Troy Polamalu is Healthy, So What is Wrong with the Pittsburgh Steelers Defense?

November 12, 2010   ·   gladys louise tyler   ·   Jump to comments

In 2008, the Steelers had an unbelievable season: they held 14 consecutive opponents under 300 yards of total offense, were No. 1 against the pass, No. 2 against the run, No. 1 in total yards per game and by season's end had recorded 51 sacks.
Flash-forward to 2009 season. The Steelers walked through the looking glass.  They were systematically confronted with fourth quarter implosions, while the run defense ended third in the league and the pass defense failed the black and gold.
Yes, the injuries to Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith were devastating.  In a defense that depends upon stopping the run and forcing the opponent to pass whereupon the defense then unleashes a furry of blitzing and zone blitzing schemes, losing a Polamalu who reads and interprets the offense based upon the defensive schemes was a loss the Steelers never quite recovered from.
Now, it is 2010. Troy Polamalu is healthy, the defense ranks fourth.  The Steelers are first against the rush...

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