detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

nDamukonG suh
Defensive Tackle
Nebraska 3rd Year
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 307
Born: 1/6/87 Portland, Ore.
Draft: ‘10, R1 (2)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroit<strong>lions</strong>.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ Twitter: ndamukong_suh
¾ Pro Bowl: 2011.
¾ associated Press all-Pro: 2011.
¾ Named 2011 associated Press Defensive rookie of the year; 2011
Pepsi rookie of the year.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ Drafted by the Detroit <strong>lions</strong> in the first round (2nd overall) of the
2010 Nfl Draft.
PRO
selected in the first round (2nd overall) in the 2010 Nfl Draft. suh brought
aggressiveness and instinct to the <strong>lions</strong>’ front four and is expected to be
a dominant mainstay in the middle for years to come. Possesses great
versatility to move around in a variety of defensive packages and formations.
¾ Named starter to 2011 Pro Bowl as a rookie. Became first <strong>lions</strong> rookie
to be named to the Pro Bowl since rB Barry sanders was selected to
the 1990 NfC Pro Bowl squad. He also became the <strong>lions</strong>’ first rookie
defensive player to be named to the Pro Bowl since De al “Bubba”
Baker in 1979.
¾ among <strong>lions</strong> defensive tackles, he was the sixth player at that position
named to the Pro Bowl and the first ever to do so as a rookie. suh is
also the 10th rookie in team history named to the Pro Bowl and fourth
<strong>lions</strong> rookie defensive player.
¾ associated Press Defensive rookie of the year. suh became seventh
rookie in team history to win an aP rookie of the year award, the most
by any franchise since the aP began honoring offensive and Defensive
rookie of the year in 1967. Joins rB Mel farr (1976), CB lem Barney
(1967), Wr earl McCullough (1968), De al “Bubba” Baker (1978), rB
Billy sims (1980) and rB Barry sanders (1989) as Detroit <strong>lions</strong> honored
as aP rookie of the year.
¾ Third <strong>lions</strong>’ rookie to be named aP Defensive rookie of the year and
the first since Baker in 1978.
¾ since the aP rookie of the year award was first established in 1967,
suh is only the sixth defensive tackle to win the honor and the first
since Dolphins DT Tim Bowens in 1994.
¾ Named rookie of the year by the sporting News and Pro football
Weekly/PfWa. also named all-Pro by sporting News and PfW/PfWa.
¾ Named to associated Press all Pro Team. He was the first rookie
defensive tackle to be named to the associated Press all-Pro Team
since the recognition was designated by offense and defense in 1951
and he is the first rookie defensive linemen to be named aP all-Pro
since Titans De Jevon Kearse in 1999.
¾ Joined rB Doak Walker (1950), De al “Bubba” Baker (1978), K eddie
Murray (1980) and rB Barry sanders (1989) as only <strong>lions</strong> rookie
named to aP all-Pro Team, with suh and Baker as the only <strong>lions</strong>
defensive players.
¾ Became <strong>lions</strong> first rookie since rB Barry sanders in 1989 to be named
aP all-Pro.
¾ 2010 Nfl alumni Defensive linemen of the year.
2011: Team’s starting defensive tackle. suh recorded 36 tackles and 4.0
sacks and 1 blocked field goal on the season in 14 games.
¾ Part of a defensive unit that helped the <strong>lions</strong> to a 27-20 opening day win
at Tampa Bay (9/11). Through the first three quarters, the <strong>lions</strong> defense
forced three-and-outs on five of the Bucs’ first eight possessions,
including three-straight to open the third quarter. on the <strong>lions</strong> first
defensive possession that started at the <strong>lions</strong> 21-yard line following
a 78-yard kickoff return, the <strong>lions</strong> defense held firm and did not allow
a first down, forcing a Buccaneer field goal.
¾ in the first half, the defense allowed just 6 points and limited the Bucs
to just 8:15 of possession time in the first two quarters. The defense
allowed just 56 yards on the ground against the Buccaneers. it is the
lowest rushing total allowed by the <strong>lions</strong> on the road in a season
opener since allowing 31 yards at seattle september 12, 1999. it was
also their lowest rushing total allowed overall on opening day since
limiting the Green Bay Packers to 46 yards september 11, 2005. No
Bucs running back rushed for more than 15 yards and just 1 of their 17
first downs came on the ground.
¾ recorded his first sack of the season for a loss of 9 yards to end the first
half <strong>vs</strong>. Kansas City (9/18). The defensive line came up with 2.0 sacks
on the day, including a sack-fumble from De Kyle Vanden Bosch. Was
part of a team effort that registered 6 turnovers in the game against
Kansas City, including 3 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. it marked
the first time since the <strong>lions</strong> claimed a 24-17 win at Houston (oilers,
12/10/95) that the team had 3 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries.
¾ Through 2 games, the <strong>lions</strong> collected 8 takeaways (4 interceptions and
4 fumble recoveries), and for the second consecutive game, yielded no
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touchdowns in the first half. in total, they allowed just 1 touchdown
(passing) and 3 field goals through the first two games.
¾ recorded second sack of the season for a loss of 9 yard at Minnesota
(9/25) on the Vikings second drive of the game, facing third-and-4 at
the <strong>lions</strong>’ 14-yard line. The sack forced the Vikings to a 41-yard field
goal. He has now tallied 2.0 sacks in the season’s first three games for
the second consecutive year. He has done that in each of his first two
seasons in the Nfl. added 5 tackles (3 solo).
¾ after a slow first half, allowing the Vikings to gain 124 yards on 16
carries (7.8 avg) in the first half, the <strong>lions</strong> defense helped the team’s
come-from-behind win by stuffing the run in the second half yielding
just 8 rushing yards on 7 carries (1.1 avg). Vikings’ all-Pro rB adrian
Peterson recorded 73 yards on 12 rushes in the first half, but was held
to just 5 yards on 5 carries by the <strong>lions</strong> in the second half.
¾ With 11:40 left to play in the fourth quarter and trailing 20-17, the
<strong>lions</strong> stuffed the Vikings on fourth-and-1 at the <strong>lions</strong> 17-yard line.
The <strong>lions</strong> followed up with a scoring drive that culminated in a 40-yard
game-tying field goal.
¾ recorded his third sack of the season <strong>vs</strong>. atlanta (10/23) for a loss of
5 yards. also added 5 tackles.
¾ Had 3 tackles, including one for a loss, <strong>vs</strong>. Carolina (11/20). He also
put pressure on Cam Newton in the third quarter that caused an errant
throw and was picked off by lB Deandre levy.
¾ Placed on reserve/suspended list for games at New orleans (12/4)
and <strong>vs</strong>. Minnesota (12/11).
¾ suh returned to the lineup following his 2-game suspension at oakland
(12/18) and made an immediate impact. With the raiders lining up for a
65-yard game-winning field goal with 4 seconds left, suh got his right
hand on the attempt by oakland K sebastian Janikowski. it was the
first <strong>lions</strong> block kick since DT Grady Jackson blocked a kick at san
francisco on December 27, 2009.
¾ Collected fourth sack of the year in the finale at Green Bay (1/1/12).
COLLEGE
started 39 of 53 games during his five-year career at Nebraska, recording
215 tackles (125 solos) with 24.0 quarterback sacks for minus 187 yards,
57.0 stops for losses of 252 yards and 39 pressures. Caused three fumbles
and recovered another, intercepted four passes for 79 yards in returns that
included two touchdowns and also recorded 15 pass defenses. also added
a two-yard touchdown pass and blocked six kicks.
¾ 57 tackles behind the line of scrimmage rank second in school history
behind Grant Wistrom (58.5, 1994-97). Those 57 stops for loss lead all
active NCaa defensive tackles and rank second overall to defensive
end George selvie of south florida (69, 2006-09).
¾ suh’s 24.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2009 rank second on
the school season-record list behind Jim skow’s 25.0 in 1985.
¾ His 7 tackles for loss (five solo/two assisted) <strong>vs</strong>. Texas in the 2009
Big 12 Championship Game tied the Nebraska single-game record.
¾ suh’s 12.0 sacks in 2009 were the second-most ever by a Husker defensive
tackle. His 10 pass defenses in 2009 set the school season-record
for a defensive lineman and his 15 total pass break-ups are another
Husker defensive lineman career-record.
¾ Holds the school game (2 <strong>vs</strong>. iowa state in 2009), season (3 in 2009) and
career (6) records for most kicks blocked by a down lineman.
¾ set school season-record for a defensive tackle with two interceptions
in 2008 and Husker lineman record by returning both for touchdowns.
¾ in 2009, named Unanimous all-american and all-Big 12 Conference
first-team selection. Named the associated Press College Player of
the year, CBssports.com National Defensive Player of the year, Big
12 Conference Defensive Player of the year/Defensive lineman of the
year and was a finalist for the Walter Camp National Player of the year
award. Was one of five finalists for the Heisman Trophy and the first
defensive lineman to be named a finalist for that trophy since Warren
sapp in 1994. 2009 rotary lombardi award, outland Trophy, Bronko
Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik award, Bill Willis award and Guy
Chamberlin award winner. lott Trophy finalist (one of four), earning
lott Trophy impact Player of the Week <strong>vs</strong>. Missouri and iowa state.
Nebraska Team MVP. Member of the Big Twelve Commissioner’s spring
academic Honor roll and garnered academic all-Big Twelve secondteam
recognition. set numerous position, game, season and career
records, as he became the first Husker defensive lineman to lead the
team in tackles in consecutive seasons.
¾ recorded a career-best 85 tackles (52 solos), as he also led the team
with 12.0 sacks for minus 77 yards, 24.0 stops for losses of 93 yards
and 26 pressures. second on the team with 10 pass defenses, a seasonrecord
for down lineman.
¾ against the run, suh made 94 plays, holding the ball carriers to 20 yards,
as he stopped runners at the line of scrimmage 20 times for no gain, in
addition to his 24 tackles in the backfield, delivering 10 of those hits
inside the red zone (three on goal line snaps).