Insider: Don't bet on Colts signing Ndamukong Suh

At first glance, the idea of attracting impending free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to the Indianapolis Colts makes all kinds of sense.

The Colts' inability to stop the run and create a consistent pass rush was central to their undoing against the New England Patriots last season. Plus, they've got more than $40 million in salary-cap space to play with.

But based on what I've seen and heard as the Colts formulate their free agency strategy, I would not place too big a bet on Suh landing in Indianapolis. And, believe it or not, the reason is only loosely related to the huge financial commitment it would take.

Suh is certainly intriguing to the Colts. But they aren't entirely sold on whether he's an ideal fit for their defense.

After spending his entire NFL career in a 4-3 defense, playing the classic "three-technique" defensive tackle position, joining a team like the Colts would entail a significant change in style for Suh. It's so significant that it's enough to give the Colts reason for pause.

In the Colts' 3-4 defense, Suh would be required to play a completely different style than in Detroit. In the Lions' 4-3 scheme, Suh is a pass rushing three-technique tackle – a position that doesn't technically exist within the Colts defense.

Suh's foremost job description in a typical 4-3 defense is to penetrate, create havoc in the backfield against the run and pressure the quarterback on passing plays. It's a simple one-gap approach, meaning he lines up between two linemen and has to penetrate that single gap on his way up the field (think Warren Sapp or Gerald McCoy).

In the Colts' defense, they often use a two-gap approach, requiring the defensive lineman to line up head up against an offensive lineman and handle responsibility for the gaps on either side (as opposed to Detroit's one-gap scheme). The two-gap approach requires the player to rely more on his strength at the point of attack and less on his quickness. Suh certainly is not lacking in upper body strength, but his speed and quickness are big elements of his game.

These might seem like subtle differences to the casual fan. And I do agree that, at the simplest level, football is football and talent is talent.

But if you're going to make a $100 million commitment to a player – Suh wants to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league – then it had better be a slam-dunk move. The player has to be an ideal fit and he has to be one who has a reasonable chance of immediate success.

Would Suh be able to adapt to playing in the Colts defense? More than likely, the answer is yes.

But in doing so, will he be as thoroughly dominant as he has been? That's a question that can't be answered with any certainty. The Colts aren't crazy about making a projection about a player who will be the highest-paid on their roster, and who could blame them?

You're going to continue to hear Suh's name connected to the Colts as free-agency talks heat up this weekend. And certainly nothing is off the table with the Colts or any other team.

But the truth is, the Colts have real reservations about signing a player like Suh, great as he may be.

Now, if you want to talk about Vince Wilfork …. oh, nevermind.