When Detroit Lions' players and coaches were asked what they were looking forward to most about Sunday's regular-season opener against the Rams at Ford Field, most of the answers were understandable -- and predictable.

Most players talked about the thrill of playing in front of Detroit's rabid fans. Some spoke of the emotions that players have starting a new season. Jim Schwartz pointed out that he was looking forward to not having to start a season on the road for the first time in his tenure as the Lions' coach.

Then there's DT Ndamukong Suh.

Like his teammates, Suh says playing in front of the Ford Field fans is special, and he, too, is looking forward to the start of a new year. But the true appeal of the regular season for Suh lies in the fact he gets to play a more complex style of football.

“Week 1 is definitely when it gets fun,”  Suh said. “It gives us an opportunity to get out of the basic [coverage] that we've all implemented for the last four weeks during camp. Now we get to allow those elaborate blitzes to get after the quarterback and running back.”

Suh's desire for more detailed schemes is understandable, given that he made just four sacks last season. After getting 10 sackes his rookie season, only double-digits will due for Suh. 

Although he's clearly ready for another shot at Rams QB Sam Bradford -- Suh intercepted a pass when Bradford last faced the Lions in 2010 -- he understands that containing RB Steven Jackson is the linchpin to stopping the St. Louis offense.

The Lions' defense did an acceptable job of limiting Jackson in the 2010 meeting as he ran for 114 yards but no touchdowns in a 44-6 Lions win. But the arrival of new Rams coach Jeff Fisher means that St. Louis will have a different look than the one Detroit destroyed two seasons ago. Fisher's Rams promise a rejuvenated offense, and Suh says Jackson's ability to stay on his feet will provide a stern test.

“[Jackson's] a big body,” Suh said. “It's almost like tackling me. I'm not going to fall easy. A guy his size and those dimensions isn't going to fall easy either. You can definitely hit him and take him to the ground, but he's not going to fall like someone of a smaller nature.”

Rams QB Bradford says he didn't try to avoid becoming a Lion: Rams QB Sam Bradford was the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but he stunned experts when he chose to return to the University of Oklahoma after winning the 2008 Heisman trophy. Bradford faced speculation that he returned to school to avoid being drafted by the Lions, who were coming off the NFL's only 0-16 season. Detroit instead selected Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft, and Bradford was selected by the Rams the following year.

With Stafford and Bradford set to face each other in Sunday's season opener, Bradford told Detroit reporters that his decision to return to school had nothing to do with a desire to avoid being drafted by a winless team. “I went back to school just because I felt I wasn’t ready for the NFL at that point,” he said. “I just felt like I could really use another year in school to mature both physically and mentally. ... I still feel like that year really helped me develop as a person.”

Coleman says Lions' secondary can cope with Delmas' absence: S Louis Delmas [knee] and CB Chris Houston [ankle] didn't participate in practice Thursday. The two haven't participated in a practice since the regular season began, and it's highly unlikely that either will play in Sunday's opener. If Delmas isn't available, expect John Wendling and Erik Coleman to handle starting safety duties. The duo have worked well together in camp, and Coleman says the Lions' safeties are strong enough to perform well until Delmas returns. “John [Wendling] and I have been playing together all offseason, and [S Amari] Spievey's been doing a good job,” he said. “We're ready for the challenge [of facing the Rams without Delmas]”

Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLDET and @JohnKreger.