Former NFL defensive tackle and current NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp had plenty of negative things to say about the Detroit Lions defense and Ndamukong Suh during Tuesday’s Super Bowl media day.
We’ll start with what Sapp had to say about Suh.
Sapp believes that Suh won’t be a complete pass rusher until he adds some more moves to his skill set.
“The thing that affected him was he played such a power game, grabbing people and slinging them out of the way,” Sapp said during Super Bowl media day.”He had rotator cuff surgery. I had one on each shoulder. I kind of know what that’s like. You have to put yourself in a position where there was no offseason, no rehabbing and all the things he needed to do to be able to get that strength back. 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.
“He was just overpowering and throwing people out of the way. On this level, everybody is that strong. That’s what you saw, him with his shoulder and people understanding he was just going to go through them. That’s the way he rushes. He goes through you. All I got to do is get myself a nice little base and be ready to go.”
Sapp really believes Suh needs to evaluate himself during the upcoming offseason in order for him to improve.
“You have to self-evaluate in this game,” Sapp said. “That’s the biggest thing I did from my rookie year when I had Sam Wyche and he was running a three-ring circus. I started the first seven games, I’m benched for the next eight, then I play the last one, then he’s gone. The whole coaching staff is gone. Now how do I get better going to the next coaching staff? You got to self-evaluate.
“You got to look at yourself and say where can I get better. I knew I needed to get better at my strength and my conditioning and then my pass rush. I went into the offseason and worked on nothing but my pass rush, speed and run and just go at. You got to grind at the job. This is your profession. There’s nothing else. Subway will work around your schedule, I guarantee you.”
Sapp also took the time to rip into defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham for not playing defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley on the field at the same time.
Sapp was asked about Lions safety Louis Delmas and then totally went off topic by once again talking about Fairley and Suh not playing at the same time.
“He gets hurt. Now when he’s hurt, he’s not there, so now the middle of your defense isn’t solidified,” Sapp said. “And then rotating Suh and Nick Fairley behind each other where now you only have to deal with one at a time. Then at the end of the game when you’re getting the (explicative) beat out of you, you want to put it out there to see what it looks like? Really? You never tried this in practice? Been there all week long and never tried it? It’s not like you’re hitting and banging. You didn’t have no pads on.
“I mean, put them out there. It ain’t like you’re going to wear them out. Give me a break.”
Sapp didn’t think Cunningham did a good job of mixing things up on defense.
“Him (Suh) and (New Orleans Saints guard) Carl Nicks, that was a joke. It was a joke. Are you kidding me?,” Sapp said. “Then they finally moved him on the right side and then he finally gets a sack on (Green Bay guard Evan Deitrich-Smith) in the Green Bay game. I’m like, ‘Hello.’
“You know I know Martin Mayhew and I’m like (acts like he’s sending a text message) ‘Somebody want to put him on the right side a little more?’ Jesus … He’s right there every time. I’m like, ‘Come on Gunther, stop it.’ Then you put Fairley behind him? Oh, so we don’t get to see them side-by-side?
Sapp isn’t too optimistic that the Lions will become a top-ten defense anytime soon.
“Until they solidify the middle, and that’s (Stephen) Tulloch and the safeties, I don’t see it because that’s what they’ve opened up in the NFL,” Sapp said. “There’s an autobahn. They’ve built it from the top of the numbers to the top of the numbers. It’s in the middle of the NFL field. Nobody gets hit and there is no way to impose that will across the middle.
“It’s going to take a combination, but the offense that they (Lions) have, it’s only going to take about three or four stops a game in order to be underneath the points that offense will score. That’s the new NFL now.”
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I completely agree with the big 99. This is coming from a man who did it for years! One if the best!
TELL THAT FAT WASHED UP SOB TO MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS. SAPP HAS ALWAYS TALKED THRU THAT HEMMORHOID BETWEEN HIS NOSE AND CHIN.
Sapp has a long history of talking out of his ***. Here he seems to not understand the difference between players and coaches. How is it Suh’s fault if they choose to not play Fairley on the same side as him? Also, he seems oddly judgmental of a guy who is in only his second season, when he admits that he had some things to learn about his own playing style as a young player. Like he was the first to ever play the game or something. He clearly has Michael Jordan syndrome, that is, being so in love with your own legacy that you feel a constant need to insult whoever is currently getting praise for their skill. Your time is over, fast man. The NFL will go on without you, just accept it.
We’ve all got to remember that although Sapp was a great player in his time, he is now part of the media and you know what that means…cop out for a pay check. For starters he probably thinks Tony Romo is a better QB than Stafford, and your welcome to your opinion, but after being spot 24 points and losing the game at home…oh well moving right along. Besides we all know that if Romo would have had his shoulder DISLOCATED against Cleveland he would have never come back on the field to throw that TD. As for Suh, I really don’t think that he needs Sapp to tell him how to evaluate his abilities. In fact I think that when he is done with his career we will be saying, Warren who? Warren has sold out. Most of the time I see him on TV he is laughing about someone or something that player has done without any regard to what he is doing to someone’s career, trying to act cutsey for the camera. Maybe he should take some time to evaluate how he looks when he is hurting people and playing to the bigger markets. That’s just a cop out Warren! If you want to be respected,(ie Mooch) help players constructively not destructively, your playing days are OVER!
What did sapp say that wasn’t true? The lions d looked good on paper but only average when it mattered. They need to improve and the two star dl’s need to play together. Nothing really shocking to read or see here.
I can’t say I disagree with most of it. But I do think that the Lions will have a more dominant defense next year, and that Suh & Fairley lined up will be much of the reason. They’ll do something in the D backfield, hopefully. Remember that Fairley was injured most of the season and never did get 100%. Kinda like Staffords first couple seasons. Not to mention Suh missing 3 games because he’s stupid. Coaches will fix things so look for good things in Motown in a year or so, to compliment the Red Wings & Tigers. Maybe Mr Ilitich should buy the Lions too….hmmmmm