Bucs Center Explains The Aaron Donald Experience
November 19th, 2020
Up next for the Bucs is the best defense in the NFC, featuring a living legend at defensive tackle.
Five-time All-Pro Aaron Donald is having another monster season, striking fear into offensive coordinators and the guys lining up across from him.
Bucs 34-year-old center A.Q. Shipley, who made his first Tampa Bay start on Sunday, squared off against Donald twice a year as the Cardinals’ starting center, including in 2019.
Shipley explained why Donald has no peer.
“He plays at a different speed. I mean, when it’s all said and done you’re going to look back and says this guy was the best D-lineman to ever play the game,” Shipley said. “Right? He’s super athletic; you guys see it. There are games, if you don’t stop him early and he stops feeling himself, it can become a nightmare real quick. … He’s an absolute game-wrecker. He’s one of the few guys that plays that position almost like he’s a defensive end; he can kind of keep his feet and his hands moving at the same time, whereas a lot of these bigger guys, once they make their initial move they stop their feet. He keeps it rolling the whole time.”
Shipley’s comments came on The Pat McAfee Show on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio.
Yes, Joe’s fingers and toes are crossed that Ali Marpet exits the concussion protocol and returns to start at left guard with very fresh legs.
November 19th, 2020 at 4:30 am
We were able to handle Donald last year with Marpet and Jensen teaming up on him keeping Jameis’ Jersey clean. Hopefully he’s cleared to play. If not, this could get ugly…
November 19th, 2020 at 5:17 am
He’s one guy. And, sorry, but he’s not the best DL ever. Let’s stop with the goober smacking. Run right at him and treat him like Michael Thomas, Aaron Rodgers and McCaffrey, three of the sainted mortals this team ran over.
November 19th, 2020 at 5:59 am
Well, so, you have to block him. We know that. We could also hold off on those long-developing downfield plays too. Brady cannot drop back like a statue against this defense.
It seems obvious but, we’re going to have to run the football and get the ball out quickly to help out this OL.
November 19th, 2020 at 6:47 am
The Rams 3 losses show a similar trend.
o In their loss to the Bills, Rams fell behind 28-3 halfway thru the 3rd qtr, then scored 4 TDs in a 15-minute timeframe to take a 32-28 lead. Bills scored last though with a great 4-min drive to win 35-32. Rams won the stats & played BALANCED FOOTBALL, but lost the game (2 TOs didn’t help).
o In their loss to the 49ers, Rams fell behind 21-6 at the half but the 49ers defense didn’t let them back in & the Rams lost 24-16. In this case though, the 49ers played BALANCED FOOTBALL & clearly won the stats (49ers had 38 mins TOP to Rams 22 mins) & limited them to just 4-of-13 conversions on 3rd & 4th down.
o Rams loss to the Dolphins was a head-shaker. Rams throttled them in the stats in every way except one: Turnovers (Rams had 4 TOs to the Fins 2 TOs). Those TOs allowed the Dolphins to go up 28-7 late in the 1st half, then the Fins held on for a 28-17 win.
In all 3 losses, Rams fell behind early & had to move away from their BALANCED FOOTBALL strategy to catch up. Turnovers played a key role in causing them to fall behind. Rams defense was exceptional at shutting down the opposition in the 2nd half, but the damage had already been done in the 1st half when they fell behind by so much.
Why does this all sound so eerily familiar after watching the Bucs all season?
November 19th, 2020 at 7:55 am
A Donald was pretty much invisible last year when the Bucs hung 55 on them. I expect a juiced up Rams pass rush, they know if they let Brady have time he will simply slice and dice their Defense up. So here we go. This is a good playoff preview for the Bucs, because the Rams Defense is going throwing the kitchen sink at Brady. I believe there will not be a primetime fright show repeat of what the Saints did to the Bucs. We will see just how the coaching staff responds and adapts, because again, the next 2 weeks is like the playoffs. GO BUCS!!! KEEP TOM ALIVE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE!!!
November 19th, 2020 at 8:49 am
Yep. I wanted the Bucs to take Aaron Donald because he looked the second coming of Warren Sapp. But the Buc’s iconic ability to screw up the draft . . .
November 19th, 2020 at 9:46 am
After that game on Sunday, I actually have no problem with Jensen at LG. He’s a man beast that will be fired up (no personal fouls please) to keep his friend Tom clean.
November 19th, 2020 at 9:46 am
The OL allowed Jameis to have his best game ever against them last year. I expect the GOAT to perform just as well.
November 19th, 2020 at 11:31 am
A bit off topic but Miami has a long history of lucky turnovers factoring into their wins. This sounds like it will be the Bucs defense vs. Rams offense. Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2020 at 11:58 am
I’m sure now that Brady is behind center Donald will be doing his best to hammer him. Its always a good game watching Donald and Wilson goes at. Donald try’s to smash Wilson but then Wilson makes those crazy throws to Locket in the back corner of the end zone. Donald’s gonna come to play Monday, I hope Jensen and Marpet are back in there normal spots.