Troy Polamalu has been one of the most distinctive and productive players in the NFL over the past decade or so. He has a human highlight film of some of the best defensive plays you could ever hope to see. Despite all this, and you might need to whisper it very quietly as I feel it may not be popular amongst Steeler Nation faithful, but is it time that Polamalu called time on his career?
There is no doubt that he will be heading to Canton Ohio to deliver his Hall of Fame induction speech after five years of retirement. However when a player was as dominant as he was throughout his career, it is very difficult for that player to realize he doesn’t have it like he used to. For a long time, Ed Reed was perhaps the only comparable player to Polamalu at his position, but after the Ravens Super Bowl win against the Niners, Reed was pretty much done. Yes, he tried to play on with the Houston Texans and then the New York Jets, but it became painfully clear that Reed wasn’t the same player. If a Hall of Fame caliber defensive back cannot look good in a Rex Ryan defense then your career is done in all honesty.
I am starting to wonder if Polamalu isn’t starting to go the same way. He has always been a player to trust his instincts which have led to so many of his big plays, having faith in his positional sense and speed. Oftentimes his instincts were proven right. For much of his time in Pittsburgh he had the same strong safety next to him. Of course Mike Mitchell is alongside Polamalu right now and that may make a difference, but from the outside looking in it would appear that his instincts are starting to fail him and the Steelers are getting burnt as a result.
The more this happens, the more he seems to be trying even harder to be the one that makes the big play. At times this makes no sense in the called scheme because he is being caught out more and more. Polamalu needs to settle down in the defense and do his job, but I am not sure that’s enough in and of itself for someone who has achieved what he has over the course of his illustrious career.
The Steelers are a football team trying to get younger and faster, but injuries have had an impact on that so far this season. As this process takes place you do need veteran leadership more than ever, something Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau knows only too well. Polamalu could certainly play that kind of role for this team. I think this is also the reason for James Harrison was bought back to Pittsburgh as well.
Many insiders have always commented that Coach LeBeau’s defense takes a good few years to pick up, but on the back of recent 8-8 seasons the Steelers may not have a good few years to await improvements. Head coach Mike Tomlin is a on the hot seat if the Steelers do not make the playoffs and this may put pressure on Todd Haley and LeBeau to achieve more than would normally be possible with the current roster.
On many levels I hope the rest of this season goes well for Pittsburgh. For Polamalu my gut feeling is that there may not be many more years after this one, and if any player deserves a positive finish to a glowing career it should definitely be the long haired wonder from Hawaii himself. So Troy, I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you in the Hall of Fame. Whatever the future holds, be it inside or outside the game, I hope you enjoy a staggering amount of success, but I think it is approaching time to acknowledge that your playing days may be done.
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