Ndamukong Suh – December 7, 2017
Download PDF version
Monday, December 7, 2017
DT Ndamukong Suh
(What’s the key to stopping that running game of New England’s? They got 196 rushing yards on you last time.) – “Yes, it was way too many running yards for anybody. We’ve just got to find ways to execute. I think when we went back and watched the film, it came down to tackling as well as execution.”
(What do you say to Patriots QB Tom Brady when you’re lying on top of him?) – “(laughter) Since I’m not much of a talker…”
(Do you make an exception in that case?) – “I usually don’t like going to the ground. I like inflicting pain and then going about my business and getting ready for the next play. I usually try to not stay on the ground (and) hop up quick.”
(Do you have to be careful? You don’t want to make Patriots QB Tom Brady mad, right?) – “I’d love to make him mad. My job is to piss him off and have him yelling at his offensive linemen for not blocking me, his coach and everybody on the sideline. That’s my job.”
(That’s the thing you guys really have to do, in all seriousness right? You’ve got to make him uncomfortable?) – “Yes, no question. Uncomfortable (and) off his spot. We know he likes to drop back and throw comfortably and have this nice pocket; but my sole job is to disrupt that at all costs.”
(When was the last time you saw that? When is the last time you created something where you saw there was some frustration from Patriots QB Tom Brady?) – “I think the last game we played them, we had some good hits on him and understood what they wanted to do. Personally, I can reach back to some times in Detroit where they actually pulled him from a game. (It was) a preseason game, so maybe it wasn’t that important; but it was important for us just to get a gauge to see where we were at. I’ve had some success against him.”
(The eight hits on Patriots QB Tom Brady last time, what does that tell you about the pass rush and what effect do you think it had on him and the game?) – “I think it was good in the pass rush concept but when we look at the run game, we didn’t do so hot there. I think they stuck with that and we have to eliminate that. I think when we eliminate both of those pieces and they’re not successful on both sides of the running and pass game, that’s when we’ll find ourselves successful.”
(How do you feel about taking days off from practice? Does it bother you when you have to do that, that you can’t be out there with everybody else?) – “It’s not really my decision. When I look at it, I understand why they have me do it; but then I also look at it from the standpoint that I wasn’t wired that way, to take days off. It’s not something that I’m used to, especially over my career. I think prior to – I want to say last year or something of that nature – I had only missed one practice due to being sick. I had, unfortunately, the flu in 2014.”
(That’s why I was curious about it though because you don’t seem like someone that would want to take a day off; but you also seem like someone who could understand the value of it. So I just wonder how much internal wrestling is there with you on a day like today, for example?) – “As I said, it’s not my decision. I take orders and I’m a good lieutenant or whatever you want to call it. How I look at it is it’s not my decision. I take it in stride. I’m not wired to take days off. I wasn’t built that way mentally or physically; but I do understand the importance of it and just roll with the punches.”
(Is that something that when you’re done playing, you’ll look back and say ‘Okay, I see why.’ Is it hard to do it as a guy that’s in it right now?) – “No, no, no. I can see it now, for sure. I see it with my trainer, I see it with the coaching staff and there’s other reasons as well; but it’s not like I’m getting the entire day off and I get to be at home. (laughter) I’ve got plenty of work and things that I can do and study. It gives me an opportunity to learn it from a mental standpoint. I think prior to being in the pros, the biggest way I learned and advanced myself in this game is that I was out during spring ball. I had a torn ACL, so I had to sit on the sidelines and learn the game from there, and I think it served me right.”
(Head Coach Adam Gase spoke really highly of DT Jordan Phillips today. What are you seeing from him both on the field and attitude wise?) – “I think Jordan understands his role and I think he’s understanding, really, his whole overall ability as a player; and he’s growing into that. I think the best thing for him is to just stay consistent. I think he understands the attitude he has and the effect he has on this team and how he can be a dominant force.”
(Having said that, how terrible was that sack dance that DT Jordan Phillips did?) – “(laughter) I didn’t see much of the sack dance, but I saw a lot of excitement from Jordan. It’s always good to see a young guy like that get sacks and make plays. You’re obviously happen for your line mates.”
(You guys didn’t run that dance back and forth on the film?) – “(laughter) We didn’t run it back and forth on film.”
(What about the TE Julius Thomas touchdown dance?) – “That was beautiful. (laughter) It was a great display of riding a Bronco, to say the least. (laughter)”
(You could tell right away that’s what it was?) – “(laughter) Yes.”
(You immediately knew that’s what it is, just riding a Bronco?) – “(laughter) Immediately. Just riding a Bronco.”
(The Pro Bowl announcements are coming up fairly soon. I was wondering how much interest you have in that still at this point and whether that means anything to you.) – “I’d sit here and lie to you if I didn’t say I was interested in it. I hope you voted, to say the least. You’re always curious to see how things pan out. I’m happy to see other guys make the Pro Bowl. I’m happy to see guys like Cam Wake and Reshad Jones and many other guys – (Mike) Pouncey – on this team make the Pro Bowl and be successful and get accolades for it.”
(Does the event itself, going to Orlando, have any appeal to you still at this point?) – “Yes, why not? It’s just up the road. It was obviously great when it was in Hawaii. I got to take that trip over there; but Orlando, I’ve had fun up in Orlando plenty of times. There’s some cool things that I know in Orlando that I could be a part of outside of just playing football and being in that game.”
(So if you were selected to the Pro Bowl this year, you would intend to go?) – “Yes, I would. I would have went last year if I didn’t have the situation that I had physically. It’s always my goal to go out there if I was graciously enough to be selected to it and participate in it.”
(What part do you like the best about being around all of the players from other teams from around the league?) – “I enjoy it. I think the biggest interactions that I enjoy is going against the other guys and being around them, at my similar position. I think one of the most fun times I had was interacting with like Philip Rivers and guys like that, where most of the time we’re at each other’s throats and trying to combat each other but everything is just fun living there (at the Pro Bowl). That’s how I kind of look at it.”
(Has Patriots QB Tom Brady ever said anything interesting to you when you’re engaged, after a big hit, or anything funny? How does he react?) – “No. He hasn’t really said much at all to me. I’d love to sit down with him.”
(How well do you know Patriots QB Tom Brady?) – “I don’t know him at all. Maybe you can create that. (laughter) You seem like you have all of the connections over there.”
