Ndamukong Suh – January 4, 2017
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Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
(As you guys get closer and closer to Sunday, just the excitement level for yourself and the rest of your teammates) – “I’m looking forward to it. This will be my third time in the playoffs. (It’s) a very exciting time, (and an) opportunity to obviously showcase your best talent – best football – as you should be reaching at this time of year. (We’re) going against a very competitive group, a group that’s going to be a very tough one to beat.”
(Being one of the defensive leaders of this team what are some of the tactics you guys are going to do to slow down the Steelers Killer Bs? Obviously RB Le’Veon Bell, WR Antonio Brown and QB Ben Roethlisberger) – “At the end of the day, they’re all very talented, and they’re going to obviously take shots with ‘84’ (Antonio Brown) and ‘26’ (Le’Veon Bell), they’re going to make a lot of runs both in the pass and the run game. So we’ve got to tackle. We’ve got to make plays and counteract that, and that’s our job as defensive players to really corrupt what they’re trying to do on the offensive side of the ball.”
(You guys had a knack of slowing them down the last time you guys played them. What do you guys do to duplicate that feat?) – “I think we learned from that film, but also that was very early in the season. I think it was Week 6 or something like that. They’ve grown quite a bit, as well as expanded their offense, and we’ve got to adjust and adapt to those particular things. Looking at the game plan, especially in the run game today, and the last couple of days, as I was in here with the coaches, we’ve got some things in here for us. We’ve just got to go out there and execute.”
(Why were you guys effective at limiting RB Le’Veon Bell the first time you met?) – “I think we understood what type of runner he was – being a patient guy that wants to find the right hole and then obviously he uses his athletic ability to make plays. We figured that out and had the opportunity to stop them. Obviously we had a great job from our offense and they moved the ball, ran the ball. We had a great time of possession and (our offense) got them behind the 8-ball, so they had to start to pass the ball and move down the field and make points. Depending on how the game goes … But from the very beginning in watching their film, particularly yesterday, we played into his hand and he played into our hands and understand that he wanted to be a patient runner and we attacked that.”
(Stopping Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. You guys sacked him twice last game and had two interceptions. Does that start with pass rush or more steam? What does that start with?) – “It starts with a combination of the two. Obviously coverage is very key – understanding where they want to go, who they want to go to. They’ve got a great tight end. They’ve got obviously a great wide receiver that I know personally and have seen him, training with him in different things. So it’s exciting to see that; but, at the end of the day, I think we’ve got to, like I said, cover, but at the same time get after the quarterback in Ben. He likes to hold the ball and make plays – extend the play and get out of trouble and make plays. For us, it’s going to be a combination of the two and I think it is hand and hand.”
(You’re already an intense guy. Does your intensity heighten for the playoffs?) – “Oh, yes, without question. I think everybody’s emotions and focus and detail is very key. We watched a great film today that I saw. I think it had to have been my rookie year in Detroit or second year in Detroit – excuse me – going into the playoffs. Just seeing all those older guys talk about what they encountered going through their games and getting prepared for the playoffs is something key. So without question, there is going to be a lot more excitement and a lot more energy from the fans and the players.”
(Do defensive tackles get butterflies?) – “Butterflies? (laughter) I wouldn’t say so.”
(So it’s a different kind of energy from nervousness?) – “Yes. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I would get butterflies, but it’s exciting to be on that football field. You’re going to be the only game on television and everybody is going to be watching, understanding that it’s a big game. So I’m excited about it. I’ll give you a little butterfly. I had butterflies the first time I was on Heinz Field my rookie year when I played my first preseason game; but, I definitely won’t have them this time around. (laughter)”
(How’d you do that day at Heinz Field in your first preseason game?) – “How’d I do that day? Not too bad. There were some big vets that I had to go against, but I think I held my own and did pretty well.”
(What’s your opinion of WR Jarvis Landry as a player?) – “(He’s a) very intense and aggressive player. He makes a lot of great plays for us. (He’s a) very exciting guy; very dangerous, especially for a defense to have to go against. I’m glad he’s on our team and I don’t have to go against him.”
(Do you find yourself as a defensive player respecting a guy who kind of has a little bit more of a defensive mindset?) – “I think you respect a guy no matter what. At the end of the day, he’s a playmaker; so respecting any type of playmaker, understanding their craft and how they can be successful is what I look for.”
(Do you care at all what Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount was saying?) – “No.”
(What was your reaction when you heard what RB LeGarrette Blount had to say?) – “I heard it from a lot of different people, so it doesn’t really matter to me what he thinks. I’m looking forward to the Steelers.”
