Ndamukong Suh – November 29, 2017
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Wednesday, November 29, 2017
DT Ndamukong Suh
(DE Cameron Wake had a bunch of pressures in this last game. I think he’s almost 36 years old. I think his birthday is coming up in the near future. Do you view him as a guy who might be able to play another three or four years at a high level?) – “I definitely think so. I think definitely Cam can play at a high level for the next two, three years or however long he chooses to continue to play. I think he got a little bit of a late start due to some circumstances that were out of his control, and the way he takes care of his body, the way he’s mentally focused in the game, I think he definitely can play as long he wants to.”
(We’re starting to see a lot of injuries on this team and I know that normally happens at this time of the season; but has no bye week do you feel has been a detriment to this team in any way, whether it is injuries, fatigue or anything like that?) – “I think we can’t control the bye week, so we can’t really look at that as an excuse. I personally don’t take it as an excuse. At the end of the day, injuries are always going to happen in this football league, unfortunately, and we have to find ways to push past it and guys have to understand that their roles are going to be changed or expected more of them.”
(QB Jay Cutler’s is supposed to return as the starter this week according to Head Coach Adam Gase. Do you sense that there’s a boost in the team from that, kind of a lifted spirits or anything along those lines?) – “I think this team is excited about either quarterback – whether it’s Matt Moore or Jay Cutler – being at the helm of our offense. I’m excited about Jay. I’ve always been excited since he got here. I think he has a way to help us win games and I look forward to him coming back.”
(What are your memories of one year playing under Denver Broncos Head Coach Vance Joseph?) – “My memories of playing under Vance? I have a great relationship with Vance. (He’s a) great dude. I spent a lot of time with him in the offseason as well as in the season. (I had) many conversations in his office, which I enjoyed and remember, so it will be good to go against him and see what he brings to the table against us.”
(Any general, as far as conversations with Broncos Head Coach Vance Joseph, what do you all generally talk about without saying too much I guess?) – “I mean the last time I spoke to him I just wished him a Happy Birthday. Just small chat, stuff like that; but in regards to when he was here, I mean it was football most of the time. We talked about family as well; but we’ve actually have got common friends – a lot of friends in common. (He’s) just an overall good person.”
(How do you deal with that? A guy that knows you guys so well just one year removed?) – “For me, I salivate at it. I’m excited to go against his offense, his team and I think he has a good vibe of what I can do as a player, and I’m sure he’s eager to stop that and I’m eager to see what he throws at me and stop that (myself).”
(This is your third year down here. Obviously three different coordinators, but the result has not been what I’m sure one would want on defense. We understand you’re only one of 11 players on the field but what can you do better and what can this defense do better to get this thing fixed?) – “Continue to take my level of play to a higher level. At the end of the day, it is 11 players on the football field at all times, and we all have to work together to be successful; but I do find myself as being a big piece of it, no matter what, and I take the good and the bad and always take a big piece of that on my own shoulders.”
(How do you handle when you might be playing well and the defense isn’t? Do you think it’s a reflection on you? Do you think you’re doing what you can? How would you say?) – “This overall defense is always a reflection on myself and on each and every player on this particular team. At the end of the day, we all have to be successful as a unit to be successful as a team, so that’s how I look at it.”
(Is it surprising to you that what looks like a talented roster, a talented group is 30th in the NFL in scoring defense and isn’t getting better as the season goes on?) – “I think there’s a lot of things that this defense has talent-wise and things to be elite at. At the end of the day, people find ways to combat those different things and we’ve got to find ways to combat and go against that. As talented as we are, it is good on both sides, and we have to find ways to continue to go against the grain and find ways to be successful. At the end of the day, our biggest focus is to just continue to work and understand what we have to do to be successful.”
(The defense was more … it was better earlier in the year. Do you think other guys that also get paid, they figured out some of this stuff that you guys do?) – “I think some of the mistakes that we made in the past have kind of come back and haunted us in a lot of respects. I think we made big plays and found ways to cover those up, and at the end of the day, we need to get back to that and making big plays. You’re never going to be perfect on defense. We’re a reactionary defense from the standpoint of every defense is reactionary, so we have to see what the offense is giving us. Even though we have a blitz, we still have to react to certain things. Our focus has to be to continue to find ways to get off the football field and really statistics, at the end of the day if we’re winning, none of it matters; but they’re highlighted when you’re not winning, and that’s unfortunately been the case for us.”
