Gamewrecker

February 1st, 2020

Key plays.

A lot of folks think Ndamukong Suh wasn’t much of a defensive lineman. That’s because he didn’t have a lot of sacks.

Now team officials will explain, which annoys some people, Suh wasn’t asked to focus on sacks but instead was asked to eat up blocks to let the linebackers hunt.

Given how well Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul rushed the quarterback, Joe’s almost willing to buy the not-asked-to-sack line.

The above doesn’t mean Suh (2 1/2 sacks) wasn’t a gamewrecker. Per the Bucs’ season review, Suh’s two defensive touchdowns tied for the third-most in a single season in team history. Suh’s four fumble recoveries tied for the second-most in a single-season in Bucs history.

OK, so Suh didn’t get sacks. That doesn’t mean he didn’t play a key role. And that also doesn’t mean the Bucs won’t miss Suh if he escapes.

37 Responses to “Gamewrecker”

  1. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    I was very happy with Suh and what he brought on Sunday’s… I don’t do Fantasy Football so maybe I see the game differently

  2. ATrain Says:

    One More Year

    Suh is a Beast

    Also showed what GMC didn’t have

  3. El Buco Realisto Says:

    And this is the reason that she-mc93 complained and got her way, when in 2016 Coach Smitty was using a flex 3-4 to much success and team production, despite the slappies and garbage roster that loser lovie left and the terrible gm provided!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though it was very good team production, she-mc was not getting her stats and cried about!!!!!!!!!!!!

    When forced to run the basic 4-3 front, Team production fell, but she-mc got her stats and the media loved and praised her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Shame that the local media prefers individual achievements over all else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Ghost of Darrell Henderson Says:

    Offer him $14M for two years to stay.

    He just might, if not, then they can’t afford him.

  5. ModHairKen Says:

    If Suh wants to return, and the Bucs let him leave, then management is inept. Suh, JPP and Shaq — offer them fair market value.

  6. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Would like to keep Suh, Perriman & Brate…….but I don’t think we can keep all of them…..maybe not even one of them if Jameis costs too much.

  7. SteveK Says:

    Great post realist. Team first. Individual success isn’t team success.

  8. WestChap Says:

    Ghost, we have to keep Suh. Why run the risk that he leaves at $7… pay him his $9-10 and be grateful for all that he does to influence overall team performance.

  9. NPRSageBoy. Says:

    Gotta have Suh, JPP and Barrett back next season.

    Gotta find a way.

    Peace, out

  10. martinii Says:

    Suh was always around the ball and caused a lot of problems for offenses. He showed a good motor and from what I hear was an inspirational leader and mentor for many. I would make every effort to bring him back. Double teams for one are sacks and TFL for others.

  11. Buczilla Says:

    I’m no defensive expert, but I remember Ray Lewis talking about how he needed dudes like Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams tying up offensive lineman in order to make the plays that he did. I don’t think our defense is identical, but I’m guessing that at least some concepts are the same. Sacks clearly don’t tell the whole story with both Suh and Vea. As long as we are getting g sacks, I don’t care where they come from.

  12. AwShbucs Says:

    Realist still defending his daddy Mike Smith is so pathetic it makes me puke my guts out.

    Dude couldnt develop a single player in 3 years and got exposed this season.

  13. Marine Buc Says:

    I see both McCoy and Suh are available in free agency this year. Who would you rather have back? I’m surprised I don’t see more people clamoring to get McCoy back… I would prefer Suh over McCoy.

  14. BigMacAttack Says:

    They would be fools to let Suh leave Tampa. It was one of Suh’s best years as a pro.

  15. BigMacAttack Says:

    GMC is fat and lazy

  16. El Buco Realisto Says:

    It’s a shame that joe is basically saying that he would take she-mc’ one sack every two games over the number one rush defense for every game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. WyomingDude Says:

    We won’t be able to afford everyone, when re-signing the defensive FA’s. Barrett will have to get a market value deal over at least 4 years. The economic realities are that we will likely need to choose between JPP and Suh, with the total number of factors being more in favor of JOB over at least 2 years more.

    Brats needs to be released day one of new league year. Get that $6 mill back, easy to substitute that back before week 1.

    Bruce only has 2 more viable years here. We need, and NEED to pay for, a real RB and a real QB, one that BA himself wants to shoot for the moon to get.

    Don’t over-complicate it.

  18. SuhNotShaq Says:

    Suh And Vita made JPP & Shaq. Shaq averaged 3-4 sacks a year for his previous 4 years in the league. He either took steroids, or it’s because of Suh & Vita. Players just don’t level up like that for no reason.
    U

  19. WyomingDude Says:

    * in JPP’s favor over Suh.

    *cut Brate..

  20. Blogtalkfootball.com Says:

    We need to bring back the majority of the defensive free agents to help build continuity. Draft some depth.

  21. Jean Lafitte Says:

    A lot of folks think Ndamukong Suh was better than GMC could ever be.

  22. stpetebucsfan Says:

    SYNERGY!!! Suh is the keystone that glued our D Line together. I’m hoping Vea is able to continue growing so that when Suh does leave we can plug in a talented draft pick.

    Again..sign all the defense first! If there is not enough money left to satisfy JW then tag him and cut Brate, Perriman.

  23. bucsince79 aka bumaneer Says:

    Keep Suh!! He is a beast & had key plays in the 4th Qtr. GMC was invisble in the 4th Qtr… Resign him!!!

  24. mark2001 Says:

    TBBF…Mostly agree but for Brate; he is he one I think we should try to trade for a mid round pick to free up cash for the others.

  25. westernbuc Says:

    The data said he was average. Shipping McCoy off and giving away his number wasn’t worth it. Unless you’re one of those morons that thinks a decade of losing is due to a defensive lineman

  26. Marine Buc Says:

    @ westernbuc

    Both have had great careers but are completely different as far as their style of play. McCoy is the better pass rusher. Suh is better run defender. McCoy likes to shoot the gaps and use a swim move in order to penetrate and disrupt. Suh is more of an anchor and bull rusher pushing his side of the line backwards and taking up multiple blocks so the LBs can hunt. It really depends on the design of your defense which player is preferred.

  27. Pa Privateer Says:

    Keep the Dline and LBs together Please!!!

  28. Bucs Guy Says:

    Priorities on D resignings
    1. Shaq
    2. JPP
    3. Suh

    I want Suh back, but it may come down to money. If so, you have to ask yourself if you want JW and a rookie DT or Suh and Andy Dalton? Something to consider.

  29. fernando diaz Says:

    I would give up Gholston and nassib

  30. Defense Rules Says:

    I keep seeing lots of comments about ‘We can’t afford this or we can’t afford that’. I disagree … Bucs can afford to bring back all of our FAs IF we choose to do that and IF their salary demands are even remotely reasonable.

    Just for kicks, looked at the Bucs POTENTIAL 2020 defense. Obviously there are a number of assumptions in there … ASSUMED that we franchise tag Shaq ($16.338 mil), sign a veteran Safety (say $5 mil), re-sign Suh (say $10 mil), re-sign JPP ($13 mil), re-sign Nassib ($7 mil), re-sign Nunez-Roches ($0.735 mil), Adams ($0.678), Minter ($0.895 mil) and Ryan Smith ($1.5 mil), keep Gholston (at his $4.75 mil salary) and draft a DLineman (in the 2nd Rnd). That’s allow us to draft FOUR rookies on offense (RT, RB, OL, WR) plus 1 or 2 others.

    The result is an DEFENSE that’d cost $91.438 mil. BUT … we can afford that. Our 2020 salary Cap should be very close to $210 mil (when our carryover is included). Allocating say $92 mil to the defense, $106 mil to the offense, and $4 mil to the Special Teams would total out to $202 mil and leave us with $8 mil for ‘contingencies’ (players do get hurt & need to be replaced).

    Here’s what that DEFENSE would look like if we did that (players under 2020 contract according to Spotrac marked with an asterisk):

    o DL/OLBs (10): *Vea ($4.043 mil) … Suh ($10.0 mil) … Rookie 2nd Rnd DT ($1.341 mil) … Nunez-Roches ($0.735 mil) … *Gholston ($4.750 mil) … JPP ($13.0 mil) … Barrett ($16.338 mil minimum) … Nassib ($7.000 mil) … *Nelson ($0.778 mil) … *O’Connor ($0.469 mil)

    o ILBs (4): *LVD ($10.750 mil) … *White ($6.663 mil) … Minter ($0.895 mil) … *Cichy ($0.696 mil).

    o CBs (5): *Davis ($1.198 mil) … *SMB ($1.176 mil) … *Dean ($0.861 mil) … *MJ Stewart ($1.386 mil) … R Smith ($1.500).

    o Safeties (5): *Whitehead ($0.827 mil) … *Edwards ($0.844 mil) … Adams ($0.678 mil) … *Dixon ($0.510 mil) … Veteran FS ($5.000 mil).

    That’d give us 24 guys on DEFENSE: 10 DT/DE/OLBs, 4 ILBs, 5 CBs, 5 Safeties. Of those, 14 are already under contract for 2020. We’d be re-signing 8 of our own UFAs, adding 1 other UFA (Safety), and using 1 draft pick (minimum) on defense.

    And yes, $106 mil for the offense is adequate. We started 2019 with the league’s most expensive offense at very close to $100 mil. With a quality draft we can have an even better offense for a mere $6 mil MORE.

  31. WyomingDude Says:

    🙂 ^^^^^^ good Lord: )

  32. westernbuc Says:

    Marine, that’s true, but like I said, he was average, even at run stopping. He wasn’t the catalyst that changed everything

  33. 813bucboi Says:

    re-sign SHAQ, JPP and SUH at the same time!!!!!!

    re-sign nassib the next day….

    offer JW….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  34. Defense Rules Says:

    @WyomingDude … “We won’t be able to afford everyone, when re-signing the defensive FA’s.” Well ‘Good Lord’ … Seems like you were the one making blanket statements without any substantiation. Be my guest; prove your contention.

    And BTW, JBF is a blog. Read what you want; don’t read what you don’t want. It’s REALLY simple. Personally, I enjoy reading commenters who can substantiate what they say. That’s how I challenge my own opinions, and sometimes even change them. What a concept.

  35. Joe in Michigan Says:

    The defense had a toughness that I haven’t seen in several years. Suh was at least a part of that. I don’t want to lose that toughness.

  36. Joe in Michigan Says:

    *hadn’t, not haven’t*

  37. Mord Says:

    IMHO, Suh was *very* important to the improvement in this year’s defense and needs to stay here.