If the last 2 games have showed us anything, it is that Troy Polamalu is quite very important to this current Pittsburgh Steelers team. There was a topic regarding who is the most irreplaceable player on the Steelers this season. I thought the Steelers Defense is the most valuable, and with that belief I chose one of the Defense's stars as being irreplaceable. I couldn't pinpoint one player but I did note that it was either Aaron Smith, Troy Polamalu or James Harrison. Well, the way Tyrone Carter has played so far, I'm beginning to think we might not go anywhere unless Troy comes back in full heath. In the last 2 losses, Carter was either directly or indirectly involve in allowing 3 touchdowns, and many other plays where if Troy was there, a mere play could have stop a drive and prevent the other team from scoring. First, Cutler threw a touchdown to his tight end for a touchdown. Most people point the finger on Farrior as the culprit, but Farrior was reading Cutler's eyes, who looked off Farrior by moving his eyes, Carter who was the defender behind the tight end lacking instinct didn't react when Cutler moved his eyes back to his tight end, heck he didn't even seem to react when the ball was coming, he wouldn't have gotten to the ball on time because he isn't as quick or fast as Troy but at least maybe he could have hit the tight end and cause a drop. Then he got beat by Knox on the next touchdown, and it didn't look to me that he was hurt, I thought Carter moved pretty well, he even tackled the receiver after the catch, but it was more like he wasn't good enough to cover than he was injured. He did say he shouldn't have been there because he was hurt. Well regardless of the reasons, he shouldn't have been there covering the receiver one on one because he doesn't have the coverage skills. Then against Cincinnati, Benson had a long touchdown run. If Troy was there, there was a huge possibility Benson would not have gotten a first touchdown, and Troy would have at least tackled him before getting a touchdown. Well, we saw Troy tackled Chris Johnson for a 2 yard loss while positioned from 15 yards deep in the secondary before the snap. He was so quick, that a play that could have gotten a lot of yardage maybe even a first town ended up being a loss of yardage, and Troy has done that in so many games. I don't know if he could have done it against Benson, but it would have been a better chance. Remember last year in the playoffs, Troy sealed the Ravens game by intercepting Flacco and returning it for a touchdown, heck the Ravens could have drove down the field like the Bears and the Bengals did and beat us. Remember when Troy took an onside kick for a touchdown against the Chargers, they didn't give him the score, but he did have a spectacular last mini-second scoop for an interception that impacted a drive, he impacted the game in many ways. I don't know if Troy is making a case for being the most irreplaceable Steeler this season, but the Steelers D is badly missing the Tasmanian D.

I've always seen the Steelers Defense as the most important unit throughout their history. I believe without the great Defense that we have come to see almost each and every year, we wouldn't have 6 Superbowl trophies by now. That is why when I read story lines and comments regarding the team's offense needing to step up more to win games, I shake my head. They aren't the Steelers if they don't win the way they do. They've always been known to have the best most punishing Defense throughout the history of the NFL, and it's the major reason why they have 6 Superbowls. Ask the Saints how important the Defense is, granted it is early in the season, but the Saints are definitely looking good with their improved defense. The Saints didn't make the playoffs last year even with an offense that lead the league in total yards and points scored, because their defense wasn't up to par. The Steelers didn't even ranked in the top half of the league's offense in yards and other statistical categories, they barely scored, yet they won the Superbowl. The Steelers also won Superbowl XL with the worst qb rating of all time playing the game. If you haven't already noticed, I'm a strong believer in the adage that "Defense wins Championships" and history, stats, back up the fact that better defense wins games and championships even when the offense isn't up to par. And there aren't anyone better in playing defense in NFL history than the Steelers, it's who are and it should always be what people come to think when they mention the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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