What would the Indianapolis Colts record be if Peyton Manning wasn't wearing the horseshoe on his head? Would they be a .500 team? Would they even be able to win 4 games?
We saw what the Patriots looked like without Tom Brady. No soup for them as they missed the playoffs.
In my mind there is only one other player in the NFL that makes or breaks their team, It's Troy Polamalu. Polamalu has already missed about half the defensive snaps this year and the change in both the way the Steelers approach the games as well as the outcome of the games without Polamalu on the field is dramatic.
Without Polamalu the Pittsburgh Steelers feel that they have to score an abundance of points to win the game. This is not your father's smash-mouth, pound the ball, grind it out and play solid ‘D' Steelers. This is the throw the ball thirty-five times and average 297 per game in the air Steelers.
Prior to this year, Ben Roethlisberger played 72 games and averages 26 pass attempts per game. This year, because of Polamalu's absence in the line-up 35 pass attempts per game. Last week without Polamalu Big Ben threw the ball 42 times and would have thrown it a few more times on the last drive if he didn't have to come out of the game!
Remember Bugs Bunny covering all the defensive positions on the baseball diamond?
That's Troy on the football field. One play he's in pass coverage then next he stuffs the run, then he sacks the QB... the guy probably hands out water to the rest of the team during time outs too.
Not since Lawrence Taylor have we seen a single player be able to run so fast, hit so hard and be everywhere on the field that he's supposed to be at the right moment and time.
Troy Polamalu is one of this generations best defensive players. He's football's Bugs Bunny. - Adam Foster
Adam is a freelance sports writer contributing to various online and print publications for over 12 years.
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