For the longest time, some in the Dolphins organization wondered whether Ndamukong Suh would act like the leader the franchise paid him to be.
Fast-forward seven months, and Suh seems to have finally found his voice.
Suh, with direct, unflinching language, challenged his teammates on Monday, after Miami’s season-crippling loss to the Cowboys. Some found him compelling. Others thought he overstepped his bounds.
But the message was clear to those in attendance: This is now his defense.
Will it make a difference? We will find out Sunday, when the Dolphins (4-6) face the rival Jets (5-5) in what is essentially a playoff elimination game.
“First of all, I think that stuff is best kept where it was,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said when asked about Suh’s remarks. “It was said in between those four walls in there and it’s for those guys. But the message was clear for everybody, from everybody, that we’re all pulling in the same direction and we all want to win, and that’s the good news. So it was very positive and kind of happy the way everything went.”
Managing his players accounts for “90 percent, 85 percent” of being the coach.
“It can go anywhere from a way a guy feels, like going to practice or getting ready for a game, lifting, how somebody views lifting, ‘I don’t feel like I should lift’ or ‘I don’t feel good,’ getting that player and managing that player, trying to talk him into that in a certain way,” Campbell said. “Everybody is different and there’s a time to drop the hammer. You’ve got to know who you’re dealing with, and there’s a time to put your arm around them, and you’ve got to find the best approach to get what you want.”
Campbell is a throwback, but he also knows that “the days of the iron fist, nonstop, are over.”
Players just don’t respond the way they used to.
“You’ve got to be able to crack a whip, but you’ve also got to know who you’re dealing with,” Campbell said. “Everybody is different, and the best way to approach them is one-on-one.”
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Glad Suh is taking charge. Not surprised to hear some players didn't like his rant. I expect more dysfunction in the next 6 games and those players opposed to Suh will likely be gone next year, this is his defense now. Questionable words by Campbell with the crack the whip comment. It's a pc world and you can't talk like that as a head coach.