L.A.’s Donald will be tough test for Jags
JACKSONVILLE — San Francisco 49ers right guard Brandon Fusco had almost no chance.
With the 49ers trailing the Los Angeles Rams 41-39 during Week 3 and facing fourth-and-20 with under two minutes remaining, Fusco had the responsibility of blocking defensive tackle Aaron Donald one-on-one.
Donald used his power to get Fusco off balance and then switched to a speed move to motor by him and sack quarterback Brian Hoyer for a loss of eight yards.
His sack ended that game, and Donald is more than capable of disrupting what the Jaguars want to do on offense Sunday at EverBank Field.
“He has rare speed at that three-technique position,” said right guard A.J. Cann. “That goes along with his power and that generates a lot of physical strength.”
And a lot of problems for opposing offensive lines. Donald appears to be rounding into form after he missed all of the preseason in a contract holdout.
“You really see him getting more comfortable and getting back into football mode,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “The last few weeks, I think he's played like one of the best defensive tackles in the league, which we've known he's been for the last handful of years.”
Donald played 53 of 68 defensive snaps last week against Seattle. On the Seahawks' six-play opening possession, Donald came from quarterback Russell Wilson's right three times, from his left twice and lined up over the center once.
“We've got the entire offense understanding where No. 99 is,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said, referring to Donald's jersey number. “He has quickness off the ball and he has power and strength and he has the speed to get around you but he can also bull rush you like no one else. The combination of both is incredible.”
Coach Doug Marrone and Hackett's battles with Donald go back to their days in the Big East.
Three of Donald's four seasons at Pittsburgh overlapped with Marrone's time as Syracuse's coach and Hackett's time on the offensive staff. In three meetings, Donald had 13 tackles and a sack.
Since then, Donald has won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and been voted to three Pro Bowls.
“When he left [college], I was hoping to never see him again,” Marrone said. “And here we are again.”
The Jaguars ruled out center Brandon Linder (illness) for the second consecutive game.
Asked to clarify Linder's issue, Marrone said: “He has an illness, but he is getting better. It's just a matter of time but you never know when it's going to be. He worked out Friday and did some conditioning.”