Gerry Dulac: Polamalu to Have Big Influence on Defense

Polamalu to have big influence on the defense this season
Monday, August 29, 2005
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Trying to find Troy Polamalu in the Steelers' defense is like playing a game of "Where's Waldo?" He lines up at strong safety, deep safety, cornerback, linebacker, sometimes even on the line of scrimmage. Perhaps with a few more pounds, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau might be tempted to use Polamalu at nose tackle.

Polamalu is a strong safety, by position, but he wears more disguises than Inspector Clouseau. He is positioned in so many spots opposing offensive coordinators wear out the rewind button trying to determine his role in the Steelers' defense. But, if they thought it was difficult trying to identify where Polamalu was positioned last year, when he made the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter, wait until this season.

Polamalu gets moved around more than living-room furniture, an attempt to take advantage of his ability to run like a cornerback and hit like a linebacker. There he was in Saturday night's 17-10 preseason loss in Washington, playing man coverage on wide receiver James Thrash, picking off a hurried pass by quarterback Patrick Ramsey and returning the interception 34 yards for a touchdown -- the third scoring return by the defense in three preseason games.

"He just is all over the place," said linebacker Clark Haggans, the player who forced Ramsey into a hurried throw.

Polamalu was nicknamed "The Tasmanian Devil" by safety partner Chris Hope, and for good reason -- he is all over the place, whether by design or accident. The long, curly hair that flows from underneath his helmet -- a sign of his Samoan heritage -- only accentuates the manner in which he buzzes around the football field.

But it is his combination of speed and power that sets him apart, making him the Steelers' most unique safety since Carnell Lake. That's why LeBeau, who had Polamalu single cover Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens in the slot last season, has devised even more roles for his third-year safety this season.

"He's a special player," LeBeau said.

Polamalu does not see it that way. An aggressive player on the field, he is soft-spoken and extraordinarily humble off the field, and merely attributes his presence on the field to being "more comfortable with the defense."

Polamalu, a first-round pick in 2003, was tied with Hope as the team's second-leading tackler last season, behind inside linebacker James Farrior. He led the team with five interceptions and was second only to cornerback Deshea Townsend (14) with 12 passes defended.

This year Polamalu could be even more active around the line of scrimmage. He will play as a linebacker/corner in the team's "quarter" defense -- a variation of the Steelers' dime package in which six defensive backs are deployed -- which should give him more freedom to blitz.

The quarter defense differs from the dime because three safeties -- Polamalu, Hope and Russell Stuvaints -- are used in the quarter. The dime defense features two safeties -- Polamalu and Hope -- and four cornerbacks. Polamalu is responsible for more deep coverage in the dime.

"He's all over," said Hope, a third-round pick in 2002 who also is in his second year as a starter.
"Some packages he gets in, Troy has the opportunity, where we have an extra safety, he has the ability to roam around and be Troy. It looks like he's out of position. But he's really disguising it when he's up on the line of scrimmage."

Polamalu said he likes playing closer to the line of scrimmage, a role he often assumed when he played at Southern California.

"I do," he said. "I think when you're at linebacker, you have an excuse to get beat deep."

Polamalu was joking, his attempt to deflect attention from himself. But there is no deflecting attention from him on the playing field, where he has quickly become one of the best players on a defense that sent four players to the Pro Bowl in 2004.

In his first season as a starter, he was named second-team All-Pro, finishing behind Baltimore's Ed Reed.

"With time you get more comfortable," Polamalu said. "You study the defense and know what to do, how to disguise things and the timing of your coverages. You know what's good for the defense, what's bad for the defense and what you can get away with."