Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh addresses the New England media during his conference call, on Tuesday, November 23, 2010.
Q: Could you give some general thoughts about playing on Thanksgiving and facing the Patriots?
NS: I'm definitely excited about it. As a kid growing up, I saw [the Lions] Thanksgiving early morning...Without a doubt, definitely it was exciting when I found out I was going to play for the Detroit Lions in the Thanksgiving game. It's something that I grew up watching, West Coast early mornings for myself. And then, playing against the Patriots; [is] definitely a great challenge - going against Tom Brady and the group of guys that he has on the offensive side of the ball. I'm definitely looking forward to it and excited for it.
Q: I'm not sure if you've seen the film or not, but were you a little jealous of Wes Welker's field goal kicking form?
NS: I have no clue what you're talking about. I didn't even know he kicked field goals or did anything of that sort. I have not seen him kicking or anything of that sort or didn't know he did it. There's nothing that I really can be jealous of.
Q: He actually made one in a game earlier this year, and I know you attempted one also, so I don't know if you saw it on SportsCenter or anything like that.
NS: No, I didn't see it.
Q: What have been the major adjustments for you in coming from college to pros?
NS: The biggest changes that I've noticed from college to the NFL was that you've got to prepare like you're going against a Texas or an Oklahoma every week because you're going against great players; you're going against veterans that have been in the game for a long period of time. And whereas in college you have really four easy games at the beginning of the season, maybe one hard game non-conference and then you get into the Big 12 play. And even sometimes in the Big 12 play you have one or two teams that aren't up to par talent-wise, that's probably the biggest thing that I've noticed that you've got to be able to come in with a new focus. Going against a new player, you've got to figure out how you're going to beat that guy.
Q: What challenges does the Patriots offense pose for you?
NS: They definitely give time to Tom Brady to get the ball out especially in their play action; that I've noticed. He's had quite a bit of time in play-action plays. And getting the ball down the field, he's letting his receivers move down. The biggest thing that I've noticed in the running game, they like to stretch the ball out wide and give the running back opportunities to cut it back and to make plays. So you've got to be able to force them up field and not play lateral with them on the line of scrimmage.
Q: Does it help them having a complementary attack? Being able to run the ball, does that help the passing game?
NS: Yeah, without a doubt. Especially when they're doing play action off of stretches and things of that sort, you're kind of getting sucked into running with them and trying to push them up the field. And then obviously, you later realize that they're going deep with the ball so the transition in that...they're a great play-action fake as well as Tom Brady is obviously a vet at doing that. And that's definitely something that you have to take keen notice because he does a great job with it.
