Troy Polamalu Needs to Raise His Game for the Steelers

Troy Polamalu is the most dynamic player in the National Football League.

Whether it is playing deep in coverage or near the line in run support, Polamalu is all over the field, making him one of the toughest players to game plan for.

Over the first three weeks, Polamalu was playing at a defensive MVP level, accumulating 15 tackles, two pass defenses and two interceptions.

He was flying all over the field and was constantly making plays.

The highlight play was when Polamalu perfectly timed Kerry Collins’ snap count to leap over the line and make the stop in the backfield and preventing a Tennessee Titans touchdown.

In the last four games, however, Polamalu has not been the same impact player.

While he has 17 tackles, Polamalu has not had an interception or a pass defensed since Week 2.

Of more concern, Polamalu has been a second late in coverage, allowing teams to make plays in the passing game.

It is no mistake that since Polamalu’s presence has tailed off, opponents success through the air has improved.

First it was Joe Flacco, Colt McCoy, Chad Henne, and most recently Drew Brees. Each quarterback shredded the once-impenetrable Steelers defense for an average of well over 200 yards through the air.

In order for the Steelers to improve their 25^th-ranked pass defense, Polamalu will have to return to being the multi-faceted playmaking threat that he can be. He agrees.

“I think there are times in games where there were a lot of opportunities to make plays, and I didn’t make them,” he said.

Ryan Clark disagrees with Polamalu.

“He’s going to want to make every play and, for us to be a good defense, we need him to make a lot of plays,” the free safety said. “Some days, you’re not going to be at your best, and I think that was just the case for him (against the Saints). He feels like he let us down, but we have tremendous faith in Troy.”

Allowing Brees to complete 20 of 22 passes in the second half would make any player in the secondary feel that way.

But in that performance, a new Polamalu started to emerge. It was a more physical Polamalu who had an edge about him.

Polamalu has always been a physical player, but he may have not had a more physical game than last Sunday. He even got into the face of his opponent after a play—something that he never does.

A motivated Polamalu may be just what the Steelers need Monday night, especially playing against his former college roommate, Carson Palmer.

But Polamalu alone cannot get the job done. He will need help from his teammates to get into the heads of the Bengals.

With most teams abandoning the run against the top-ranked run defense, the Steelers will need to make adjustments to focus on the pass.

In addition to getting Polamalu to playing like the dynamic playmaker that he is, they could use an additional boost from LaMarr Woodley.

Like Polamalu, Woodley had a hot start to the season with two sacks, a pass defensed, an interception and a forced fumble in the first two weeks.

However, in the past five weeks, Woodley only has 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed, as well as one hamstring injury.

The lack of production has not been from the lack of effort. Woodley has had many quarterback pressures lately.

“I’m close, man. It’s a long season, so there’s a lot to go,” he said.

If he follows last year’s pattern when he had 11.5 sacks over the final eight weeks, Woodley is poised to breakout any week now. Though his dominance in defending the run is appreciated, it is his pass rush that is needed.

Part of the reason teams have been able to move the ball through the air against the Steelers is because their pressure is not getting to the quarterback. Pittsburgh has been more passive in rushing the passer, instead dropping six and seven back into coverage and rushing only three or four at times.

If the Steelers continue this pattern they will need Woodley to step up his game.

James Harrison is consistently getting pressure on the quarterback and cannot do it alone. Once Woodley gets back into a groove, Harrison should be freed up even more and the Steelers pass defense should improve.

As the second half of the season looms for the Steelers, it is time for their defensive stars to get a second wind to raise their level of play from good to the level expected of them: greatness.

Follow me on Twitter.