Mike Pouncey, Dolphins offensive line preparing for Ndamukong Suh showdown

The Detroit Lions enter this week's game against the Miami Dolphins with the top ranked defense in the league, a ranking they have earned in no-small-part due to the impact of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The Dolphins know exactly what they will be up against, countering with Pro Bowl center turned guard Mike Pouncey and center Samson Satele; it's a task both players are preparing to face.

"We want to go out and play well against this team," Pouncey told reporters Wednesday. "If you look at across the board statistic wise, they are the top of the NFL in everything on defense. This will be a big challenge for our offense. We have to go out and play very well. We have to play our best game of the year and it all is going to start this week in preparation and practice. Suh is a great football player and I'm a big fan of his. I just can't wait to go out there and play against him for the first time.

"He's a really good football player. He plays really hard. He's a Pro Bowl football player. We have to go out and play our best against him. He's going to be the best defender we play against all year."

Through eight games this year, Suh has 3.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, and 21 tackles. He consistenly plugs the middle of the line of scrimmage, forcing teams to try to run around him, rather than moving up the middle of the field. Pro Football Focus has Suh ranked as the fifth best defensive tackle in the game, with high grades in both pass rush and run defense. he is coming off his best game of the season in Week 8. Detroit had their bye week last Sunday.

"It's all technique," Satele answered when asked about Suh's play. "He plays the game the way a (defensive tackle) should play. It's a great challenge for anybody who is blocking him. It's never easy for an (offensive lineman) to go against any (defensive lineman) in this league. It's a challenge that we're willing to take this week."

Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehillalso mentioned Suh when he spoke to the media Wednesday, 'Suh is obviously a great player. He creates a lot of havoc in the middle, whether it's pass rushing or shutting blocks in the run game. Our guys inside are going to have to do a good job of controlling him.'

Suh has a reputation for being a dirty player, something that has gotten him in trouble in the past. Pouncey was asked about the team's concerns of Suh playing dirty against them, "We don't worry about that. We are going to go out, play hard. We're not worried about him playing dirty. We worry about him playing as hard as he can. We have to go out there and match his intensity."

Pouncey concluded his media availability stating, "Suh is a great football player and I'm a big fan of his. I just can't wait to go out there and play against him for the first time."

Pouncey gets his chance Sunday at 1pm ET.