Polamalu out of position in center field

By Mark Madden
Beaver County Times
http://www.timesonline.com/sports.html
February 8, 2011

Green Bay Packers' wide receiver Greg Jennings goes airborne after avoiding a tackle from Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Troy Polamalu during the fourth quarter of the NFL's Super Bowl XLV football game in Arlington, Texas, February 6, 2011. (Reuters)

This column was supposed to run yesterday, but was largely unintelligible. That’s the last time I hire Christina Aguilera as a ghostwriter. Now, finally ... refreshing Super Bowl notes. Slash with the Black Eyed Peas? Rock really is dead.

* On the day, the better team won. Every time Green Bay lost momentum, Green Bay recaptured it. Aaron Rodgers was brilliant. The Packers never really seemed in danger of losing.

* Troy Polamalu says he was healthy. If that’s true, why was he deployed so passively against Green Bay? Polamalu’s probably lying about the state of his Achilles’ tendon because he doesn’t want to make excuses. But he’s making defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau look bad. Polamalu was a non-factor throughout the playoffs. Clay Matthews made plays. Polamalu didn’t. He was too far away from the ball.

* When Polamalu is at the top of his game, Ryan Clark is an adequate sidekick. When Polamalu isn’t, Clark stinks.

* Defining moment: Third-and-10, 5:59 left, Green Bay with the ball on its own 25. Packers lead 28-25. Greg Jennings beats Clark, and Rodgers finds him for 31 yards. If your defense can’t get off the field there, you don’t deserve to win.

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Greg Jennings #85 of the Green Bay Packers catches a 31 yard pass in the fourth quarter against Ryan Clark #25 and Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.(Getty Images)

* The Steelers defense couldn’t get a turnover. Three sacks seem inadequate when Rodgers passed on practically every down. Better is expected from a unit that too often teeters between brilliant and overrated. Sure, the Steelers “stopped” the run. But Green Bay barely bothered. Sure, Green Bay got 21 points off turnovers. But the Packers drove 53 and 55 yards for 14 of those points.

* Ben Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback, but had a bad game. He certainly deserves his share of the blame. Even when he got the ball with two minutes left and a chance to win, Roethlisberger never created that buzz. He threw two picks that led to 14 Green Bay points. Enough said.

* Among the differences between 2009’s two-minute drill and Sunday’s two-minute drill: Santonio Holmes. Think the Rooneys regret proving that particular point?

* Roethlisberger got the Steelers to three Super Bowls in six seasons, winning two. If you don’t think he’s an elite quarterback, I’d love to hear your definition.

* Now we find out if Pittsburgh has REALLY forgiven Roethlisberger.

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins runs with the ball after an interception that he returned for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter during the NFL's Super Bowl XLV football game in Arlington, Texas February 6, 2011. (Reuters)

* Keyaron Fox set a new team standard for selfishness and stupidity when his unnecessary roughness penalty put the Steelers at their own 13 to begin their final possession. Mike Tomlin should have cut Fox before he got to the sideline. Under Tomlin, the Steelers are reckless and often dirty.

* Tomlin wasn’t out-coached by Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy. But the Steelers came out flat, and blame for that usually goes to the coach. Tomlin erred when he had Shaun Suisham attempt a 52-yard field goal with the Steelers down 21-17 in the third quarter. Suisham’s not going to make that kick. Pin Green Bay deep with a punt.

* Those who suggest the Steelers abandoned the run too early are insane. Green Bay ditched it from the get-go, rushing the ball just 11 times. The Steelers trailed almost the entire game. It’s a passing league. The preoccupation with “the Steelers’ way” is maddening and outdated.

* Injuries caught up with the Steelers, especially on the offensive line. Only Roethlisberger’s elusiveness kept that unit from looking low-rent. But Doug Legursky filled in admirably at center. He wasn’t Maurkice Pouncey. But he wasn’t bad.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).