The Goonish Play of Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh

Detroit Lion Ndamukong Suh was nailed big time for low-block hit on Minnesota Viking John Sullivan last Sunday.

The play happened with 14:09 left in the second quarter, when Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw an interception to Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy, who appeared to take the ball back for a touchdown. But the score was negated because Suh was flagged for a low block penalty on a play in which Levy was already far past Sullivan up the field. The block seemed gratuitous at the time, and given Suh’s reputation for playing on both sides of the line throughout his NFL career, the fine isn’t that surprising.

Reference:  Ndamukong Suh fined $100K for low block against Vikings.

Ndamukong Suh, with head coach Jim Schwartz

But to beat up on Suh alone for the Lions’ flag-filled opener against Minnesota (11 penalties for 88 yards) leaves us guilty of not standing back far enough to see the big picture. This is a larger problem than Suh in Detroit, and it won’t go away until someone in the Lions organization realizes the issue has to be corrected from within. Detroit’s players and coaches have to care enough about the pattern of chronic discipline failure and self-inflicted wounds to address it, police it, and bite the bullet of accountability when need be.

Reference:  Plenty Denial, but No Discipline, in Detroit.

The New Orleans Saints were nailed last year, when their bounty program was surfaced.  Apparently defensive players were offered cash incentives to hit opponents and get them hurt, for example, so they have to leave the game to the sidelines or carted off into the locker room.

If Peter King's perspectives in the above article have any merit, then there may be something similar going on in the Lions locker room.

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham 

The search for the root cause of Detroit’s discipline failures has gone in a lot of different directions in recent years. But I [SI writer Peter King] know I’ve heard one particular theory more than once in talking to people around the league who have insight into the Lions’ team culture, and it’s that veteran defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham’s take-no-prisoners coaching style could be part of problem. 

Jim Schwartz

When Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz watches his notoriously undisciplined team quickly re-enforce its reputation in its Week 1 win against Minnesota, then says there’s nothing to apologize for, he’s in denial about his role and responsibility.

I wonder how courageous and willing is Schwartz to address a tough issue like this.  I had a manager once who was too meek and afraid to confront issues, and he gradually discredited himself in the eyes of staff and colleagues.  Alternatively, Schwartz may have no issue with confrontation, but perhaps he tacitly but consciously plays into whatever goon mentality his players possess, Suh obviously having high levels of it.  

Often body language speaks volumes

There's no diminishing the message from Lions players that Suh is one of their own and they support him like family.  But families, truth be told, are notoriously poor judges of behavior.  They may deny the wrongdoings of their own, they may support them blindly, or they may know the score fully but lie about it.  So while such a message is surely heartfelt, it is virtually useless in determining the future of Suh. 

Moreover, the fact that teammates elevated him to co-captain this season gives further basis to King's arguments about the organizational fault behind Suh's goonishness.  I'm, like, What were they thinking?  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD