2010 NFL Draft: Suh vs. McCoy

When selecting a cornerstone player in the NFL draft,  teams are often forced to make difficult decisions between two seemingly comparable players.  For instance, Ryan Leaf v. Peyton Manning.  In hindsight, that choice is a no-brainer, however, on the eve of the 1998 NFL Draft, the two quarterbacks were thought to be the class of the draft.   The prevailing thought was, the two teams that landed the two quarterbacks were getting can’t miss signal callers. Defensive tackle, as a position, is not as important to teams as quarterbacks, but defenses are anchored by their line, and defense wins games.  No one is suggesting that either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy will fail to live up to their expectations, a la Leaf, as Leaf was riddled with attitude and character problems.  But, with the St. Louis Rams likely taking Sam Bradford with the first overall pick, the Detroit Lions will soon answer the question – Suh or McCoy? In terms of defensive tackles, this is one of the deepest drafts in the last decade and Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy are two of the most talented defensive tackle prospects in recent memory.  Both Suh and McCoy are also high character guys with solid work ethics.  Suh and McCoy are said to be can’t miss talents.  Each displays the skill sets to thrive in the NFL, particularly as a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. When comparing the two by physical attributes alone, they are very similar.  Both players are around the same size 6-4, 295 pounds, and both have excellent mobility for their size.  Suh is stronger, which was evidenced at the recent combine, when McCoy put up a disappointing 23 repetitions in the bench press.  McCoy, however, has been described as the quicker prospect, often having a faster first step off the snap.

In terms of defending the run, both players play the run well, but actual game play demonstrates that Suh is a superior run defender, as he sheds blocks extremely well.    In terms of generating a pass rush, most scouts will note that McCoy seems to be the better pass rusher.  While it is true that McCoy seems to be a bit faster off the line, however, McCoy does not seem as adept at shedding blockers, an important skill if you want to get to the quarterback.   McCoy’s pass rushing ability may also be a bit overrated due to the differences in schemes between the two defenses and the fact that Suh was double teamed more regularly than McCoy.

Overall, over the course of their careers, Suh seems to be the more dominant of the two.  Suh isn’t perfect, but he’s as complete of a defensive tackle as you’ll see coming out of college.  The biggest knock on Suh is that he engages offensive lineman a bit high, and he has a minor injury history, with two prior knee surgeries.  Overall, McCoy is a solid prospect, but Suh is the superior player.   Their 2009 statistics reflect this:

Suh: 82 tackles (52 solo)/21 TFL/12 sacks/19 QB hurries/10 pass def/1 INT
McCoy: 34 tackles (25 solo)/15 TFL/6 sacks/12 QB hurries/2 pass def/0 INT

Suh has a motor that is always running.   When combined with his football intelligence and his physical gifts he he has the potential to make a huge impact and wreak havoc on offenses for years to come.   On the college stage, Suh was the more dominant of the two.  I predict this pattern will continue at the professional level.  Hence, Suh is ranked as the number one prospect on our big board, with McCoy a not too distant second.