Troy Polamalu Best Player in AFC North?

[RAYvenFan20]

I was just told by james walker, in todays afc north chat, that he feels that polamalu is the best player in the afc north. i agree that he is more valuable to his team then anyone else (even the offense n ST went to crap when he was out) but i still feel that both reed n lewis are better players. maybe im just biased. thoughts?

[lowrider]

[quote name='RAYvenFan20' date='25 May 2010 - 04:30 PM' timestamp='1274819456' post='414242']
I was just told by james walker, in todays afc north chat, that he feels that polamalu is the best player in the afc north. i agree that he is more valuable to his team then anyone else (even the offense n ST went to crap when he was out) but i still feel that both reed n lewis are better players. maybe im just biased. thoughts?
[/quote]
Well assuming that they all three are on the field playing, I think that Troy is the better player. He just changes that defense and is everywhere. I hold my breathe when Reed has to tackle, and Lewis has lost a step. I think their leadership are basically equal. Lewis and Reed are still very good, but I still think Troy is better.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

Old thread is old

[1/28/01]

[quote name='RAYvenFan20' date='25 May 2010 - 04:30 PM' timestamp='1274819456' post='414242']
I was just told by james walker, in todays afc north chat, that he feels that polamalu is the best player in the afc north. i agree that he is more valuable to his team then anyone else (even the offense n ST went to crap when he was out) but i still feel that both reed n lewis are better players. maybe im just biased. thoughts?
[/quote]
yes, you're bias.....I feel the three of them are on equal levels within their respective organizations (especially Lewis and Troy P).....dont get me wrong though. I love Reed, but hes not Lewis!

[theFRANCHISE]

We've seen how much the Steelers defense has struggled without a healthy Troy Polamalu, while we've also seen how the Ravens defense has done reasonably well in both Ray Lewis' and Ed Reed's absence in 2005.

If you're just looking at the value [i]on the field[/i] to their respective organizations, I'm almost inclined to agree with James Walker's logic. However, if you're looking at pure ability, I'm still inclined to lean towards Ed Reed.

[PlayLikeAFan]

We will see how well Polamalu plays coming back from his injury last year. I agree he is one of the top players but is hard to compare him to Ed Reed so I can't really decide who the better player is.

[RAYvenFan20]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='25 May 2010 - 03:39 PM' timestamp='1274819979' post='414253']
We've seen how much the Steelers defense has struggled without a healthy Troy Polamalu, while we've also seen how the Ravens defense has done reasonably well in both Ray Lewis' and Ed Reed's absence in 2005.

If you're just looking at the value on the field to their respective organizations, I'm almost inclined to agree with James Walker's logic. However, if you're looking at pure ability, I'm still inclined to lean towards Ed Reed.
[/quote]

thats exactly my point. its obvious that Pit cant win without troy, but just because we have bodies to fill in for our stars doesnt mean that they arent as good

[Bltravens]

Troy makes Lebeau's zone blitz schemes work. Without Polamalu the ENTIRE secondary goes to hell. They're all people you have to game plan around, but I've never seen a scheme so reliant on one player before. He means more to their defense than anyone on any team.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='25 May 2010 - 04:39 PM' timestamp='1274819979' post='414253']
We've seen how much the Steelers defense has struggled without a healthy Troy Polamalu, while we've also seen how the Ravens defense has done reasonably well in both Ray Lewis' and Ed Reed's absence in 2005.

If you're just looking at the value [i]on the field[/i] to their respective organizations, I'm almost inclined to agree with James Walker's logic. However, if you're looking at [b]pure ability, I'm still inclined to lean towards Ed Reed.[/b]
[/quote]

Really Franny? Ed Reed, IMO, is more of a one dimensional player. Granted, no one is better in that dimension; Ed Reed owns it hands down, but the more versatile player, the one with more "pure ability" IMO, is the Samoan Dude. lol

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='25 May 2010 - 07:28 PM' timestamp='1274830112' post='414357']
Really Franny? Ed Reed, IMO, is more of a one dimensional player. Granted, no one is better in that dimension; Ed Reed owns it hands down, but the more versatile player, the one with more "pure ability" IMO, is the Samoan Dude. lol
[/quote]
I never said I wasn't biased.

I see what you're saying, though. We'll agree to disagree, but I certainly wouldn't be unhappy with either one of those guys if I had to pick only one of the two.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='25 May 2010 - 07:43 PM' timestamp='1274831017' post='414366']
I never said I wasn't biased.

I see what you're saying, though. We'll agree to disagree, but [b]I certainly wouldn't be unhappy with either one of those guys[/b] if I had to pick only one of the two.
[/quote]

Heck no.

[flynismo]

[quote name='thewarden86' date='25 May 2010 - 06:28 PM' timestamp='1274830112' post='414357']
Really Franny? Ed Reed, IMO, is more of a one dimensional player. Granted, no one is better in that dimension; Ed Reed owns it hands down, but the more versatile player, the one with more "pure ability" IMO, is the Samoan Dude. lol
[/quote]


Hairball is definitely the most well rounded safety in the game, and that includes Ed Reed.

Its funn this topic came up, because my brother and I just had a big debate...he thinks that Reed and Hairball get too much hype, and that Bob Sanders is nearly as good as either.
I claimed that Sanders is a poor man's Polumalu, and that after Reed and Hairball, there is a significant drop in talent in the rest of the safeties in the league.

Personally, whether or not bias is a factor, I'd rather have Reed. We all know what he brings to the table, but I think people dont give enough respect for his run support. A great example was his one armed tackle of Adrian Peterson in open field last year...Reed saved a certain TD.
Reed is no Hairball when it comes to the run game, but he's good enough at it for me..

[beasy2487]

I think you should compare the players in their primes if you want to compare their "ability" per se. I only say this because the argument that Reed is "one dimensional" is contingent solely on the fact that he's playing with a life-threatening injury. Even WITH that injury, remember this?

[code]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jldjj45fHWY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jldjj45fHWY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/code]

Reed hits, has the ability to hit, and WOULD hit at every opportunity if it weren't for his neck... which he injured in the first place because he hits so damn hard. What did he when he couldn't hit like that anymore? Modified his game so that he could still perform at an All Pro level. Then, when has the opportunity to protect himself he still lays the vicious hit on guys. I think Polomalu from an ABILITY standpoint are even with the edge to Reed, but when you factor in the injury Polamalu becomes the more versatile player.

In other words, way too many factors in play to really crown either guy.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='flynismo' date='25 May 2010 - 07:54 PM' timestamp='1274831676' post='414371']
Hairball is definitely the most well rounded safety in the game, and that includes Ed Reed.

Its funn this topic came up, because my brother and I just had a big debate...he thinks that Reed and Hairball get too much hype, and that Bob Sanders is nearly as good as either.
I claimed that Sanders is a poor man's Polumalu, and that after Reed and Hairball, there is a significant drop in talent in the rest of the safeties in the league.

Personally, whether or not bias is a factor, I'd rather have Reed. We all know what he brings to the table, but I think people dont give enough respect for his run support. A great example was his one armed tackle of Adrian Peterson in open field last year...Reed saved a certain TD.
Reed is no Hairball when it comes to the run game, but he's good enough at it for me..
[/quote]

Hey, that's Mr. Hairball to you sucka.

[T-ray]

You know what??? I think Jake Delhomme is the best player in the AFC North, especially since I know for a fact that Troy Polamalu isn't.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='25 May 2010 - 04:39 PM' timestamp='1274819979' post='414253']
[b]We've seen how much the Steelers defense has struggled without a healthy Troy Polamalu, while we've also seen how the Ravens defense has done reasonably well in both Ray Lewis' and Ed Reed's absence in 2005.[/b]

If you're just looking at the value [i]on the field[/i] to their respective organizations, I'm almost inclined to agree with James Walker's logic. However, if you're looking at pure ability, I'm still inclined to lean towards Ed Reed.
[/quote]
The Steelers record without Polamalu is 11-8 (including a 3-10 record with him in '06 and a 3-0 record without him); the Ravens are 3-7 in games that Ed Reed missed. Ray Lewis's career is a bit longer than theirs and I didn't really feel like counting all of his missed games, but Baltimore had a 7-7 record without him from 2005-2007. (4-6 in 2005)

Those stats (although Lewis's are incomplete) would suggest that Reed and Lewis are more important to their team than Polamalu is to his, but each player has their loyalists and Walker obviously prefers Polamalu.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='T-ray' date='25 May 2010 - 08:21 PM' timestamp='1274833294' post='414379']
You know what??? I think Jake Delhomme is the best player in the AFC North, especially since I know for a fact that Troy Polamalu isn't.
[/quote]

And there ya have it.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='25 May 2010 - 08:22 PM' timestamp='1274833375' post='414381']
The Steelers record without Polamalu is 11-8 (including a 3-10 record with him in '06 and a 3-0 record without him); the Ravens are 3-7 in games that Ed Reed missed. Ray Lewis's career is a bit longer than theirs and I didn't really feel like counting all of his missed games, but Baltimore had a 7-7 record without him from 2005-2007. (4-6 in 2005)

Those [size="7"][b]stats[/b][/size] (although Lewis's are incomplete) would suggest that Reed and Lewis are more important to their team than Polamalu is to him, but each player has their loyalists and Walker obviously prefers Polamalu.
[/quote]

And everyone knows that stats tell the whole story.

[T-ray]

Yeah, how can anybody say that Ray Lewis isn't the best player in the AFC North??? Steelers fan, much

[thewarden86]

[quote name='T-ray' date='25 May 2010 - 08:24 PM' timestamp='1274833485' post='414384']
Yeah, how can anybody say that Ray Lewis isn't the best player in the AFC North??? Steelers fan, much
[/quote]

When did I say that ANYONE was the best player in the AFCN? RAVENS FAN MUCH?

[T-ray]

lol good. I don't like the Steelers too much, but its always a great game when we play games against each other. And thats all you can ask for in a football game. Nothing personal against any of the fans

[thewarden86]

[quote name='T-ray' date='25 May 2010 - 08:53 PM' timestamp='1274835234' post='414405']
lol good. I don't like the Steelers too much, but its always a great game when we play games against each other. And thats all you can ask for in a football game. Nothing personal against any of the fans
[/quote]

Well said.., Ravens fan.

[T-ray]

lol now you're gonna be the thorn in the side, huh Warden???

[Runnin Raven]

At this point in their careers I put Troy over Ed, although that's like choosing between Miss Universe and the first runner-up.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' date='25 May 2010 - 08:58 PM' timestamp='1274835509' post='414408']
At this point in their careers I put Troy over Ed, although that's like choosing between Miss Universe and the first runner-up.
[/quote]

Great analogy!

[thewarden86]

[quote name='T-ray' date='25 May 2010 - 08:57 PM' timestamp='1274835473' post='414407']
lol now you're gonna be the thorn in the side, huh Warden???
[/quote]

Hmmm. "Thorn." I should have thought of that before I picked Warden for my username. lol

[T-ray]

lol you can still change it haha. Well peace you all. Outtie

[H8R]

ehhh. We'll see how he bounces back from injury.

[GuitarScott]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here. And say that IMHO Ray rice is the best player in the afcn. Based on his performance last year, he had the most productive year of any player in the division. Reed and hairball were good, when healthy. Ray lewis saved the Charger game, but lost one of the Cincy games for us. Rice had no major flaws in his game. Couple fumbles and a INT by flacco vs Indy is all I can think of. If were speaking of Defense though, I'd say Ed. Troy makes you change your gameplan every play, but Ed reed changes the QB's decision making 10x moreso. IE Cincy Pick 6.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='GuitarScott' date='25 May 2010 - 10:14 PM' timestamp='1274840074' post='414427']
I'm gonna go out on a limb here. And say that IMHO Ray rice is the best player in the afcn. Based on his performance last year, he had the most productive year of any player in the division. Reed and hairball were good, when healthy. [b]Ray lewis saved the Charger game, but lost one of the Cincy games for us.[/b] Rice had no major flaws in his game. Couple fumbles and a INT by flacco vs Indy is all I can think of. If were speaking of Defense though, I'd say Ed. Troy makes you change your gameplan every play, but Ed reed changes the QB's decision making 10x moreso. IE Cincy Pick 6.
[/quote]

Ray didn't the lose the Ravens that game. Frank Walker drew a penalty on 3rd and 16 three plays later.