The Rams signed Ndamukong Suh, and that's an exciting addition to their defense. They've already added Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters to the secondary, and now they've added to what was already one of the league's best defensive lines (anchored by Aaron Donald).
Interestingly enough, part of why Miami had to get rid of Suh was acquiring Robert Quinn from the Rams via trade. But for that addition, maybe Suh would have stayed put. Regardless, now he's going to play in the middle of a Wade Phillips defense. Has to be a plus.
In Miami, Suh was generally a disappointment. Not that stat sheets are everything -- drawing double teams is important, too -- but he himself didn't top 6 sacks in any of his three seasons (4.5, 5 and 6). He had 8-plus sacks three times in five seasons with Detroit, so definitely a step down.
Miami's defense in those three years didn't have much of a pass rush. It totaled 94 sacks in those three seasons, which was more than only six teams.
SACKS, 2015-2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 15 | 16 | 17 | Tot |
Pittsburgh | 48 | 38 | 56 | 142 |
Carolina | 44 | 47 | 50 | 141 |
Denver | 52 | 42 | 33 | 127 |
New England | 49 | 34 | 42 | 125 |
Jacksonville | 36 | 33 | 55 | 124 |
Tennessee | 39 | 40 | 43 | 122 |
Minnesota | 43 | 41 | 37 | 121 |
Arizona | 36 | 48 | 37 | 121 |
Green Bay | 43 | 40 | 37 | 120 |
LA Rams | 41 | 31 | 48 | 120 |
Washington | 38 | 38 | 42 | 118 |
Seattle | 37 | 42 | 39 | 118 |
Cincinnati | 42 | 33 | 41 | 116 |
Chicago | 35 | 37 | 42 | 114 |
LA Chargers | 32 | 35 | 43 | 110 |
Baltimore | 37 | 31 | 41 | 109 |
Philadelphia | 37 | 34 | 38 | 109 |
Houston | 45 | 31 | 32 | 109 |
Kansas City | 47 | 28 | 31 | 106 |
Dallas | 31 | 36 | 38 | 105 |
Detroit | 42 | 26 | 35 | 103 |
New Orleans | 31 | 30 | 42 | 103 |
Tampa Bay | 38 | 38 | 22 | 98 |
NY Jets | 39 | 27 | 28 | 94 |
Oakland | 38 | 25 | 31 | 94 |
Miami | 31 | 33 | 30 | 94 |
Indianapolis | 35 | 33 | 25 | 93 |
Atlanta | 19 | 34 | 39 | 92 |
San Francisco | 28 | 33 | 30 | 91 |
Cleveland | 29 | 26 | 34 | 89 |
Buffalo | 21 | 39 | 27 | 87 |
NY Giants | 23 | 35 | 27 | 85 |
Suh just turned 31, and he's signing a one-year deal, so motivation shouldn't be a problem. And given the talent around him, and Phillips running things, the lean is the Rams will get a l0t more out of him than the Dolphins seemed to. There will definitely be some personalities on this defense.
--Andy Richardson