S Troy Polamalu
Continuing this whole “defensive player of the year” thing, I guess former Steelers icon, Troy Polamalu, can be included. I mean, the technicality of him being a strong safety, there was absolutely no one in his stratosphere.
However, playing in the same era with Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, and rest in peace, Sean Taylor, arguments do justifiably arise when purely talking, safeties, but 2010 told a different story.
If it weren’t for hindering leg injuries in 2009, Polamalu would’ve more-than-likely been on his seventh Pro-Bowl selection in a row in 2010, but First-Team All-Pro honors, and named the AP Defensive Player of the Year more than makes up for it.
Tying his career-high seven interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, he nearly doubled his previous-high yards off INTs (101), and deflected 11 pass deflections. Although these weren’t league-leading numbers, his impact went beyond him flourishing across the backend of fields.
Polamalu’s 63 combined tackles included one sack & 6 TFL, while also mustering up 2 QB hits. He was the only player in the NFL in 2010, to have at least 50+ combined tackles, five tackles for loss, five interceptions, and one sack.
Dominant any-and-everywhere, he returned the Steelers defense to their rightful places:
"“Forwarding to 2010, and a now-healthy Troy, the defense catapulted back to their respective placement, the top. Ranked second in total yards, first in points, and third in takeaways, let’s label this, for reference purposes, as the “triple crown” for defenses in the NFL. Essentially finishing out top three in the three major defensive categories. Since 2010, [only five teams have done this].”"
Only a minuscule of the preview that could be written about Troy’s effect not only in 2010 but in his 12 years as a Steeler, the most recent Hall-of-Fame inductee career was one for the books.