Ndamukong Suh Quotes

Nebraska Football
Preseason Press Conference
Monday, Aug. 6 - 11 a.m.
Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb.

Ndumkong Suh - Sophomore, Defensive Tackle
On the 2007 season and being in the starting position
“I’m anxious to be in the starting role and work myself into that role. I’m very anxious to get to that spot.  I wouldn’t say that I’m totally ready because everybody on the defensive line has things to work on, but I’m on my way to work myself into that spot.”<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

On Corey McKeon’s comment about the defensive line being too nice
“I definitely don’t think we’re too nice, and I’m definitely one of those people he’s talking about who is not obnoxious. I’m more of that person who will get in your face when I make a play.  I’m more of a laid back person.”

On fellow defensive lineman Barry Turner
“I think he’s going to be a dominant force in that rush end spot.  Barry has come along really well after his injury and his surgery, and I’m anxious to see how he has progressed in fall camp.”

On Turner’s comment about Suh being the “strongest man in the world"
“I’m far from the strongest person in the world. But I do like to work out hard and get strong.  Steve Octavien is partners with me on the bench, so when we go into the weight room during the summer we’re challenging each other and pushing each other, especially during these last couple of weeks.  We tried to max out a little bit.” 

On pushing his teammates to do better (Listen)
“We have standards that we have to make, especially when it comes to running times and stuff like that.   I see pushing ourselves is when (Strength) Coach (Dave) Kennedy gives us a 200 in 38 seconds and we come in at 35 or 36 seconds.  Unless we’re running 200s that have to be on pace.  That’s one way I see us pushing ourselves.”

“Also, another way us pushing ourselves is before we run on our conditioning days and we have seven-on-seven, our main thing to do is to not just sit there and play around. Every one just needs to be focused and in-tune to the plays that are being called and run through all your steps and then go about making plays and doing different stuff, so everybody is focused knowing with what they have to do and getting it done, not just playing around.  A couple of years ago, seven-on-seven wasn’t taken so seriously, so this year it’s more of a serious ?get down, get ready to go’ and let’s get to work.'”

On skeptics of the defensive line (Listen)
"People have a right to say that.  Everybody who is in the starting role right now who is in the No. 1 depth chart has had the chance to play, but we haven’t had to a chance to showcase everything we can do, so that’s why everybody is going to have a question mark. But it’s our job to get in fall camp and get our work done and come out that first game against Nevada and show what we can offer to this team. I’d like to come out and do our jobs the way we know and are taught to do our jobs." 

 

On his leadership role (Listen)
“My leadership role is mainly going by example.  I don’t like to be that person to speak out, I’m more of a lead-by-example type of person.”

On the experienced linebackers helping out the defensive line (Listen)
“It helps us tremendously.  If there happens to be a mistake on the defensive line, they can help fill in. So they know our plays and they know everywhere we’re supposed to be and they’re right there behind us yelling in our ears about what we need to get done.  In case there’s a mistake or someone new is coming in and needs some help and needs to know what they have to do, they can’t always go to the coach on the sideline shouting across the field. I think we have some people on our defensive line who have come in midterm and will help us this upcoming season.”

On fellow defensive lineman Shukree Barfield (Listen)
“Shukree is one of those people who have come along quite well over the summer and in spring ball, so he’s pushing himself and he wants to be on that field. He will be pushing for some time.”

On his enthusiasm remaining throughout the hot days of August
“It’s going to be a little bit tough, especially getting into our pads in going through two-a-days, it’s going to be tough. But that’s got to be your mental toughness-to stay eager and remain focused throughout the rest of fall camp, so we can go into the season fresh and know what we have to get done.”