Stunning Aaron Donald Stats Vs. Bucs
September 25th, 2021
Rams DT Aaron Donald.
Anyone who doesn’t think Aaron Donald is likely the best non-quarterback who plays in the NFL has to be blind drunk.
Donald is a complete and total beast. The pure definition of a “gamewrecker.” He’s easily a Hall of Fame player.
However, against the Bucs, he’s not much better than kneeling Akeem Spence.
Joe was doing research on Donald and was blown away to learn Donald has but one sack against the Bucs in five games. One! Donald goes into a shell when he plays the Bucs for some reason.
(In the final NFL game played in St. Louis in December 2015, Donald did have three quarterback hits on then-rookie Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.)
Last year when the Bucs hosted the Rams on Monday Night Football, Donald was a total no-show. Seriously. He did not record one stat (sack, tackle, assist, quarterback hit, tackle for loss) despite playing 90 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps.
And in that game the Bucs played with a rearranged offensive line. Ali Marpet had a concussion and did not play. Ryan Jensen played left guard and current Bucs assistant A.Q. Shipley, in what turned out to be his final NFL game due to a neck injury suffered late in the game, started at center.
Despite having little success against the Bucs, right tackle Tristan Wirfs fully knows what kind of bear Donald is.
And Donald, Wirfs emphasized, has the complete attention of the Bucs’ offensive line as they gear up to play in Los Angeles tomorrow.
“You know how good he is,” Wirfs said of Donald on the “Pat McAfee Show” this week. “It’s unreal. He has so many tools. He is so explosive, so strong.
“He has so many tools in his arsenal that he can beat you with. It’s understanding what you can do to go out there and be successful against a guy like that.”
As can be expected from McAfee, a close friend of Shipley, he had some fun with Wirfs. He asked Wirfs about coming in as a rookie with all the future Hall of Famers on the Bucs’ roster. Wirfs said in his very first huddle he was in-between Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and directly across from him in the huddle was Mike Evans and Antonio Brown.
Wirfs said it was so wild to him that he thought he was in a Madden game.
Asked by McAfee what he thinks of Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, Wirfs thinks it’s cool that Arians curses so much but at the same time, Wirfs said Arians cares so much about his players.
Below is a clip of Wirfs’ reaction to McAfee relaying a story about Wirfs told to him by Shipley last year.
CAUTION: McAfee likes to use colorful language that is not suitable for church on Sundays or in conversations with your grandmother. Prepare accordingly.
AQ Shipley told me you were gonna be a STUD.. how do you feel going into your 2nd year??
“Im definitely less anxious this year.. you gotta be a sponge with all the great players we have” ~@TristanWirfs78 pic.twitter.com/D1DuG1ECX3
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 23, 2021
September 25th, 2021 at 12:22 am
The song needs to remain the same with Donald on Sunday.
September 25th, 2021 at 1:03 am
Thought we saw what stats meant via Vea first game. Win the game no matter what Donald does and I’ll be happy
September 25th, 2021 at 1:07 am
Joe i was telling many people donald has not done anything against the bucs in years. Im not blown away. The last time he did was on thursday night when jameis was a rookie. If you remember, jameis got in donalds face because jameis was not happy how donald did doug martin. Donald pushed jameis on his a$$ and no olineman or any player (terrible no olineman did) came to jameis defense. I was angry about that. I can guarantee that jensen wouldnt have that if donald pushes brady to the ground if brady was coming to the defense of rojo or fournette
September 25th, 2021 at 1:21 am
And i will add i had never seen a qb get hit or pushed down after the whistle and no olineman comes to the qb’s defense. I know this town blame jameis for everything but that sums up the type of team we were and that shows just how soft we were. Hats off to evans for taking lattimore’s head off a couple years later when he saw him touch his qb. Evans is an all time great buc!!!!
September 25th, 2021 at 2:03 am
This means he is due. This is a game that Brady gets injured early and the Bucs season goes down the sewer.
September 25th, 2021 at 2:38 am
It’s the secondary that has to play a good game. If they play consistently play good then this game is winnable.
September 25th, 2021 at 2:54 am
Lay off the White Claws webster.
Your sissy side is showing.
September 25th, 2021 at 4:16 am
This is the 1st game Bucs w/ TB12 will face a full stadium with NOISE. Pete’s having NIGHT TERRORS about this game. Hopefully Matt Stafford poops his pants in this big game
September 25th, 2021 at 4:20 am
@Kansas95 winnable?
Last time I checked the Bucs have won 9 straight scoring over 30 points each time which is an NFL record.
More like if Donald shows up AND Ramsey completely shuts down Evans AND they stop Gronk, AND Godwin, AND stop the run, then this is a winnable game for the Rams.
They will have to score 30+ to win so that’s just defense.
Outside Cooper what? Their RBs are decimated.
Stafford threw 5 picks playing against a Bowles team in NY.
Trust me, the Rams are freaking out right now about this offense.
September 25th, 2021 at 5:56 am
Pete when TB in the zone he hears no noise!!!!
September 25th, 2021 at 6:50 am
@Kansas95Buc … “It’s the secondary that has to play a good game. If they play consistently play good then this game is winnable.”
No question that our Secondary has to play better, but the real key to the game IMO will be Tom Brady. If you go back & look at last year’s loss to the Rams, Brady had a terrible game. Overall he only threw for 54% on the day (26-for-48 for 209 net passing yards & 2 critical INTs). Just as importantly, he was 0-for-8 on his deep throws, and 2 of those were intercepted. One of his INTs led to a Rams’ TD in the 3rd qtr (short field) & the other gave the Rams the ball with less than 2 mins to go (and they ran out the clock to end the game).
The Bucs’ gameplan that day was terrible. We ran the ball very predictably 18 times on the day (27% run-pass ratio) … ran it 10 times in the 1st half & 7 of those were on 1st down; ran it 8 times in the 2nd half & 4 of those were on 1st down … gaining a TOTAL of only 42 yds rushing. Brady’s deep passes were a disaster (none completed with TWO INTs), despite the fact that our OLine protected him extremely well (he did get sacked once). IOW our Bucs’ offense left a LOT on the table in that game. It won’t happen again.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:02 am
@Medicated Pete
This is the 1st game Bucs w/ TB12 will face a full stadium with NOISE.
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I was at the game in ’19 when we demolished the Rams in LA.
I would venture to guess that at least 35% or more of the crowd was wearing Bucs gear (lotsa “3’s” BTW) and we weren’t even a real contender that year. Coming off a Super Bowl win, I expect we could see upwards of 50% representation in the stands.
We complain here that we have too many opposition fans in attendance at our home games. With similar weather and a tourist economy, LA has similar issues.
On the other hand, who wants to visit Green Bay or Buffalo in the winter, hmm?
September 25th, 2021 at 7:06 am
Just having TB, means we have the best chance of winning. I believe the secondary will have a good game, and Bowles will out smart McVay. I also have a gut feeling Tryon-Shoyinka will breakout in this game.
On a side note. I agree, Webster is definitely a seltzer kinda gal.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:15 am
First off Swampass that’s a dbag post. Def Rules, it is the run game that needs to evolve, that is what the Pat’s did in SB against them which allowed Edleman to have his way with the secondary, can’t have Rams front 4 pinning their ear back and trying to tee off on Brady. Donald has NEVER sacked Brady and that has to be eating at him. Keep Stafford in the pocket and cut off Kupp, let Woods beat you. What you didn’t mention in your post were the dropped balls, the unfamiliar no risk no biscuit game plan, mixing up of oline, no Vea or I believe no Brown? (cross your fingers). This team is far more mature and enjoys the taste of W’s over L’s. Bucs 31-24
September 25th, 2021 at 7:31 am
Thanks to BA n his staff the culture at one buc place is different than past years coaches such as Lovie Smith n Dirk Koetter. Aaron Donald n Rams defense had no respect for Bucs linemen in 2015 n 2016. Donavan Smith was a dud n former Buc Pamphile should’ve been arrested for impersonating a nfl player. On the last play of the game in 2016 against the Rams, with no one to block, former buc pamphile gave up on a play n just stood n watch Winston try to make a comeback on his own near the goal line. pamphile never made an effort to to assist n block the Rams players who were relentless. As Winston scrambled Rams players were determined to end the game with a last second tackle on Winston.2015-2018 other than Ali Marpet n Logan Mankind, Bucs lineman showed no hustle, motivation, or interest in coming to Winston’s defense. 2019 in come BA n DSmith was on the hot seat. Out goes the “ u got beast mode” Chris Conte n “my bad Ben” featuring Gerald McCoy and in comes the “I don’t care bout u cause I’m not ur momma” player such as DWhite or “don’t mess with my qb” Ryan Jensen, or “I’ll body slam u” Ndamukong Suh, n finally “Let’s gooooo” Tom Brady. That’s the BA culture. Bring on Aaron Donaldson
September 25th, 2021 at 7:32 am
Listnfrmafar … I agree with you that the Bucs can win this one because I think our offense in particular has matured a bunch since that 2020 loss to the Rams. Brady’s deep ball accuracy is 1000% better & our game planning has evolved considerably.
The X-factor will be our defense, but I think that Todd Bowles will be treating this like a 2021 NFC Championship preview & have these guys flying all over the place. They’ve looked hesitant to me through the first 2 games & I’ve got a feeling that’ll stop in this game.
And BTW, AB did play in last year’s game but he was used differently I think than we’ve been seeing him used this year. And interestingly both Fournette & Gronk had meh games (Lenny was 1-for-4 receiving and Gronk was only 2-for-6 receiving). I expect that both will have much better games this time.
September 25th, 2021 at 7:57 am
I can see Gio and OJ used more as well, Gronk maybe needed to stay in and block. How is Mickens hurt? He did nothing last week. He was a key factor against Dallas though and I am a little uncomfortable if he is replaced with a rookie.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:38 am
Not sure how AB could have been in Wirfs’ very first huddle as he wasn’t on the team until week 8 or so.
September 25th, 2021 at 8:59 am
Not to many teams have O lineman like Marpet, Jensen, and Cappa. I can see those double teams in the middle giving him fits. What worries me is if he lines up at D end, and get’s to many one, on ones with Smith, and Wirfs. If that happens I’d have Gronk stay in to help those guys out.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:04 am
Webster need a bottle 😭
September 25th, 2021 at 9:22 am
REMOVE Swampbuc
September 25th, 2021 at 9:54 am
One wonders if Ram’s fans are all atwitter about Vea and Suh as Buc fans are about Donald.
September 25th, 2021 at 9:59 am
I agree with DR: this Bucs O is NOT at all the O the Rams faced last year when Brady was struggling and the Bucs, in general, had not found themselves on Offense.
I have no idea how this game will go, nor the Bucs strategy. I could make cases either way.
September 25th, 2021 at 10:59 am
Rams may try putting Donald at DE against Donnie.
September 25th, 2021 at 11:03 am
Just want to clarify
Webster would still take jameis over the GOAT
Also , he would take his gonads and make them a neck chain trophy
Not two chains. More two nutz
Webster hates people that dont look like him
“Tampa is a hick town”
And dont forget “dear jameis”
September 25th, 2021 at 11:05 am
Doosh and younbuc your hate for a player is showing which validates your ignorance. So much so the protocol that is common around the league for decades didnt happen that night and your hate and stupidity is fine with that. The commentator that night brought up the fact that our oline was in fact the pussies. We have this in every sport. If someone steps out of line with stamkos, the lightning have goons to handle that as does EVERY hockey team. In baseball, we have pitchers designed to throw at a batter if retaliation is called for. But you backwood hillbillies are cool with players from the opposing team taking cheap shots at your qb because u hate him. Yep, you are why this fan base is considered the dumbest. Take bow
September 25th, 2021 at 11:13 am
One wonders if Ram’s fans are all atwitter about Vea and Suh as Buc fans are about Donald.
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Not to mention the fear of the unknown with JTS.
It stands to reason he will be getting a lot more snaps with JPP out.
I’m hoping to see more man-to-man with strong checks at the line to disrupt short route timing and over the top help from the safeties. Just an extra second or two for the pass rush to get home!
September 25th, 2021 at 11:22 am
Lambeau, that will happen a few times for sure. I think the Rams try to do that every game.
September 25th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
webster confuses 5-year frustration with a turnover machine with “hate.”
Which, of course, is an absurd leap of logic.
I was a big supporter of ATM for three years. Then his antics never got any better, and that final pick-6 vs. the Falcons killed my support. His “check yo sheets, I be ballin'” lack of self-awareness comment cemented my heart to a deep freeze.
And I suspect I am not the only one.
I doubt anybody hates ATM. I’m just glad he eats W’s somewhere else.
But if it weren’t for ATM, the Bucs would not have The GOAT and a Lombardi.
September 25th, 2021 at 3:19 pm
Sheesh. The people who say this is a dumb posting site are the very people making dumb posts. And atm I would not mind never seeing another one from Swamp and Webster.. I love this site and most of the articles and comments, too.
September 25th, 2021 at 11:18 pm
All the defense has to do is keep them under 25 and the offense will win. When the offense is ahead in the fourth then the defense will become opportunistic and make plays. Offense scores 35 we’re all gravy baby. This defense will not keep anyone under 21 points