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Polamalu a model for future defenders

Dave Christie, Special to the News

Published October 9, 2006 at midnight

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In today's NFL, a defender has to remember all of the things he can't do in an instant. Can't touch a receiver past 5 yards from the line of scrimmage, can't lead with the head, no helmet-to-helmet contact, no hands to the helmet, no hitting the quarterback below the knee, no throwing the quarterback to the ground. In the late '60s Dick Butkus probably committed all of these sins in a single play as a matter of course.

Playing defense used to be a lot simpler, and that's what makes today's defensive standouts so impressive. The rules are heavily stacked in the favor of the offense, so it's not enough to just make a tackle. You have to make plays. And nobody else in the league can make plays in as many different ways as Troy Polamalu.

The Steelers' depth chart lists Polamalu as a strong safety. My driver's license lists my weight as . . . well, let's just say that neither listing is accurate. There is no traditional name for the position Polamalu plays. Sometimes he lines up so deep in the secondary that he's outside of camera range. Other times he's up on the line of scrimmage. Then there are the plays where Polamalu just wanders around before the snap, frantically sniffing around the defensive side of the ball like a loose dog on the field.

Once the ball is snapped, it becomes evident that Polamalu shows up for a game prepared. He either spends an unusual amount of time breaking down film or the man is clairvoyant. Whatever the explanation, his work prior to the game combined with an uncanny football instinct teleports Polamalu to the ball before the offense can do anything about it.

Getting in position to make a play is fine and dandy, but that's only half the battle. Close the deal. Make the tackle. Don't just hurry the quarterback, sack him. Don't just knock the ball down, intercept it. The league is littered with defensive players that almost come up big. Polamalu is one of the few to finish what he started.

What separates Polamalu from the other NFL defensive elite is his consistent ability to make game-changing plays in all aspects of the game. A shutdown corner can completely erase one side of the field from a passing game, but his impact against the run is minimal. A stud linebacker can stuff the run and occasionally get home in a blitz, but he becomes a liability in pass coverage. Defending the pass or run, Polamalu is a play maker. Sack, tackle for loss, interception, forced fumble — these plays not only create momentum, they make statements.

The defensive stars of the past were characterized, perhaps unfairly, as big, nasty Neanderthals who pounded the other team into submission. As the NFL places more and more restraints on defenses, the players have evolved. Troy Polamalu is not only the best defensive player in the league today, he is a glimpse into where the game is headed.