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Greg Cosell's Free Agency Preview: Why Ndamukong Suh is dominant

In a two-play sequence during a playoff game at the Dallas Cowboys last season, Ndamukong Suh offered a glimpse of what he can do for a defense.

Suh, the Detroit Lions defensive tackle who will be highly coveted in free agency, plays the run and the pass with what I call methodical and relentless explosion. He’s not a quick-twitch player like a Gerald McCoy. He is very powerful. And he can control the inside of an opposing offense.

Here’s what Suh did on back-to-back plays, and keep in mind he was going against center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin, who were Pro Bowlers last season.

First and 10

Suh’s tackle numbers aren’t huge but if you watch the film you know what a big difference he makes. He was the reason DeMarco Murray was stopped for no loss on this run.

The plan was for Frederick and Martin (again, two Pro Bowl linemen) to double team Suh. He was lined up over right guard, but Suh leaned inside on the snap and prevented Martin from doubling him. Then he shoved Frederick back four yards. Murray couldn’t hit the hole; he had to widen. He was stopped for no gain. Suh didn’t show up in the stat sheet for this play. But you can see he was responsible for Murray getting stuffed.

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And here it is from the end-zone angle:

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Second and 10

Now we can see Suh’s relentless and methodical power in the passing game. He shoves Martin back into the pocket, and quarterback Tony Romo is forced to move. Suh stayed with the play through hustle and got the sack. This isn’t a function of speed or quick-twitch ability. It’s just really impressive power.

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Suh is a good pass rusher from the inside, and he really impacts a running game. Let’s put aside one-on-one blocks, because Suh and other great players can beat those. What do you have to do when you’re a defensive lineman and you’re double teamed? You have to create a stalemate because you don’t want the offense getting a push and creating a new line of scrimmage. Then you want to prevent the lineman whose job it is to get to the second level from getting there, because that disrupts the timing of the play. Suh can do both things – and sometimes he can just beat a double team and make a play himself too – because he can’t be moved. Double teams don’t move him, the second lineman can’t get to the second level, the timing of the play is thrown off and the linebacker isn’t blocked and can fill the hole. That’s what you see when you watch Suh.

There’s a good reason Suh will command a huge contract from some team. He’s a force in the middle, and you can get an idea why from that small sample of the consecutive plays against the Cowboys.

Let’s take a look at some of the other key free agents who are getting set to hit the market. There’s a theme for many of them: Whoever signs them must use them in a way to maximize their talents. Even though all of the players I’ll break down are clearly good players, they wouldn’t be as good if they’re not in the right system or used in the right spots.

WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers

Cobb is a perfect case of what I’m talking about, because he’s a certain kind of player and teams have to understand what he is. He had more targets, receptions and yards from the slot than any other receiver in the NFL last year. He became a moveable chess piece for the Packers late last season, but he’s mainly a slot player and he’s really good in that role. He’s not an outside-the-numbers receiver.

[Check out Shutdown Corner's full 2015 free agent rankings – click here for offensive players, and click here for defensive players and specialists]

Here’s a simple example of him beating Minnesota Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn in man coverage for an 8-yard touchdown out of the slot.

Also, teams have to factor in that a number of his catches came off of Aaron Rodgers’ throws late in the down, and he might be the best quarterback in the league late in downs. On this play against the Carolina Panthers, Rodgers had Cobb on a stick route away from the zone blitz, as defensive end Charles Johnson dropped in coverage. Rodgers left the pocket and Johnson isn’t meant to play coverage for more than three seconds, so Rodgers hit Cobb in an open void and then Cobb had a nice run after the catch for 47 yards.

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That’s not to say Cobb wouldn’t be a good player wherever he goes, but you have to factor in everything – including his position and how he’ll do without a quarterback who plays like Rodgers – into the equation.

CB Byron Maxwell, Seattle Seahawks

Maxwell is another example of a good talent, and you have to understand what he is. Maxwell is a press-man corner. That’s what he’s best at. He’s not as effective playing off. When you evaluate the player and if he fits in your defense, you have to know that. You have to use him as a press-man corner.

Maxwell might get paid more than what people think is proper market value, because he’s a free agent at a premium position. If Maxwell is used properly, he can be a very good corner. But you have to understand his strengths and maybe more importantly, his limitations.

S Devin McCourty, New England Patriots

McCourty is another player that might get more than what is considered proper market value, because of his versatility and that he’s coming off his best season.

McCourty’s responsibilities were expanded by the Patriots last season. He was basically a deep safety before last season, but the Patriots started using him in multiple ways. He would match up against tight ends, for example, and did well at that. Now you’re dealing with a safety who has a multiple skill set. He can be deployed in multiple ways. And he understands the game well.

His interception in the divisional round against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is a good example of how smart and aware he is. He understood the Ravens’ route combination and where the ball was going. He moved before Flacco started pulling the trigger, because he knew where Flacco would throw it.

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TE Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos

It should be pretty easy to figure out what you’re getting with Thomas. He’s a matchup player.

He’s a very athletic tight end who can line up anywhere in the formation. He can line up outside of the numbers, which creates matchup problems. The burden on the defense is how to match up with him, because of his size-speed combination. He’s a really fluid athlete, which isn’t a surprise with his basketball background. He’s more like a receiver in the way he can be deployed.

Thomas is particularly dangerous when he lines up as “X iso” as the single receiver in a three-by-one set. In this play he got matched up against safety Tony Jefferson and beat him with a “sluggo” (slant-and-go) route.

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Will he put up the same numbers if he leaves Denver and Peyton Manning? Maybe not, but he could. He has a better chance at success if his new team understands how to use him to create matchup issues.

WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles

Maclin is actually a player I like in almost any system. He’s big. He can run. I think he can get over the top of corners and lift the coverage. He’s a good route runner and you can line him up in different spots. He’s a very good receiver and I think he can play in any system.

Here’s a good example of how he can get deep against a defense. Against the Houston Texans in Week 9, Maclin easily ran a deep post past cornerback Andre Hal and safety D.J. Swearinger didn’t get enough depth to react to Maclin. He gained 52 yards.

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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.