The best all around defensive player in the NFL

 Steeler Nation , I'm sure most of you have heard or seen NFL network's Top 100 of 2011. My personal opinion of such lists is that they are meaningless pieces of mindless dribble with no real value but to provoke debate among the fans and players themselves. If this was the NFL networks goal I say to them, mission accomplished!

The Players of 2011 supposedly voted to determine the rankings, but many Steeler players did not even know there was such a vote ,so who knows what or how many NFL players actually took part in this process.

The fact that only 4 Steelers made the list is a joke but Ben Roethlisberger ranking in at 41 is just further proof what a farce these rankings truly are. Ben, just keep winning and let the haters hate . Steeler Nation knows your a franchise quarterback, who is like no other, especially in the clutch.

There has been many injustices in these rankings but that's not my main topic in this post. My main topic is an old debate that Steeler Nation is very familiar with. Its the debate of who's better Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed ?

The NFL networks rankings has brought this subject to the forefront by ranking Ed Reed 5^th and Troy Polamalu 6^th . Now don't get me wrong Ed Reed is a great player in his own right. He's one of the greatest to play the game for sure, but Troy Polamalu should have ranked higher then Ed Reed just for the fact that Polamalu was named Defensive Player of the NFL in 2010 alone.

Now Ed Reed plays free safety and Troy Polamalu plays strong safety, so really they play two completely different positions and styles. Ed Reed is more of a ball hawk with potential to take it to the house with every interception . He maybe the best pick six safety to ever play the game.

Troy Polamalu is no slouch when it comes to interceptions. Fooling many quarterbacks with his unreal, almost cartoon like closing speed and has made many spectacular catches , a few just mind blowing ! Polamalu also has a few touchdown returns but no where near Reeds . That being said , Polamalu has more defensive responsibilities than Reed.

Some people try to claim Polamalu is overrated, just a product of the Steelers defensive system .These people are fools! The Steelers defensive system would not be as versatile without Polamalu and his skills . That's why no other team can play the Steelers defensive system as well as the Steelers .The Steeler's defense is one of the most sophisticated and complex played today. Can you imagine if Polamalu played in a system where his main concern was concentrating on receivers he may have 10 interceptions every season.

Troy Polamalu may not have as many interceptions or touchdowns as Reed, but Polamalu is the best all around safety playing the game and no defensive player is more versatile ,makes more clutch game changing plays or is more game planned for than Troy Polamalu.

Polamalu has changed the game and definition of what a strong safety can do. No one before him or perhaps after him can do all the things he does. Polamalu can line up anywhere on the field and plays many defensive roles. He is a nightmare for offenses.  He can stop the run and dish out bone jarring hits with the best of them. His football instincts are unmatched. Timing snap counts perfectly and diving over offensive lineman to make superman like plays in the back field at the snap of the ball. He is truly one of the most athletic and agile players the NFL has ever seen.

Quarterbacks search for his whereabouts on every play. Just ask Baltimore QB Joe Flacco how hard it is to gauge where Polamalu might show up at the snap of the ball. Polamalu stripped Flacco of the ball late in a game last season that led to a Steeler's victory. That victory arguably gave the Steelers the AFC North division title over Reed and Baltimore.

That was not Polamalu's first time being a Raven killer just watch the 2008 AFC championship game where Polamalu intercepted Joe Flacco and returned it for a touchdown to seal the AFC championship victory.

Polamalu is also much more of a blitz threat then Reed. Reed has had one sack in the past 6 seasons . Polamalu had 3 in one game alone in the 2005 season. Reed is great at what he does but Polamalu is also great and the more complete defensive football player that can attack an offense in so many different ways.

There is also one stat that everyone outside of Steeler Nation is forgetting . Polamalu has shown up big in just about every big Steeler vs. Raven showdown ,while Reed has really been a non factor in these games facing Polamalu and the Steelers.

Oh yea and Troy Polamalu has been to 3 Super Bowls in the past 6 seasons and is a 2 time Super Bowl Champion with 2 Super Bowl rings. Ed Reed has never made it to a Super Bowl and Troy Polamalu and the Steelers are a huge reason why .

That kinda says it all. That stat alone beats interceptions and touchdown.

Steeler Nation I hope you enjoyed my latest post and realize that we are blessed to watch and have a talent like Troy Polamalu as a Pittsburgh Steeler on and off the field . Troy Polamalu is one of those special players that come around maybe once in a life time and he will always be ranked no.1 in our book.

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Later, Steeler Nation !     Steeler Nation 4 Life!