Ex-Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp believes Detroit Lions DT Suh regressed this year - NFL News
Ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle and current NFL.com analysts Warren Sapp believes that Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has not improved a bit from his high flying rookie season.
Sapp speaking to media after the Super Bowl’s media day on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 was critical of Suh and his game tactics.
The ex-All Pro said that Suh has not practiced and honed his skills before the 2011 season leading to his fall of productivity during the 2011-12 season and that his game has not gone beyond the raw power play that defined his rookie start.
"The thing that I think affected him was he played such a power game, grabbing people, slinging them out of the way, He had rotator cuff surgery. Now without that power, snatching and slinging people out of the way, he's never been a hip-flipper or a true
pass rusher in a sense.”
Suh who became an All-Pro in his first season with the Detroit Lions underwent shoulder surgery and it seemed this year that he has not completely regained the energy in his shoulder after the procedure.
The Lions defensive tackle came under a storm of criticism this year after some overly aggressive plays and his arrogant attitude off the field with many analysts and fans calling him out as a dirty player.
The 25-year-old faced multiple fines and was even suspended for two games after lashing out on Green Bay Packers guard Evan-Dietrich Smith during the Lions 27-15 loss in the traditional Thanksgiving Day encounter.
Suh would after the game lash out at his critics and said that he never lashed out and it was all an accident leading to even more criticism. The storm created by his statements led the Lions to ban Suh for a few days from the training ground and fine him
a part of his salary until he apologized, which he later did.
Sapp though said that Suh still has to learn to accept mistakes and keep the aggression under wraps or he will not become reach his potential to become one of the best in the game.
"Until he’s going to be honest with himself, he’s going to have a long career or whatever he wants to call what he’s doing now," Sapp said. "How’s he still standing there talking about he was stepping away from this man? In what universe does he live in?
I don’t get it."
Suh made just four sacks and 36 tackles this year as his stats went downhill from his rookie season when he recorded 10 sacks and 66 tackles.
With Suh now able to undergo a full offseason as their will be no lockout this year the Lions defensive tackle should concentrate on improving his skill and do his talking on the field.
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