Troy Polamalu Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 17

by Neal Coolong on Jan 4, 2012 2:09 PM EST

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 01: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackles quarterback Seneca Wallace #6 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 1, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

The NFL has announced Steelers SS Troy Polamalu was named Defensive Player of the Week for his 1 interception, 2 tackle and 3 passes defensed performance against Cleveland in Week 17.

Polamalu, the reigning defensive player of the year, was rarely accounted for by Cleveland's offense, and started the game with a tackle-for-loss by shooting between the tackle and center at the snap to blow up a running play.

In true Polamalu fashion, it wasn't his stats, but it was a few individual plays that stood out.

He read the snap count perfectly on another play, and managed to hit Browns QB Seneca Wallace before he managed to hand the ball off. His suffocating defensive performance led the Browns to just 240 yards, and a 4-for-14 effort on third down.

The interception of Wallace gives him picks off both Browns quarterbacks this season. He intercepted Colt McCoy in Pittsburgh's 14-3 win in Week 14.

Polamalu has won the award five other times in his career, and this is his first in 2011.

His outstanding play the last three weeks makes the Steelers one of the hottest post-season teams entering their Wild Card round game at Denver Sunday. Allowing less than double-digit points in their last five victories, the Steelers look to continue the Broncos offensive futility.

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Troy Time

The Broncos are a team well suited to provide plenty of Polamalu highlights. They run so much that he will have plenty of opportunities to blow up plays in the backfield, and Tebow coughs up the ball so much the odds of Polamalu getting an INT or a fumble recovery are pretty good. The one thing I’m worried about is him getting a concussion hitting Tebow and being out against NE or BAL.

I think Harrison, who is under-rated as a run stopper, will have a couple huge hits on Tebow as well. Again, there is cause for concern since he will undoubtedly get a 3 game suspension if he so much as breathes hard on anyone’s helmet.

by Steelgator on Jan 4, 2012 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Top 3 games of his career

If you believe that teams like the Pats, last years colts, saints and/or Packers put Troy in situations that make his play seem vanilla then this game this weekend should be 180 degrees of that. . .He should have little if any responsibility in the deep 1/3 of the field which should maximize a lack of accountability by the offense which I believe will result in this game going down as one of his three best games he’s ever played as a professional, when its all said and done- not to get carried away with the hyperbole or anything!

by 7th Heaven on Jan 4, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

no one

gets from A to B faster – love watching him play

We've got heads on sticks...

by Kid-A on Jan 4, 2012 6:27 PM EST reply actions

In the box

He should be spending most of the afternoon “in the box” in run support, which is a bit of a concern with a back like McGahee and Troy’s willingness to dive in places where others would not. On another note…PG reporting Ben had a “set back” with the ankle. Anybody hear anything?

"The standard is the standard." Mike Tomlin
The standard for Steeler football is #58. Me

by The 58 Standard on Jan 4, 2012 7:21 PM EST reply actions

Heard/Saw it

On the ESPN ticker just a few minutes ago. I hope it’s more bravado…they may as well play 8-man football the rate we’re going…

"My baby...my mechanical masterpiece. So nearly complete. So nearly perfect. If I only had a living brain."--Evil Scientist, Looney Toones, circa 1952
"Well you're better than any player I ever had. And you're the best God damn hitter I ever saw. Suit up."--Pop Fisher, THE NATURAL

by SaratogaSteelerFan on Jan 4, 2012 9:02 PM EST reply actions