How Reed & Polamalu Changed NFL Defenses

[BenDufusberger]

Good article by Chris Brown on the evolution of defensive schemes and the impact these two beasts have had on the way the game is played :

[url="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7124536/how-troy-polamalu-ed-reed-changed-nfl-defenses"]http://www.grantland...ed-nfl-defenses[/url]

The summary paragraph for those who don't want to read the whole thing :

".....The history of football is essentially the history of ideas meeting talent meeting a moment. Decades of strategic tug-of-war preceded Reed's and Polamalu's careers, and they arrived at a point in the game's development when their skills were particularly needed. Their versatility in defending both pass and run plays allowed NFL defenses to claim victory in one of these strategic battles. Reed and Polamalu have had the good fortune of playing for excellent coaches, but they're also both so talented that they have bent coaches' schemes to their strengths and ruined opponents' carefully designed game plans. This is the beauty of watching these future Hall of Famers play: In every interception, in every tackle for loss, in every big hit and big return, football history is not only made, but also extended. Their brilliance on the field will continue to inspire the film room schemers to innovate, and football history will continue to be pushed by the twin forces of ideas and athleticism."

[Bltravens]

I think Troy is an exceptional player, but another feather in Ed's hat over Troy is that we know Ed is dirty despite playing for 4 different DCs with Nolan, Mattison and Rex(+Pagano similar schemes) all having vastly different schemes. I would love to see Troy outside of LeBeau's zone blitz.

[-Nevermore-]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1319245202' post='830331']
I think Troy is an exceptional player, but another feather in Ed's hat over Troy is that we know Ed is dirty despite playing for 4 different DCs with Nolan, Mattison and Rex(+Pagano similar schemes) all having vastly different schemes. [b]I would love to see Troy outside of LeBeau's zone blitz.[/b]
[/quote]

He would still be an incredible player, doesn't matter what scheme you put him in. He has the intelligence, speed and tackling ability to excel in any variation of defense. Both of these guys are hands down the best safeties of their generations, but at the end of the day you cannot compare them. One plays Free and one plays Strong.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='-Nevermore-' timestamp='1319249270' post='830371']

He would still be an incredible player, doesn't matter what scheme you put him in. He has the intelligence, speed and tackling ability to excel in any variation of defense. Both of these guys are hands down the best safeties of their generations, but at the end of the day you cannot compare them. [b]One plays Free and one plays Strong.[/b]
[/quote]

I hate when people say this because Reed began his career as a SS and had stats better than hairball's. (yep, fly's nickname for him lol)

[Guest ArmyRaven52]

[quote name='-Nevermore-' timestamp='1319249270' post='830371']

He would still be an incredible player, doesn't matter what scheme you put him in. He has the intelligence, [b]speed[/b] and tackling ability to excel in any variation of defense. Both of these guys are hands down the best safeties of their generations, but at the end of the day you cannot compare them. [b]One plays Free and one plays Strong.[/b]
[/quote]

Not so much, and he cant cover for nothing.

again reed outperformed troy when he played strong and it is no small sample size, so that one is irrelevant. Not trying to start a debate just saying that they both played the same spot.

[Free Agent]

While Polamalu will make an outstanding play every now and then, there are times when he misses tackles or screws up big time in coverage. Ed is the more consistent safety, and the best safety in the NFL.

[BmoreRavens732]

As much as I HATE pittsburgh!!! N would like to line every one of em up in a line INCLUDING the fans and kick all of em in the nuts I would leave hair boy out cuz him n his play is the only one I respect BUT ED REED is def n provenly better...stats don't lie even when Ed was a SS he was better n stats prove it...now before any squeeler fan or raven hater responds n says what I think is literally the dummest excuse there is that Troy has 2 rings remember it's a TEAM sport n we are comparing ED n Troy not pittsburgh n Baltimore...there's no way Troy did it all himself...Ed is def better but could anyone imagine them being on the same D!!!

[The Raven]

[quote name='BmoreRavens732' timestamp='1319260495' post='830502']
As much as I HATE pittsburgh!!! N would like to line every one of em up in a line INCLUDING the fans and kick all of em in the nuts[b] I would leave hair boy out cuz him n his play is the only one I respect [/b]BUT ED REED is def n provenly better...stats don't lie even when Ed was a SS he was better n stats prove it...now before any squeeler fan or raven hater responds n says what I think is literally the dummest excuse there is that Troy has 2 rings remember it's a TEAM sport n we are comparing ED n Troy not pittsburgh n Baltimore...there's no way Troy did it all himself...Ed is def better but could anyone imagine them being on the same D!!! [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.png[/img]
[/quote]

Not me, didn't you see him throwing punches at Rice week one?

[codizzle]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1319285903' post='830544']


Not me, didn't you see him throwing punches at Rice week one?
[/quote]
amen.. Lost all respect for him

[The Raven]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1319291433' post='830559']
amen.. Lost all respect for him
[/quote]

Its kinda sad though, cuz I really did admire him as a player until that point. Ironically, my friend and I were just talking about how respectable he was when it happened.


Reed and Polamalu have changed more than NFL defenses though. I think they may have even changed NFL offenses more than they changed defenses.

[usmccharles]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1319258325' post='830486']
While Polamalu will make an outstanding play every now and then, there are times when he misses tackles or screws up big time in coverage. Ed is the more consistent safety, and the best safety in the NFL.
[/quote]

I highly disagree. The way i see it is that Troy is a more of a consistent player and Ed is a high risk, high reward. And as long as other defensive players cover the right gap, ed 90% of the time makes a play if it comes his way. But as you see in blown coverages last week on a 47 yard TD, he cant do it by himself

[Guest ArmyRaven52]

[quote name='usmccharles' timestamp='1319309967' post='830709']

I highly disagree. The way i see it is that Troy is a more of a consistent player and Ed is a high risk, high reward. And as long as other defensive players cover the right gap, ed 90% of the time makes a play if it comes his way. But as you see in blown coverages last week on a 47 yard TD, he cant do it by himself
[/quote]

Sorry man, I have to wholeheartedly disagree. Ed has only been exposed in Coverage 2 times, and by that I mean just got beat. He has gambled and been burned (although that has happened an anemic amount of times as well) but he more often than not makes a great play.

Troy consistently gets beat in coverage, that is really the only consistent part of his game. The dude makes plays dont get me wrong and is a great safety but him shooting gaps has led to huge cutback runs, him just whiffing on a sack has allowed huge gains in the pass. He is not nearly as complete as reed and I dont see any part of his game he does better.

this one is not even close in my opinion.

[BmoreRavens732]

I still respect the way Troy plays not how he carries hisself he was clearly being a sore loser...but that TD pass against Ed there is NO way in hell any1 could of defended that play cuz Ed was basically standing still while the reciever had a 20+ yard head start running directly at him while Ed had to try to figure out wich way he was cutting or breaking...it was basically like there was no coverage so that play should never be used as an example in any discussion cuz not one person could of defended that pass unless they had the fastest guy on earth speed (can't remember his name) there screwed

[BmoreRavens732]

If you compare em in who's better in which situation Ed better...in coverage every1 n there grandma knows Ed is way better...run stop I would call it even n blitzing I would have to say even but stats is what sets these players apart n obviously Ed is more consistent cuz his stats say so...if Troy was more consistent don't you think the stats would be closer or troys be better

[In_ozzie_we_trust]

Could you imagine if you had Troy and Ed Reed on the same team talk about invisible No one would dare throw on us and we can stop the run so the game would most certainly get a lot easier to win with those two beast on the field at the same time.