

“We all have to do our jobs,” Bozeman said. “If you get help, great, if you don’t, you just have to man up and make the block.”

MORE RAVENS NEWS: