Ndamukong Suh Destroying Texas
2010 NFL Combine: Ndamukong Suh will be the most watched
The annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., gets rolling today with several key players involved. Player interviews, etc., begin Wednesday. Workouts begin Saturday.
Of course, former Grant High School defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska will be the headline act at this years Combine.
Suh is considered by many to be headed to the St. Louis Rams with the Number-one pick while some experts believe that Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could be the first player selected.
How both perform at the Combine could tip the scales one way or the other.
Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma):
Some have McCoy above Suh in their mock drafts and big boards, and while we don’t feel that strong about the kid, there’s no doubt that McCoy is an impact player. What we don’t see with McCoy that we see with Suh is a greater variety of pass rush moves, McCoy seems to get caught up in blockers more often than Suh does, though that could be a question of scheme. However, McCoy is exceptional in peeling off blockers and pushing through to the ball-carrier, this may be his greatest asset. While he’s relentless to the ball, he might not be quick enough in recovering to take out the quicker-release quarterbacks in the NFL. He’ll be a dominant three-tech tackle in the right system; specifically in a front four with a larger nose tackle to soak up blockers.
Our expert leans towards Suh, saying “his resume speaks for itself.”
What Makes Suh so good?
“He has amazing quickness off the snap, tremendous upper-body strength (he often turned blockers into padded dummies), agility that has to be seen to be believed, and the kind of intensity and work ethic that could make him a true star in the NFL. Example: He’s probably the first overall draft pick no matter what he does, but Suh will go to the Combine, and will participate in every single drill.”
“I want to go out and do everything,” Suh recently told Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t want to leave any questions. I’m the type of person that feels like I don’t have anything to hide, so why go up there and start trying to hide things now?”
Suh’s awards are numerous and it is obvious why he has become one of the hottest players at this years Combine;
Suh is the first defensive player to win the honor since its inception in 1998. Suh is Nebraska’s second winner of the AP National Player of the Year Award, joining quarterback Eric Crouch who captured the award and the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Suh received 26 of a possible 59 first-place votes from the panel, edging Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who received 20 votes.
Suh captured the Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Both awards were presented in Orlando, Fla., at the ESPN Awards Show. The Bednarik award is given to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. He is the first Husker to win the award in its 15-year history.
The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman, and Suh adds to Nebraska’s long history with the award. Suh’s trophy gives Nebraska a nation-leading nine Outland Trophies, four more than Oklahoma. Suh is the first Husker to win the award since offensive lineman Aaron Taylor captured the honor in 1997.
Suh becomes the fifth Nebraska player to win the Lombardi Award, joining Rich Glover (1972), Dave Rimington (1982), Dean Steinkuhler (1983) and Grant Wistrom (1997). Nebraska’s five Lombardi awards are the second-most by one school in the 40-year history of the award, trailing only Ohio State’s six Lombardi Award winners. The Lombardi Award goes to the college football lineman — offensive or defensive — who in addition to displaying outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Suh became the 17th winner of the award as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. He’s the first Nebraska player to win the award.