Ndamukong Suh NFL Draft scouting report

Ndamukong Suh

6’4, 305 pounds | DT | Nebraska
Pass Rush: Is an effective pass rusher. Suh has good height and length, which he uses to wrap up passers and block passing lanes. Has quick hands and can disengage blockers at the point of attack. Uses a punch and swim to knock the blocker off balance. Shows potential in space because of his superb footwork and agility. Has shown a good inside spin move to break inside the guard. Does tend to wear down on longer plays and can be seen waiting for the ball to be thrown when tired.

Pursuit: Works well coming off his pass rush to disrupt a screen or chase ball carriers. Has enough short-line speed to run down the ball in the backfield. Has long arms for wrapping up and/or stopping the ball carrier.

Quickness: Very good initial quickness and burst. Anticipates the snap count and fires off in to his man. Is not timid. Shows great quickness in space and when lined up on the edge.

Run defend: Shows good vision and awareness in the run game. Will hold up his blocker on the inside and look for the inside rush. Breaks through double teams well and fights through traffic to make the play. Moves down the line well. Has the size to disrupt zone blocking schemes. Does come out too high at times. Will lose anchor against teams who double him. Looks smooth getting away from cut blocks. Can be inconsistent holding his ground at the point of attack.

Size: Possesses adequate size and length for a defensive tackle. Has long arms that help him get good leverage. Might not be able to get much larger, though.

Strength: Is a strong player with a good build. His low center of gravity helps, as most of his strength is in the lower body. Is strong enough to collapse the pocket and fight off double teams. Has strong hands and uses them well disengaging.

Tackling: Suh led the Huskers in tackles in 2008 and 2009, a rare feat for a defensive tackle. Is a gang-tackler. Has the needed athleticism to chase and make open-field tackles. Good explosion. Will chase on screens and stretch plays.

Technique: As a nose tackle in the 4-3 defense, Suh shows good technique in driving in to his blocker, disengaging from the initial block and working down the line of scrimmage when the ball is away. As a pass rusher, Suh has great quickness and can get around most interior linemen. On the edge he has the speed and agility to get by tackles (especially right tackles) and make a play on the backfield.

Versatility: Has been used as a nose tackle in a 4-3, an end in a 3-4 and a goal line and I-formation fullback.

Final word: Suh is perhaps the best defensive tackle prospect in the last 20 years. Considered a first-round talent entering his senior season, Suh has emerged as clearly the best prospect available in the draft.

As a senior, he won the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.

Suh dominated games as a senior. In the Big 12 title game, Suh had 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Against Missouri, he intercepted a pass and had a sack. All season long, Suh got pressure on quarterbacks, knocked down passes and blocked kicks. No player had arguably as big on an impact on games as Suh this season.

It’s hard to compare Suh to a current defensive tackle because he’s so good. This might be somewhat of an overstatement, but Suh just might be the next Joe Greene.