The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not waste much time after getting rid of Gerald McCoy by acquiring Ndamukong Suh on the very next day. Obviously, Licht and Arians made the move for cap space related reasons.
However, especially in light of Arians claiming McCoy was no longer the player he once was, acquiring Suh does bring up questions. The former Nebraska Cornhusker, at age 32, is a year older than McCoy. Both players were drafted in 2010.
Without a doubt, Arians’ line of reasoning could be used for Ndamukong Suh, as well. Granted, after a yearly decline in production, Suh found a way to increase his stats last year. To be fair, however, he played for one of the better defenisve lines in football last year. Four-time pro bowler Aaron Donald will not be on his side this season. As of now, neither will Jason Pierre-Paul, at least not for the majority of the season.
As far as statistics go, both players performed on a comparable level. When it comes to quarterback hits, sacks and pressures recorded over the nine years of their careers, they are on the same level. There is one crucial area where on of them does stand out, this one could be critical for Tampa Bay. Ndamukong Suh has had a lot more success at stopping the run than Gerald McCoy. Certainly, that is one area where Tampa Bay has struggled in recent years.
Consequently, the new addition does make sense. Not only because it should help improve the Buccaneers’ run defense, but also in regards of adding a certain nastiness to the defense. Suh definitely brings that to the table. Perhaps he is exactly what the Bucs have lacked for far too long.
Source: https://www.tampabay.com
