Aaron Donald at DE

[tm1119]

I want this kid. If he was 3 inches taller he would be a top 15 pick. He's got elite quickness for any D line player and has a variety of pass rush moves. I love the idea of him playing strong side DE. He would be a plus run defender while not giving up much as a pass rusher.

Hopefully someone else just watched that Pitt game and was as excited as I was watching Donald.

 

[supercowboy8]

I've watched him all year and have been saying I want this kid and people on here keep saying he is to undersized. He can add 10 pounds and not lose any speed. He can be the next Jarrell Casey or Geno Atkins. He is a perfect 3 tech DT.

I don't see him as a DE. I would love Dominique Easley for that if you can get him in the 3rd. I wouldn't take a chance on Easley any earlier due to his injury history.

I'm not blown away with any DL with current 1st round grades where we will be picking. I think Donald and Quarles and Easley are three guys Marinelli will love. Remember he didn't want Floyd last year because he wants rushmen. Guys that can get up field quick. He doesn't care about size, look at Melton. All three of the above mentioned can get up field quickly.

 

[supercowboy8]

Right now I'm not big on any player with current mid to late 1st round pick. I think the 2nd round currently has better value but most those ratings will change and you will see some of the players rated 2nd or 3rd round in the 1st by draft time in may. We have over 5 my the left.

 

[SportsGuru80]

The guy is just a player... Reminds me of a John Randle type.

 

[tm1119]

I've watched him all year and have been saying I want this kid and people on here keep saying he is to undersized. He can add 10 pounds and not lose any speed. He can be the next Jarrell Casey or Geno Atkins. He is a perfect 3 tech DT.

I don't see him as a DE. I would love Dominique Easley for that if you can get him in the 3rd. I wouldn't take a chance on Easley any earlier due to his injury history.

I'm not blown away with any DL with current 1st round grades where we will be picking. I think Donald and Quarles and Easley are three guys Marinelli will love. Remember he didn't want Floyd last year because he wants rushmen. Guys that can get up field quick. He doesn't care about size, look at Melton. All three of the above mentioned can get up field quickly.

Why do you like Easley but not Donald at DE? They're pretty similar player in my opinion.

 

[supercowboy8]

Why do you like Easley but not Donald at DE? They're pretty similar player in my opinion.

Easley has played the position in college and knows how to set the edge. Easley also has great pass rushing moves from the outside. Donald is a DT only and a perfect 3 tech DT. I think Donald will take a year to become dominate much like Casey and Atkins but year 2 will be a monster.

I hope Melton gets brought in during free agency. Makes touch sense not to. Coming of ACL injury could sign a one year deal to prove himself he should want to come back to the scheme and coach that helped him dominate last year.

 

[supercowboy8]

The guy is just a player... Reminds me of a John Randle type.

Yeah John Randle is a good comparison.

 

[tm1119]

Easley has played the position in college and knows how to set the edge. Easley also has great pass rushing moves from the outside. Donald is a DT only and a perfect 3 tech DT. I think Donald will take a year to become dominate much like Casey and Atkins but year 2 will be a monster.

I hope Melton gets brought in during free agency. Makes touch sense not to. Coming of ACL injury could sign a one year deal to prove himself he should want to come back to the scheme and coach that helped him dominate last year.

Idk I just watched Donald lineup at DE and beat the RT with an outside pass rush. Dipped his shoulder and showed an impressive bend. I think he's plenty athletic to play strongside DE.

 

[supercowboy8]

Idk I just watched Donald lineup at DE and beat the RT with an outside pass rush. Dipped his shoulder and showed an impressive bend. I think he's plenty athletic to play strongside DE.

To each his own. I don't think he is a nfl DE and better suited shooting the gaps on the interior. Also the RT for BGSU isn't anywhere close to a nfl RT.

 

[Future]

To each his own. I don't think he is a nfl DE and better suited shooting the gaps on the interior. Also the RT for BGSU isn't anywhere close to a nfl RT.

Agreed. I like Donald in the middle.

He's listed at 285, and could probably get up to 295 or so with a year of strength training in the NFL. No reason to think he is too small, and with that quickness, I think he would be outstanding as a 3 tech.

 

[KDM256]

Saw the kid play yesterday and came away impressed despite the competition he was facing in front of him. Hopefully we can snag him inthe 2nd because he will be long gone afterwards especially with solid combine numbers.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Aaron Donald is a good player. But a DE, he is not. NFL OT's are just too long. They'll keep him at bay and engulf him, and he'll have no opportunity to shed because he won't get his hands in on them. Short guys like Freeney and Dumerville a) are the exception, not the rule; b) are much quicker and capable of using space to their advantage; and c) have freakishly long arms for their (lack of) height. I have no idea what Donald's arm length is, but I'd suspect it's fairly average for a 6'0 DL, and he's therefore not on the DE radar.

As a 3T though... yes please. I need to see more of him before wanting to select him in the top 20, but he's got really nice get off and plays with some fire.

 

[IAmLegend]

I'm watching Ra'Shede Hageman of Minnesota play right now on ESPN. He's a big kid at 6'6" and 311 lbs. and he's athletic. Looks like he could play either DT in a 4-3 or DE in a 3-4. He looks a bit raw but I like his potential. I expect the Cowboys to be interested in him come May.

 

[SportsGuru80]

I'm watching Ra'Shede Hageman of Minnesota play right now on ESPN. He's a big kid at 6'6" and 311 lbs. and he's athletic. Looks like he could play either DT in a 4-3 or DE in a 3-4. He looks a bit raw but I like his potential. I expect the Cowboys to be interested in him come May.

Before you know it the draft will be held the week before training camp........

 

[SportsGuru80]

By the way he will not play DE in the NFL, sorry. He's quick and uses very good technique on the inside to get to the QB.

 

[tm1119]

I dream of a Cinci/Seattle 4-3 so that's why I want Donald as an end....probably should have mentioned that.

They both use big strongside DE's and an attacking/pass rushing OLB behind that 280+ lb DE. That's the brand of 4-3 I'd like to play, and I think Donald would be perfect for it. Of course he would also kick inside as a pass rusher on obvious passing downs.

 

[RS12]

— Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald accepted a Senior Bowl invite this week, according to Executive Director Phil Savage. Donald is a player several NFL teams and agents have asked me about this season. His quickness will draw comparisons to Geno Atkins, as will his smaller size. A big week in Mobile could be huge for his rising draft stock. Donald won the Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi and Bednarik this year in a rare sweep of the four major trophies awarded to linemen.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Donald is a beast. He's going first round even if his measurables are only what is expected.

 

[supercowboy8]

Donald is a beast. He's going first round even if his measurables are only what is expected.

I agree and said that a month ago that after all the draft stuff Donald would be a 1st round pick.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I'm watching Ra'Shede Hageman of Minnesota play right now on ESPN. He's a big kid at 6'6" and 311 lbs. and he's athletic. Looks like he could play either DT in a 4-3 or DE in a 3-4. He looks a bit raw but I like his potential. I expect the Cowboys to be interested in him come May.

I watched him too, but he didn't do much