I've watched that play a few times. What did Donald not do that Manning wanted him to do? Help the LT as the RDE blew around him? Run out to the left flat as a pass receiver? Kelp the RT and help keep the LDE inside the tackles? Run out to the right flat as a pass receiver? I'm not seeing it ...
It was a strong side right, shotgun, single back set left, with a slot Y receiver weakside. The defense shifted a bit pre snap but ended up in a 3 man pass rush, nothing overly confusing. Donald shifted strong side on the snap and made the decision to help block the TE on the DE split wide strong side, while the LT was left 1-1, and the 3 interior linemen had ONE player to block - The NT and the RT was available to help on the DE.
The quick read on the LB's and the line, should have had Brown either staying home on theweakside (left) to help on the 1-1 block as a primary protection read, then releasing to the flat one way or the other as an outlet for the QB most likely to the left, as the two receivers on that side would have been able to block downfield. He had no reason to move strongside, and get in behind 4 linemen and a TE blocking two defenders, unless in the game planning and film study, it was decided that the DE-TE matchup was a mismatch and should have been a primary read for the back. Manning's response, pretty much confirms that was not the case.