PDA

View Full Version : AFC North Blog - Seven-step drop: Troy Polamalu struggles



stillers4me
11-01-2010, 11:06 AM
November, 1, 2010 Nov 1
12:00
PM ET

By James Walker



Here are some notes and observations from Week 8 in the AFC North:

[+] Enlargehttp://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/1101/nfl_a_polamalu_300.jpg (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/19739/seven-step-drop-troy-polamalu-struggles#) AP Photo/Patrick SemanskyWhile they had bright moments, Troy Polamalu and the Pittsburgh defense struggled against Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday.




Even Troy Polamalu (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4474) occasionally has bad games. The Pittsburgh Steelers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers)' do-it-all safety had his worst performance in at least two years during Sunday's 20-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-saints). Polamalu and Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2580) were involved in a chess match, and Brees won nearly all of those matchups by catching Polamalu out of position several times for big gains. Polamalu struggled to get a read on Brees and was a step or two late on big plays. Polamalu also missed tackles he usually makes in what was a rare, subpar performance by his standards.

The Superdome was the loudest stadium I've heard all season. The raucous atmosphere definitely bothered Pittsburgh (5-2), which had won its first three road games this season................

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/19739/seven-step-drop-troy-polamalu-struggles

SteelerFanInStl
11-01-2010, 02:52 PM
I'm baffled as to why the Steelers failed to successfully attack New Orleans' blitzes. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks at beating pressure packages. The play calling was one step behind. The Steelers didn't run many screens, couldn't execute hot routes and didn't take many shots deep against single coverage. That would have made New Orleans think twice about bringing extra defenders. But Pittsburgh's offense never figured it out. So credit the Saints for continuing to bring the heat.

This was pretty much right on the money.

El-Gonzo Jackson
11-01-2010, 05:15 PM
This was pretty much right on the money.

So True. There were times where the Saints sent 5 and 6 on the pass rush and there should be somebody open, but it never happened.

Psycho Ward 86
11-01-2010, 05:39 PM
http://www.steelersuniverse.com/forums/showthread.php/3859-Troy-Polamalu...looked-human-against-the-Saints

Yes! I called it!



Don't judge me, everyone needs their 2 seconds of the spotlight lol.