You know, you have a terrific career ahead of you in politics with the artful way you put words in people's mouths. I never said that. Frankly, if I were starting a team today and had to choose one or the other as my defensive cornerstone, I'd pick Troy. Plain and Simple.

 

And you'd make every other team in the league extremely happy by passing over the best of all-time.

 

I do love politics.

And you'd make every other team in the league extremely happy by passing over the best of all-time.

 

I do love politics.

Perhaps. And I'd have a leg up on stopping both the pass and the run. Ed has had the benefit of a front seven that has been dominant. Of course so has Troy. :idunno:

Perhaps. And I'd have a leg up on stopping both the pass and the run. Ed has had the benefit of a front seven that has been dominant. Of course so has Troy. :idunno:

 

You think Polamalu is better in run support and pass coverage?

To be quite honest, I was there Sunday and I was really looking forward to watching Ed Reed. My son and I watched him every play. Frankly, he stunk. My 11y.o. said, "Dad, he's not a very good tackler is he?" and I told him that he should be. He was awful. Carson picked them apart often on the side where Ed was the help over the top. Can't take games off. He and Ray both took this one off. I'll give credit to the Bengals also, they simply dominated offensively from the LOS on. Carson was very accurate for the most part. But Ed was a nonfactor, plain and simple. Very disappointing when you concentrate on watching him waiting for that big play. Heck, he didn't make any routine plays.

 

I heard one of the guys on NFL Radio (I believe) say that from watching tape, he felt like Baltimore's defense was getting out-schemed. He was basically calling out their new, young defensive coordinator. :idunno:

But Bengal fans would surely vote for Polamalu without bias? Okay

 

Although the Steelers are the "primary" rival of the Bengals, both Reed & Polamalu play in the same division & have killed Cincinnati over the years.

Dude, Ray never ran to either sideline making a play in the first half. Call it what you like. And I wasn't talking about Ed missing one tackle. I'm talking about half efforts and several misses. Look, he's a great player. But he wasn't Sunday is all I'm saying. Very disappointing considering he was the one I looked most forward to watching in person.

 

I watched Reed frequently & was disappointed (kinda ) with his play too.

 

When Benson broke a big run, it was very clear that Reed didn't want any part of tackling him.

I heard one of the guys on NFL Radio (I believe) say that from watching tape, he felt like Baltimore's defense was getting out-schemed. He was basically calling out their new, young defensive coordinator. :idunno:

 

Reed (and Troy, for that matter) do so many unorthodox things before the snap that I think a team has the potential to take advantage of them on a regular basis; however, both are so good that it rarely happens.

 

Before people misconstrue my post, I'm saying that Reed & Polamalu have a tendency to float around before the snap, thus making the pre-snap read more difficult; however, if you can make the right read (which is tough), then I think you're in a great position.

You think Polamalu is better in run support and pass coverage?

Run support. Don't you?

Run support.

 

Did I misunderstand... "I'd have a leg up both in stopping the run and pass"

Did I misunderstand... "I'd have a leg up both in stopping the run and pass"

I'm not sure what's unclear. I think Troy is great against the pass. Is he a better ballhawk than Ed? No way. But Ed can't tackle. Or perhaps I should say, he's not a terrific run stopper. I think you get more with Troy is all I'm saying.

To be quite honest, I was there Sunday and I was really looking forward to watching Ed Reed. My son and I watched him every play. Frankly, he stunk. My 11y.o. said, "Dad, he's not a very good tackler is he?" and I told him that he should be. He was awful. Carson picked them apart often on the side where Ed was the help over the top. Can't take games off. He and Ray both took this one off. I'll give credit to the Bengals also, they simply dominated offensively from the LOS on. Carson was very accurate for the most part. But Ed was a nonfactor, plain and simple. Very disappointing when you concentrate on watching him waiting for that big play. Heck, he didn't make any routine plays.

 

I think that is a bad game to judge him on. For as good as he is, Palmer and the Bengals usually have him and the Ravens number. Palmer is 8 and 3 against the Ravens, so its obvious the Bengals know exactly how to attack that team and make those great players not as great. However even in a game where he was not playing good, he still made a play that could have really turned the game around when he stripped Chad of the ball even when he was falling down. Even on a bad day, he still has a way of effecting games.

Reed (and Troy, for that matter) do so many unorthodox things before the snap that I think a team has the potential to take advantage of them on a regular basis; however, both are so good that it rarely happens.

 

Before people misconstrue my post, I'm saying that Reed & Polamalu have a tendency to float around before the snap, thus making the pre-snap read more difficult; however, if you can make the right read (which is tough), then I think you're in a great position.

 

I agree. I think they're like pretty much any great DB's...they occasionally get burned for a big play. Both guys are playmakers and occasionally they miss or guess wrong and the opponent capitalizes for a big play. But, generally that doesn't happen, and additionally, they make a lot of big plays themselves.

I'm not sure what's unclear. I think Troy is great against the pass. Is he a better ballhawk than Ed? No way. But Ed can't tackle. Or perhaps I should say, he's not a terrific run stopper. I think you get more with Troy is all I'm saying.

 

:thumb:

I say TP because he is the only safety in history to pick up Chad Johnsons Gold Teeth and reach them back to him after they were knocked the heck out.

I'm not sure what's unclear. I think Troy is great against the pass. Is he a better ballhawk than Ed? No way. But Ed can't tackle. Or perhaps I should say, he's not a terrific run stopper. I think you get more with Troy is all I'm saying.

 

I agree Troy is better in run support, but Ed can't tackle? C'mon now.

 

Troy may be good in pass coverage, but it's not even close to how good Reed is.