Photo taken by Michael Olsen

Ndamukong Suh vs. His own aggressiveness

The apparent turnaround of the Detroit Lion franchise can be credited to many, but most will agree that Ndamukong Suh is the catalyst around which this team is built. The drafting and subsequent success of Suh turned the Detroit defensive line into a strength, and gave the franchise a new attitude going forward. Thus far this season Suh has not lived up to expectations, which to be fair, are quite lofty after an impressive rookie campaign. Much of this can be attributed to teams scheming against him, and often double teaming him in passing situations, but the week five loss to San Francisco exposed a major liability in the second year defensive tackle.

It has often been stated that Suh’s aggressive style would end up hurting his team more than helping, and that was never more evident than last Sunday. On both of Frank Gore’s backbreaking runs, of 47 and 55 yards, the 49ers offensive line didn’t bother to touch Suh. Instead, they let his over aggressive and often selfish need to sack the quarterback do most of the work for him. Suh exploded through the offensive line untouched, and out of control, only to be trapped by reserve tight end Delaney Walker, leaving a gaping running lane exposed where Suh should have been.

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