Ex-Pitt star lineman Donald not satisfied yet
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has high standards.
“I haven't played my best football yet,” the second-year player said Tuesday. “I still have a lot more I need to learn. I broke down film a lot during the offseason and saw a lot of things I didn't like. I did good things, but I had a lot of things I didn't do right. I have to fix that. I'm trying to play a lot better than what I did last year and keep improving.”
What Donald did last year was establish himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL.
The No. 13 overall pick out of Pittsburgh, Donald had 72 tackles, 38 quarterback pressures, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks and one forced fumble.
Donald became the first Rams' rookie to be selected for the Pro Bowl since running back Jerome Bettis in 1993, and was The Associated Press defensive rookie of the year.
But the 24-year-old lineman is far from satisfied.
“It's just the beginning,” Donald said. “I feel like I haven't played my best football. I feel like I had good games, but I didn't have that game yet that I can go back and watch and be like, I made it. I feel like I had good games, but I didn't have that one game to solidify me as one of those top players yet. So I have to keep working my butt off.”
Donald's attitude and work ethic has impressed the Rams.
“He's worked very, very hard the entire offseason,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “All of the things he accomplished last year, he started this offseason on a mission. He's in great shape. He has a good feel. He knows every snap he has a chance to win and he's motivated by that.”
Donald said he worked all offseason to get better and got bigger, stronger and faster than he has ever been. Listed at 285 pounds a year ago, he said he reported for camp at 290 pounds but has lost body fat.
“I really believe he just scratched the surface last year,” Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “His understanding of the pro game, his understanding of how we want things done, and some of the freedoms that we allow him to do, to play around him. He's a rare person instinctive-wise. He's a rare person intelligence-wise about that position. And he's a rare person leverage-wise. “
