The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Suh and Fairley Aggressiveness

Author: Aaron Lisker

 

The Lions want to call their defensive line the Silver Crush, but the Silver Crush might be an automatic first down for their opponents.

Ndamukong Suh’s grabbing the head of Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Andy Dalton and slamming him to the ground resulted in a $25,000 fine of the second year defensive tackle and a firestorm of criticism.  But let us not forget, the Lions drafted Nick Fairley, another defensive tackle, in the first round back out of Auburn.

If it is not bad enough already that Suh has already gained a reputation for perceived cheap shots on quarterbacks, the Lions have another defensive tackle in waiting with the same reputation that Fairley hasn’t been heard from much this preseason because he injured his foot early on and might be out of all training camp.  Last season at Auburn, Fairley was the driving force on a dominant Auburn defense that won the National Championship.  But, that didn’t come without controversy.

Just watch this youtube video showing clips of cheap shots Fairley made on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.  He slams him into the ground on one, then another Fairley spears Murray’s knee with his helmet. All this resulted in a brawl between the two squads.

Suh’s hit on Dalton last week nearly resulted in a brawl.  So, now the Lions have gone double impact with the defensive tackles with bad reputations.  It is safe to say the Lions have the most feared defensive line in football with Suh, Fairley, three time Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, and Corey Williams backing up.

But with Suh and Fairley performing pro wrestling body slams on quarterbacks, possibly getting penalties for it, the Lions might have the best and worst defensive line at the same time.  The best offensive play an opposing team can run against the Lions is let their quarterback get beat up and draw a roughing the passer penalty.

The two teams with the worst reputations for roughing the passer last year were the blitz happy Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers—the two teams in the last year’s Super Bowl.  So, on the field penalties, fines and suspensions might come the Lions way.

I doubt every time the Lions sack the quarterback a flag will be thrown, but penalties, fines and suspensions are coming.  However, based on the results of Packers and Steelers last year, it might just be the cost of doing business, if you want a feared defense that shuts opponents down.