N.Suh

[NWebster]

He's officially retired and the PF HOF on X posted his eligibility for the 2028 Class, I just don't see his as Hall-worthy . . . and of course we can all argue Big vs. Small Hall, though I think he's 1000% HOVG and will get discussed in the room for the Hall. Strange too, he may have had as good a Rookie season as any DT ever, he had a rookie season up there with Page, Greene and Donald - but in the end that may have actually been his best season.

PFR's HOF Monitor has him behind Kevin Williams on it's list, though ahead of some marginal HOF'ers Karras, Buchanan, Bryant Young and Steve McMichael. I'd want Williams over Suh as well but he seems to have little momentum, and Suh is like Williams in that he was a disrupter but unlike Karras, Young and McMichael (all 90+ Sacks) didn't log lots of Sacks (Williams / Suh both right around 70).

Thoughts on Suh?

[RichardBak]

Well, he most def belongs in the Hall of Dirty Players.

HOVG yes, HOF no.

[Brian wolf]

Unfortunately, he will wait awhile like typical guards and centers but I believe he is deserving of election. Could pressure, stop the run and swallow up blockers. Nasty as hell, which I would always want on my team ... has the accolades, longevity and championship as well.

Ironically, the dirty reputation could help his HOF case, since he, like Rodney Harrison at safety, stayed in the fans, writers collective memory.
Geno Atkins might have been the better player. Even Pro Football Focus believes he is HOF worthy, but playing on bad Bengals teams, do fans and writers remember him?

What is your take on Atkins, Nick?

[JohnTurney]

Suh and Kevin Williams similar in a lot of ways, but think Williams has better case and he gets no attention, but Suh has bigger name and might (sadly) have a better shot


Atkins is interesting since Bryan brought him up. He's the classic 3-tech and was also great. Oddly playing in a more pass rush friendly environment he didn't get to say, 100 sacks, due to injuries in part and also because of a late-career dip.

WIlliams and Suh played left DT and sometimes were in a 3 other times over or shaded on a center ... all in the 70s in sacks and SUh actually had more pressures ... but played longer ... one day may do a pressure/snap for career like PFF does for a season.

I think it would not be surprising if none of the three get in ...

[Brian wolf]

Some good takes. Fletcher Cox and of course Cam Heyward also have great careers. Was interesting reading about Chester McGlockton, who you have mentioned on PFJ, John. He could really pass rush for the Raiders but once he hit free agency, took a nosedive, career wise. Its a shame with the talent he had.

[JohnTurney]

FWIW was only in top ten in PSI's rankings a few times, but did have "blue traits" in other seasons. I know early o n 2010-11 Suh got suckered s lot. He got trapped and few for draws pretty often ... compared to the best,

but he did play the way a lot of coaches teach ... though the block, rather than around it. It leads to fewer big plays but does keep the integrity of the line better ... taking your gap without going around. There are a few that could do it both ways ... and do it well. AD could slip people as well as anyone a at his position ever ... if someone overplayed a block, let's say to his right, he'd fall back and make play from behind the blocker...

Suh was not that kind of player. He and Williams were able to get good rush but also played through guys who held the guy on block to create a pile or wall.

[Brian wolf]

What could also help Suh was some good postseason games. He had good pressure and was in on two sacks against the Cowboys during the 2014/15 postseason, a game the Lions could have won but a controversial ending. He was also in on two sacks against Drew Brees and the Saints in another controversial game in the 2018/19 NFC Championship for the Rams. Of course, he won his only SB with another good game against Mahomes and the Chiefs in the 2020/21 SB for the Bucs.