By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
It seemed like such a good play at the time. Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith stuck up his big left paw to block a 31-yard field-goal attempt by the Tennessee Titans' Rob Bironas late in the first half last night. The big, throbbing Heinz Field crowd, out on an absolutely delightful late-summer night for the opening game of the NFL season, erupted. So did the Steelers' bench. A scoreless game remained just that.
How the Steelers wished Bironas had knocked that ball through the uprights.
The three points they saved is nothing compared to what they lost on that play.
Troy Polamalu.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his star safety will be out three to six weeks with a medial collateral ligament sprain to his left knee but acknowledged the injury could be worse.
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu intercepts pass intended for Titans Kenny Britt in the first quarter during last night's game at Heinz Field. Polamalu left the game due to a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.
The 13-10 victory against the Titans on Jeff Reed's 33-yard field goal with 10:28 left in overtime did nothing to ease that pain.
The wins are going to be a lot harder to come by if Polamalu has to miss six games or more.
Talk about a Pyrrhic victory.
"No one on this team is Troy," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "When God made him, he touched him a couple of extra times."
"One in a million," defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau called Polamalu.
The injury, as many are, was freakish. After Smith blocked Bironas' kick, Polamalu tried to pick up the loose ball. Before he could get it, Titans tight end Alge Crumpler rolled up his left leg with all of his 262 pounds.
Polamalu's knee buckled inward, forcing him to do a hideous split.
It hurt to watch.
"A player of his character, it just doesn't seem fair," Clark said.
It hurt even more to see LeBeau console Polamalu moments after he was checked on the bench by team orthopedist, Dr. Jim Bradley. LeBeau grabbed the back of all that hair and pulled Polamalu close, whispering something in his ear.
"I just told him that we were going to miss him, to get back quick, that we need him," LeBeau said. "Every team needs a Troy Polamalu. He's the best safety in the NFL right now."
All things considered, Polamalu's injury could have been a lot worse. What a blow that would have been to your favorite team.
The Steelers had such a strong team going into the opener, maybe stronger than any club in the NFL. It was easy to imagine them repeating as Super Bowl champs and winning their third title in five seasons. But they also had a handful of guys they couldn't afford to lose to injury for any significant time. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, obviously. Smith and linebacker James Harrison. Perhaps Willie Parker, although you wouldn't have known it by the way the Steelers ran the ball last night.
And, of course, Polamalu.
The man hasn't made five consecutive Pro Bowls by accident.
Polamalu's injury was especially sad because he never looked better than he did earlier in the game. Yes, he was penalized for a couple of personal fouls -- one for a hit out of bounds and another for grabbing a face mask -- and got away with a questionable pass interference call because of off-setting penalties. But he also was credited with six tackles before he left the game and made two of the most spectacular plays that you'll ever see.
On a third-and-6 play on the Titans' first possession, running back Chris Johnson hit off left tackle and appeared to having running room. But Polamalu closed quickly -- as only he can -- and tackled him for a 2-yard loss. Later in the first quarter, on second-and-5, Titans quarterback Kerry Collins threw deep for wide receiver Kenny Britt. At the last second, Polamalu leaped with Britt and made a one-handed interception with his left hand.
"Did you see those plays?" Steelers linebacker James Farrior asked, rhetorically. "That's what we're going to be missing."
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu(notes) (43) makes a tackle on Tennessee Titans running back LenDale White(notes) (25) during the first quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Polamalu injured his left knee late in the first half against Tennessee on Thursday night and was ruled out for the rest of the game. (AP)Veteran Tyrone Carter replaced Polamalu last night and figures to be the man for as long as Polamalu is out.
It's probably no coincidence that the Titans needed just three plays to score a touchdown on their first possession after Polamalu's injury. Collins threw a 57-yard pass to a wide-open Britt, than a 14-yard scoring pass to equally wide-open Justin Gage with 48 seconds left in the half.
Give LeBeau, Carter and the Steelers' defense credit. They made their adjustments at halftime and the unit played well in the second half. All the Titans could manage was a 45-yard field goal by Bironas early in the fourth quarter.
"All of us have all the confidence in the world in Ty Carter," Clark said.
It's not as if Carter is new to this sort of thing. Now in his 10th season, he has made 41 regular-season starts, two more in the postseason.
"He's not just a veteran player," Farrior said. "He's a good player."
Said Carter, "I can't be Troy. I just have to play my game."
Will that be good enough to help carry the Steelers for six games, maybe more?
At this point, it has to be.
Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com. More articles by this author
First published on September 11, 2009 at 12:44 am
No comments:
Post a Comment