Despite age, Ravens’ Suggs a sack master
Pass rusher could make life tough for QB Savage on Monday night
Barreling into the Green Bay Packers’ backfield with an aggressiveness that harkened back to the Ravens’ vintage defensive tradition, Terrell Suggs brought quarterback Brett Hundley crashing to the ground.
The 122nd sack of Suggs’ career triggered an elaborate sack dance the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year coordinated with his teammates.
Although Suggs is in his 15th NFL season and celebrated his 35th birthday in October, he’s seemingly ageless. Suggs has 7½ sacks and three forced fumbles this season for a resurgent defense that has pitched three shutouts.
Blocking Suggs is one of the Texans’ top offensive priorities heading into a Monday night road game at M&T Bank Stadium. If the Texans, primarily veteran left tackle Chris Clark, are incapable of containing Suggs, it could be an extremely long night.
The six-time Pro Bowl selection is adept at chopping the football out of quarterbacks’ hands. He has 33 forced fumbles.
“I do not think it matters how old he is,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He is playing just like he did when I started calling plays against him when I was in New England.
“He is a very active player. He does a great job of setting the edge. He is a very good pass-rush guy. You better know where he is on every play.”
Like a fine wine
Years removed from a pair of torn Achilles tendons, Suggs’ body is operating at an optimal level.
He’s never been a workout freak or fanatical about his diet. He ran a sluggish 4.8 in the 40-yard dash coming out of Arizona State, but takes good care of himself and worked diligently to rehab from his injuries.
It’s as if Suggs is getting better with age, mastering the sport through his experience and willpower.
“Yeah, I agree,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said during a conference call. “This is probably the best football he’s played in a while and as good as he’s ever played, I think.”
Suggs has a vast repertoire of pass-rushing moves and plays the game with a ferocity reminiscent of past Ravens’ defenses.
Suggs entered the NFL as a contemporary of middle linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed, and has carried on their work as the elder statesman of a defense that’s the primary reason the Ravens are a playoff contender at 5-5.
“He has that Benjamin Button disease,” Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams said of Suggs this year.
How does Suggs maintain his high standard at an age most NFL players, especially outside linebackers, are long since retired?
Suggs didn’t divulge any trade secrets.
“It is kind of like the nohitter,” Suggs told Baltimore reporters. “You don’t really talk about it. You just try to continue to progress and play well every week. You can have some success when you are healthy, if your body holds up.
“We have been doing a lot of things on and off the field to make sure I don’t tear any biceps or any Achilles or anything like that. You just want to continue to work, continue to progress. I like to say I have not hit my cruising altitude yet; I’m still trying to ascend.”
Texans quarterback Tom Savage has to be keenly aware of Suggs’ disruptive presence. Savage has seven fumbles this season in five games, losing six of them.
“He just really hasn’t lost a step,” Savage said. “He’s a strong player. He’s been in the league for 14, 15 years. Those guys have seen it all. So, you have to have your work cut out and I know we’re really excited for this opportunity.”
Clark gets difficult task
The Texans want to make sure Suggs doesn’t disrupt their plans. They allowed just one sack a week ago in a win over the Cardinals, upgrading their pass protection significantly. A lot of the workload will fall on Clark, a former Super Bowl starter for the Broncos, against Suggs.
“Suggs has been one of the best for a long time,” left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo said. “He’s been doing it at a high level. We have a lot of respect for him. I’m proud to play next to Chris. He’s a good mentor and a good leader.”
O’Brien has been gameplanning for Suggs since his days as Patriots offensive coordinator. Now, he must devise another strategy to slow him.
“I can remember calling plays against him in 2009 in New England and having to know where he was on every single play, and that was when they had Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, just go down the list, (Haloti) Ngata inside,” O’Brien said. “They had some great players, and he’s still there. It’s a testament to him. Great football player.”