Dolphins Watch: 12 Days
August 29th, 2017
A new Suh emerges
One preseason game remains for the Bucs, but now it’s all about opening day on Sunday, Sept. 10, against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Joe regularly will bring you a nugget to two on the Dolphins to prime you for the big day (and the night before) in Miramar.
Meet the new Ndamukong Suh. That’s the word out of Miami, where the manbeast defensive tackle is shedding his longer/bad-boy reputation.
It’s almost hard to believe it’s been seven years since the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was drafted No. 2 overall and one pick ahead of Gerald McCoy.
A lot of people thought Suh was just cashing a gargantuan check when he signed with the Dolphins in 2015. But that wasn’t the case. Miami landed a fierce competitor and sSuh hasn’t missed a game and is still a driving, superstar force on a playoff team.
But at 30 years old, Suh’s rough exterior is softening, per a story yesterday in the Palm Beach Post.
Rookie DE Charles Harris, the Dolphins’ first-round pick and a guy Joe would have loved in pewter and red, explained that Suh has the freedom to make liberal changes on the field to the Miami defense and is coming around as a vocal leader.
“Coach T had made one call, and then Suh made another call on the field, so I was like, ‘Wait, T told me to run this,’ and he was like, ‘No, we’re gonna run this,’” Harris said. “It’s just small things like that. It’s little instances about the game and situational football. That’s what he’s always telling me, that I need to learn situational football.”
That’s a key lesson for Harris, who weighed Suh’s change of plans against Williams’ initial call and decided, “Look, if you don’t listen to Coach Suh—I think I’d rather face Coach T versus Coach Suh.”
Harris said he didn’t know much about Suh’s reputation before coming to the Dolphins—fellow rookie Davon Godchaux was surprised to receive a friendly call from Suh when he got drafted—but he got the impression early on that Suh was a loner. That hasn’t proven to be the case at all.
“When I first got here, guys were talking about how he’s very closed off, he does his own thing, does his own job, handles his business and goes home,” Harris said. “But this year he actually told us that he’s gonna do a better job of opening up and talking to us and teaching us and taking guys under his wing. So far, he’s done a great job.”
So there you have it. The Bucs will be taking on a new Suh. Will a changed mental approach make him more effective? Get ready, Mr. Marpet.
Fun fact: Suh has 47 career stats to 42.5 for Gerald McCoy. Suh has a big edge in total tackles: 260 to 168. McCoy bests Shuh in forced fumbles with six; Suh has two.
August 29th, 2017 at 11:42 am
Suh> gmc.
Nuff said
August 29th, 2017 at 11:54 am
@Lamarcus – Ok…..and he was drafted one spot higher than McCoy. It’s not like we picked the wrong guy. Suh wasn’t there to be picked. And it’s not like the guy we got can’t be good just because the guy they got has put up better numbers.
August 29th, 2017 at 11:59 am
Mis-leading stats there. Suh has worked with better D-lines. McCoy has been the only D-lineman for many years.
August 29th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
What about the other equally important stats Joe?
Number of ice cream cones purchased for teammates after losing.
How many opposing players helped up off the turf.
August 29th, 2017 at 12:52 pm
I guess you guys were really impressed with the play of our D-line on saturday without McCoy, huh?
We should prob just release him, after all he’s just garbage according to many “fans” around here…
August 29th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Playoff appearances 2v0. Shhhhhhh!
August 29th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
I know this is not related but should Jason Licht go After Joe Haden and bring him back home to Florida
August 29th, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Imagine if we had Suh and McCoy on the same dline together….That would have been awesome to see! Go Bucs! Can’t wait for the season opener in Miami!!
August 29th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Any dumbass (lamarcus) that thinks Suh is better than GMC obviously doesn’t realize that Suh’s #’s reflect stats from 7 full seasons..GMC only has 5 full seasons, plus playing with far less talent around him, and has a few missed games sprinkled in between. Hence the fact that the Bucs have stupidly and foolishly wasted the majority of his career to this point.
August 29th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
87 is right
We could have gotten Aaron Donald along side GMC but GMC refused to move positions. Said he wasn’t playing nt no matter who came on and especially for no rookie. Lol. Funny thing is the rookie is so much better than he is.
August 29th, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Yeper there DB55.I always wanted us to go after Aaron Donald. I screamed it all over our websites. When I watched this beast on tape I said, this guy might surpass Sapp. And he probably will. Water on the bridge now though..
August 29th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
@mike johnson
repost or it did not happen!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
August 29th, 2017 at 6:17 pm
@mike johnson
repost or it did not happen!!!!!!!
_______________________________
Yeah Mike Johnson. Repost or we”ll never know whether you really said that.
We demand proof!!!!!
August 29th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Suh has played more games than GMC because of GMC’s first two years with injuries.
What have you done for me lately?
Since signing a contract for 20 million per year…7 million more than GMC..
Suh with the Dolphins….6 sacks his first year….5 sacks last year.
GMC during the same period…8.5 sacks…7 sacks…so he’s put up two more sacks per year than Suh for 7 million less in salary. But hey who doesn’t want to pay a run stuffing DT 20 million a year…real value eh? I guess Detroit just couldn’t see it.
August 29th, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Suh and GMC are both very good. Key word…BOTH. Anyone who thinks GMC sucks knows as much about NFL Football as I do quantum physics…..that would be nothing. It is fine to not like him for whatever reason but seriously, anyone cough cough TMAX, who constantly bashes one of the best DT’s in the league just show nothing but ignorance. Sorry…..not sorry.
August 29th, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Rayjay, I agree. Thanks for posting.
August 29th, 2017 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Reach87…..countdown to Hard Knocks!!