National Football League

DL Haloti Ngata on Detroit Lions defense: 'I love it'

Published May. 28, 2015 2:03 p.m. ET

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Haloti Ngata is being asked to play a new style of defense with the Detroit Lions, and the big D-lineman is embracing the change.

"I love it," Ngata told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Just the defense that (Teryl Austin is) running here, it's awesome. It's a change for me. A lot of the attack, penetrate, aggressive defense, it's awesome. I still got to get used to it, but so far I'm loving it."

Ngata, at 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds, is a well-versed run-stuffer from his time as a Baltimore Raven. From 2009-2013, he made five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. The Lions traded for Ngata in March to make up for the loss of other interior defensive line contributors in free agency.

"You definitely miss (Ndamukong) Suh and (Nick) Fairley, but I'm here to try to ease that a little bit," Ngata said, per the Detroit Free Press. "The guys that have been here are kind of showing the younger guys what it's been about here. I think they're doing a great job and hopefully once I catch on I can continue to push the younger guys along and get some wins."

Sack numbers will have to spike for Ngata. His career-high total for a single season was 5.5 in 2010. For perspective, Suh has recorded 5.5 sacks or more in four of his five NFL seasons.

(h/t Detroit Free Press)

Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports