Warren Sapp inspires Lions' plans for Ndamukong Suh

We're catching up with a heavy bundle of Detroit Lions news this Tuesday morning. While we're at it, let's check in with Ndamukong Suh.

Word out of Detroit is that Suh is being used creatively on the defensive line. After two seasons planted at the left tackle spot, Suh lined up on the right side during a portion of Monday's open practice session. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham hinted we could see more of this during Suh's third campaign with the team.

"Warren (Sapp) will be happy; I'm going to move (Suh) all over the place now," Cunningham told the Detroit Free Press on Monday. "As a matter of fact, I showed him some of Warren's tape. Warren should be really happy."

Cunningham is harkening back to Sapp's Suh-centric riff during Super Bowl week. The NFL Network analyst jabbed the Lions for taking a predictable approach with their tackle, whose sack total dipped from 10 as a rookie to four last season.

"I like (Lions general manager) Martin Mayhew, so I'm like, 'Somebody want to put him on the right side a little more?' " Sapp said. "Jesus, you put the man in a position where he's here, and now people have wham blocks and all that because they know he's right there every time. When I was (alternating sides), you had to map this thing out. ... He's right there every time. I'm like, 'Come on, Gunther, stop it.' And then you put (Nick) Fairley behind him? Oh, so we don't get to see them side by side?"

Words come easy to Sapp, but he has a point here. Of course, four of Suh's 14 career sacks have come from somewhere other than left defensive tackle, so this isn't breaking news to Cunningham. Expect to see the Lions' best defender unleashed from a variety of locations in 2012, which lingers as ominous news for the quarterback species.


(nfl.com)