PLEASE READ if you think big ben is a top tier QB
- Thread starter CartersCubs
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For now, Steelers must adjust without Polamalu
The Steelers got by for one night, barely, without a running game. What could be more difficult: getting by the first half of the season without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu.
Polamalu, a game-changing talent who might be one of the NFL?s most irreplaceable players, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a blocked field goal in Pittsburgh?s 13-10 overtime victory over Tennessee on Thursday night.
Even before Polamalu underwent more tests Friday to further evaluate the injury?a sprain is a tear in the ligament?Steelers coach Mike Tomlin estimated he would be out from three to six weeks. Players have returned from such an injury within a month, but not often.
After winning their seventh consecutive opener, the players were given the weekend off and they won?t practice again until Monday. The team may not offer an injury update on Polamalu until then.
As the Steelers learned immediately after the Titans? Alge Crumpler(notes) fell on Polamalu?s knee as it was bent at an awkward angle, not having Polamalu for three to six plays is difficult enough.
?Troy is one in a million,? defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. ?We?ll play well without him, but you don?t replace Troy.?
While linebacker James Harrison(notes) was the Defensive Player of the Year last season, Polamalu gives the Steelers? top-ranked defense its uniqueness. He lines up everywhere from the line of scrimmage to the deep secondary, blitzing on one play and dropping into coverage the next, and is the key element of the Steelers? varied and numerous zone blitzes.
Polamalu was the best player on the field before he was hurt, making six tackles, a one-handed interception of a Kerry Collins(notes) pass?with his left hand ? and dropping Chris Johnson for a 2-yard loss on a third-down blitz, all in less than a half. Polamalu?s repeated big plays helped keep the game close even as the Steelers were rushing for only 36 yards on 23 carries.
?He definitely was everywhere,? linebacker LaMarr Woodley(notes) said.
To the Steelers, losing Polamalu on defense for an extended period might be the equivalent of the Patriots losing Tom Brady(notes) on offense. Brady injured a knee in the opener last season and the Patriots didn?t make the playoffs despite going 11-5.
?It?s definitely going to be difficult without him, he?s one of the best players in the league,? safety Ryan Clark(notes) said. ?Preferably, we get him back as soon as possible.?
Immediately after Polamalu was hurt, Collins drove the Titans three plays for their only touchdown, hitting rookie Kenny Britt(notes) for 57 yards with no defender in sight, and an equally wide-open Justin Gage(notes) on a 14-yard touchdown play.
Without Polamalu, it was obvious there was confusion in the secondary. The Steelers had only 10 defenders on the field on one play?and, without their playmaker, it may have seemed like they had fewer than that.
?At first, I don?t think we did too well,? Harrison said. ?The communication wasn?t there. We came back in and did some adjustments and went back out and did all right.?
With Tyrone Carter(notes) mostly filling in for Polamalu, the Steelers held Tennessee to only a field goal during the second half and overtime. However, a defense that held opponents to a league-leading average of 156.9 yards passing last season allowed 234 to the Titans, even though Collins had only four games of 200 yards or more last season.
?You?ve got to look at it as you?ve got to do your job. I think we kind of got out of that mode once he went down,? Clark said. ?Coach LeBeau comes in (at halftime) and tells us, `Troy?s not coming back out, but we?ve got what it takes to win this game.? We were able to do it.?
The Steelers (1-0) won?t have Polamalu for two important upcoming games, Sept. 20 at Chicago and Oct. 4 at home against San Diego, which Pittsburgh beat in the playoffs last season.
?The defense changes a lot (without Polamalu),? Woodley said. ?Troy is a real big part of our defense. But you can?t worry about injured guys?the next guy that goes in there is going to be representing the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we continue to move on. Troy?s not here next week, (so) we?ve just got to count on the guy and believe in the guy who?s coming in for him.?
all kidding aside,that`s a BIG,BIG hit...that guy is possibly thee best defensive player in football....
i`m anxious to see how the steeler "d" holds up without their linchpin...
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Agreed, their D is average without him, trust me. Fortunately, their schedule isn't that tough over the next 5 weeks. I think they have Chicago, Cincy, home with SD, Detroit, and home Clev. So, at worst I can't see them losing more than 2 of them, which would bring them to 4-2 playing Minny at home.
Why is it that every time that someone doesn't like big ben they bring up the steelers defense. Yes their defense is outstanding and without it they would have never won these past 2 superbowls, but neither would the ravens, giants, patriots, and so on. You can't argue with the facts, big ben is one of the best quarterbacks in clutch situations, regardless of how many points the steelers are down. There is still a great amount of pressure on the quarterback when the game is on the line and they have the ball. He might not point up great numbers, he may throw more picks and take more sacks then he should (Favre) but he WINS GAMES. You don't win 2 Super bowls in your first 5 years if your a 2nd tier quarterback, regardless of how good your defense is. He won the super bowl when he marched 90+ yards in the last 3 minutes.
Thanks MJ, this will now be NOLES avatar after I beat him in fantasy football. Out goes Ponch, in comes another queer guy.
jr11
God I'm tired of owning that jailbird team from Maryland. Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacooooo :kiss: :142smilie
If that offensive line does`nt do a better job, Big Ben won`t be around for the whole season. They coul`nt seem to open holes for the running game, and guys were just getting thru to Ben constantly.
If not for Bens scrambling, pump fakes, and breaking tackles, Pitt would have got creamed last night.
Is this the same off. line from last year?
Unbelievable.:shrug:
If not for Bens scrambling, pump fakes, and breaking tackles, Pitt would have got creamed last night.
Is this the same off. line from last year?
Unbelievable.:shrug:
It's the same situation as last year and they won a championship. Someone on this site(Ravens fan) has said that Polamalu is the Steelers best player. Well, Pitt will win the next few weeks without Troy. How many do they win without Ben? Being so valuable to his team because of the O line and poor running game makes him an MVP candidate IMO.
I love to come back to this site every season and like clockwork there are many here that always have to start stupid threads about the Steelers or a player. I would think after their success last year that it would fizz out. Ummmm, not so much.:jerkit:
Fantasy QB Rankings:
Brady
Manning
Brees
QB who can win with game on line
Top Tier
Brady / Ben =
No one else is in discussion if you go by performance past 5 years
don't get me wrong, I am as big of fan as Peyton's there is, but Ben / Brady have the wins, Ben is winning with a lot less talent too......heck ben even had to play defense to keep peyton from going to superbowl
you are soooo funny... ur calling ben a top tier winner? the guy has an amazing defense u keep forgetting about. he has yet to prove he can win without defense. just because u show u can win games comming from down 3pts doesnt mean ur clutch and a winner. it's 3PTS!!! manning has come back from down 3TDs in 4min... big ben has not... brady has an 18-1 season under his belt and most of it is due to the offense.
Fantasy QB Rankings:
Brady
Manning
Brees
QB who can win with game on line
Top Tier
Brady / Ben =
No one else is in discussion if you go by performance past 5 years
don't get me wrong, I am as big of fan as Peyton's there is, but Ben / Brady have the wins, Ben is winning with a lot less talent too......heck ben even had to play defense to keep peyton from going to superbowl
Where is T - Jack :shrug:
:mj07:
why is the focus only on 3pt comeback?
why is the focus only on 3pt comeback?
You are so fixated on that one fact, you forget its the 18th time he's done it. That and 2 superbowls, cmon...The Titan d played better than the Pitt d this game especially when Polly couldn't play, taking into consideration sacks and turnovers created.
...Fact is, the Steelers had a leader who took over "Big Ben." No one stepped up for the Titans and thats why they lost.
There were a few times despite horrible blocking, Big Ben was able to scramble and make a play. Sure he's not perfect and won't have the total yardage seasons like Manning, Brady, Brees, but the dude is a winner. And sometimes just because a player puts up more stats, doesn't mean he's a better all around player. How does that player affect the overall chemistry of a team? How is that player looked upon, esp a QB, as a leader?
I don't see how you can argue against that. Football unlike other sports like basketball or baseball is a team sport, where its much harder for one individual to take over a game. Yes, he has had help, but when there is a chance to win a game, Roth is pretty damn good and I believe because he wins and continues to win belongs in the top tier winner.
why is the focus only on 3pt comeback?
You are so fixated on that one fact, you forget its the 18th time he's done it. That and 2 superbowls, cmon...The Titan d played better than the Pitt d this game especially when Polly couldn't play, taking into consideration sacks and turnovers created.
...Fact is, the Steelers had a leader who took over "Big Ben." No one stepped up for the Titans and thats why they lost.
There were a few times despite horrible blocking, Big Ben was able to scramble and make a play. Sure he's not perfect and won't have the total yardage seasons like Manning, Brady, Brees, but the dude is a winner. And sometimes just because a player puts up more stats, doesn't mean he's a better all around player. How does that player affect the overall chemistry of a team? How is that player looked upon, esp a QB, as a leader?
I don't see how you can argue against that. Football unlike other sports like basketball or baseball is a team sport, where its much harder for one individual to take over a game. Yes, he has had help, but when there is a chance to win a game, Roth is pretty damn good and I believe because he wins and continues to win belongs in the top tier winner.
