Gang Green Nation
It was a career game for Will McDonald in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns. The Jets defensive end registered four sacks. Let’s take a look at how they happened.
Sack #1
This is a 3rd and 15 play. The Jets loop Jermaine Johnson from a wide alignment all the way to the A gap on the other side of the formation.
The Browns don’t do a very good job picking it up, and Jermaine comes through untouched.
McDonald is actually blocked up pretty well initially.
However, Johnson’s pressure flushes Gabriel outside, and McDonald is able to clean up.
Sack #2
This is a 3rd and 17 play where McDonald comes with a speed rush off the edge.
This leads Gabriel to take off.
The rest of the pocket is holding up fine. He probably could have just stepped up without taking off, although this might be a case where his 5’11” frame comes into play. Perhaps Gabriel couldn’t see over the offensive line if he stepped up into closer range of his offensive line.
In any event, McDonald works back to get off his block and cleans this up with a sack.
Sack #3
The third sack came on a 3rd and 10 play. You often hear about how difficult it is for an offense to operate on obvious passing downs. This play provides a concrete example as to why that is. McDonald is lined up as a defensive tackle at the three technique on the outside shoulder of guard Wyatt Teller.
On passing downs, you can stick explosive edge rushers against guards, who tend to be less athletic. You couldn’t do it in a more neutral situation where the run is an option. McDonald would get pushed around as a defensive tackle on a run play.
Because it’s an obvious passing situation, it’s spin move and sack.
Sack #4
The fourth and final sack came on a critical 4th and 1 in the fourth quarter with the Jets holding a 7 point lead. McDonald just uses a bull rush to walk Cam Robinson back into Gabriel.
I think one of the big questions that comes after a game like this is how repeatable the performance is. In many instances a player can have a monster statistical game and have it not be the result of skill. Sometimes you just end up at the right place at the right time over and over or get a really good matchup.
It goes without saying that this performance for McDonald isn’t repeatable from one very obvious standpoint. There won’t be many games where he registers 4 sacks. You could be the greatest pass rusher in the history of the league. That just won’t happen often.
This game was definitely encouraging, though. 2025 had been a struggle for Will. There have been long stretches where he hasn’t been a factor. He made his impact felt against the Browns.
As for repeatability, the first sack kind of just fell into his lap...
