DAVIE, Fla. – Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh knows Tony Romo well. Sunday will mark the fifth meeting between Suh and the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback, who will make his return from a near two-month layoff from a broken clavicle.
Suh crossed paths with Romo in four times as a former Detroit Lion, including in last year’s wild-card loss, when Suh made two sacks.
“Tony Romo is a great quarterback,” Suh said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to go against him at least five out of my six years in the league. He’s an excellent quarterback. Has great vision, has a deep arm, can throw the ball down the field as well as can use athletically his feet. We just gotta be able to understand where he’s at all particular times.”
Romo received a lot of respect from Suh and Miami’s defensive players within the team’s locker room on Wednesday. The Dolphins (4-5) know that with Romo, Sunday’s game against the Cowboys (2-7) is going to be much tougher than their record indicates.
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“He’s just a different quarterback; he makes special plays,” Dolphins cornerback Brice McCain said. “When the receiver is not open, he will do a spin move or a pump fake and get the receiver open. That’s been his M.O. his entire career, creating plays when there are no plays there. He’s very good at it.”
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill also weighed in on Romo’s return Wednesday.
“Tony is a heck of a player. He’s had a great career,” Tannehill said. “He’s a football player. He creates. You see him move around in the pocket, escape the pocket. He’s one of the most elusive guys in the pocket and escaping the pocket.”
The key for Miami will be to pressure Romo, who could have some rust after the long layoff. The Dolphins did a good job last week with four sacks and 10 quarterback hits in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.