Steelers: Three Keys to Winning in Week 10
By Chris Ross
Slow Down Aaron Donald
From the moment he entered the league back in 2014, Aaron Donald has been a one-man wrecking crew on the Rams’ defensive line. Coming off his second-straight Defensive Player of the Year performance, Donald is once again destroying opposing offensive lines with his historic combination of power and athleticism. Fans in Pittsburgh are well aware of what Donald is capable of after seeing him play for Pitt in college, and in his return to the city on Sunday, the Steelers must find a way to slow him down.
The team has already made a move along the offensive line in an effort to prepare for Donald’s impact, moving Right Tackle Matt Feiler inside to Left Guard. Feiler, who has played well on the right side of the Steelers line, is replacing B.J. Finney, who was filling in for the injured Ramon Foster. Moving linemen around to different positions the week of a game is certainly a bold strategy, especially given the opponent, but it just goes to show what type of impact Donald has on game plans. Hopefully, Feiler adjusts to his new position quickly, or else the consequences could be disastrous.
Young quarterbacks often struggle with pressure, especially up the middle, and that is true with Mason Rudolph. Donald has started to heat up in recent weeks with four sacks in three games, and he enters this game looking to continue his hot play. Unless Pittsburgh can slow him down, their offense may have trouble keeping up with Los Angeles.