Polamalu vs. Woodson

[Fletch]

Anyone who thinks woodson was better than polamalu, needs to take their fanboy blinders off

Opinions vary.

 

[burmafrd]

Anyone who thinks woodson was better than polamalu, needs to take their fanboy blinders off

A cowboy fan knows how good woodson was; you clearly are a Steeler troll.

 

[burmafrd]

biggest problem Woody has with getting to the HOF was that many of his best seasons came while the cowboys stank it up while Polomalu was with a team constantly in contention.

 

[DFWJC]

Loved Woodson. He's one of my favorites.

But I think some around here are thinking of Polamalu in his final years.
In his prime years, he was very rare.
I do think he'll make it 1st ballot.

 

[EST_1986]

Polamalu was 1st ballot HOF in his prime, Woodson is scratching away at ROH. Woodson was great but nothing on the level of Polamalu

 

[CATCH17]

Polamalu is a playmaker but his coverage skills lacked.


If you have an imaginative Defensive Coordinator you take Polamalu.

If you have Monte Kiffin or Rod Marinelli you wake Woodson.

 

[Hardline]

Polamalu Jump:

Neutral zone infraction

 

[ChooChoo73]

Woodson was terrific. Polamalu was better. I prefer Woodson as a safety for my team because I have always preferred a more physical player if given the choice which Woodson is. That being said, congrats to Troy. Steeler nation deserves to celebrate a great player like this that plays his whole career with one team.

 

[CowboyMike]

If a player freelances so much to the point where there are mumblings that your defense is, "10 guys playing defense according to the plan and then Polamalu," then you're not a Hall of Fame player, in my opinion.

Polamalu made some amazing plays and had unreal ability to recognize what was about to happen, but it wasn't like he was doing that every play. His teammates had to cover for him playing outside the scheme and being out of position a majority of the time. People tend to remember his big plays and ignore his lack of consistency the rest of the time.

I'll take Woody in his prime just because he helped the guys around him be better and didn't make himself a liability a majority of the time in favor of a few big plays.

Give me the guy who was consistent and in position on every down over a few big plays once in a while. Substance over flash.

 

[xwalker]

I have to admit I wasn't able to watch Woodson in his prime. I really started watching and understanding the game his last few years. I've always thought Polamalu was overrated and just playing during a time where there just aren't any great safetys . Everyone says he's first ballot and I'm wondering is he that much better than Woodson?

It's like Troy Aikman vs Brett Farve.

Woodson didn't get beat in coverage including playing against slot WRs and was like a LB against the run but he didn't make tons of splash plays.

Polamalu got beat more but make a lot of splash plays that get fans excited (INTs and Forced Fumbles).

Who was better, Aikman or Farve? Who would you really want to be your QB?

 

[CATCH17]

It's like Troy Aikman vs Brett Farve.

Woodson didn't get beat in coverage including playing against slot WRs and was like a LB against the run but he didn't make tons of splash plays.

Polamalu got beat more but make a lot of splash plays that get fans excited (INTs and Forced Fumbles).

Who was better, Aikman or Farve? Who would you really want to be your QB?

Pretty much this.


Favre is way more fun to watch but Aikman is a much more sound player.

 

[KJJ]

Only on a Cowboys FAN board would anyone try and make this comparison. It's not even close between Polamalu and Woodson Polamalu was a much better player. He had more tackles, int's and FF's he's one of the greatest most exciting safeties to ever play the position. Woodson has been retired since 03 and has yet to be added to the Cowboys ROH. Polamalu will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

 

[KJJ]

Agreed
If Woodson had played for Dick Lebeau he would be in the HOF too

Woodson played on a team that won 3 SB's in 4 years and was the greatest team of the 90's. There's 5 members of that team that have been added to the Cowboys ROH and 4 of them have been inducted into the HOF and a 5th will be going in this summer. Woody was a very good player for the Cowboys but he has yet to be enshrined by his own team and an owner who's very partial to the players that helped win him those 3 championships. Sorry FANS but Troy Polamalu was in a completely different league than Darren Woodson. Polamalu was a GREAT player and is a lock to be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This, IMO, is a question of scheme. Polamalu played in a scheme where he had a lot of freedom to run to the ball. OU did the same thing with Roy Williams. What it did was allow Polamalu to make a lot of big plays. It's not a traditional role for a Safety and if you watch Polamalu, he was not really all that great in coverage, especially zone IMO. Woody didn't do that for the Cowboys near as much. This is not meant to try and take anything away from Polamalu or Woody. It is what it is. Now, if I were going to pick between the two, I would take Woody because I would play a more traditional scheme and Woody would be a better fit. I think Woody could have been great in the scheme for Pittsburgh because I think he was a bigger, better athlete. Woody was probably 6-1 and able to carry more weight easier, while still holding his speed an quickness. Polamalu was smaller, maybe 5'10, certainly under 6' and his frame would not hold as much weight naturally. Woody would have probably carried more weight in that scheme. JMO

 

[xwalker]

Pretty much this.


Favre is way more fun to watch but Aikman is a much more sound player.

The nineties Cowboys defenses played a bend but don't break style. Woodson was never going to go for an INT if it meant risking giving up a big play.

I think most lists will have Farve rated over Aikman in terms of greatness; however, the question I always ask when compared players is "which one would you draft if you know what you know now?" There is no question that I would draft Aikman. I would also draft Emmitt over Barry Sanders. The goal is winning Super Bowls and those guys did it better than most.

Now I would ask the same question in regards to Woodson vs Polamalu "who would you draft if you know what you know now?" Personally, I would still find it difficult to pass on drafting Woodson.

 

[xwalker]

This, IMO, is a question of scheme. Polamalu played in a scheme where he had a lot of freedom to run to the ball. OU did the same thing with Roy Williams. What it did was allow Polamalu to make a lot of big plays. It's not a traditional role for a Safety and if you watch Polamalu, he was not really all that great in coverage, especially zone IMO. Woody didn't do that for the Cowboys near as much. This is not meant to try and take anything away from Polamalu or Woody. It is what it is. Now, if I were going to pick between the two, I would take Woody because I would play a more traditional scheme and Woody would be a better fit. I think Woody could have been great in the scheme for Pittsburgh because I think he was a bigger, better athlete. Woody was probably 6-1 and able to carry more weight easier, while still holding his speed an quickness. Polamalu was smaller, maybe 5'10, certainly under 6' and his frame would not hold as much weight naturally. Woody would have probably carried more weight in that scheme. JMO

Agree. The requirements were much different in terms of those players in the schemes they played in.

 

[CowboyMike]

This, IMO, is a question of scheme. Polamalu played in a scheme where he had a lot of freedom to run to the ball. OU did the same thing with Roy Williams. What it did was allow Polamalu to make a lot of big plays. It's not a traditional role for a Safety and if you watch Polamalu, he was not really all that great in coverage, especially zone IMO. Woody didn't do that for the Cowboys near as much. This is not meant to try and take anything away from Polamalu or Woody. It is what it is. Now, if I were going to pick between the two, I would take Woody because I would play a more traditional scheme and Woody would be a better fit. I think Woody could have been great in the scheme for Pittsburgh because I think he was a bigger, better athlete. Woody was probably 6-1 and able to carry more weight easier, while still holding his speed an quickness. Polamalu was smaller, maybe 5'10, certainly under 6' and his frame would not hold as much weight naturally. Woody would have probably carried more weight in that scheme. JMO

The question is, was that really Lebeau's scheme? Or was Polamalu just so much of a freelancer that Lebeau was forced to adapt.

The presence of Polamalu left a LOT for the other safety to compensate for. I don't think any defensive coordinator would find that ideal.

 

[DFWJC]

It's like Troy Aikman vs Brett Farve.

Woodson didn't get beat in coverage including playing against slot WRs and was like a LB against the run but he didn't make tons of splash plays.

Polamalu got beat more but make a lot of splash plays that get fans excited (INTs and Forced Fumbles).

Who was better, Aikman or Farve? Who would you really want to be your QB?

Good point and a legit question that'd be hard for 31 other teams' fans to answer.

Both great players in anycase.

 

[KJJ]

It's like Troy Aikman vs Brett Farve.

Woodson didn't get beat in coverage including playing against slot WRs and was like a LB against the run but he didn't make tons of splash plays.

Polamalu got beat more but make a lot of splash plays that get fans excited (INTs and Forced Fumbles).

Who was better, Aikman or Farve? Who would you really want to be your QB?

Comparing Aikman and Favre is a lot different than comparing Woodson and Polamalu. QB's are going to impact games more than safeties. Favre holds the all-time NFL record for TD's and int's I can name a lot of QB's I would pick over him. Aikman was better than Favre he out dueled him in 2 NFC title games and won more championships than Favre. Polamalu was clearly a better player than Woodson you won't find anyone outside Cowboys Nation that would pick Woodson over Polamalu. Polamalu was the Steelers best defensive player on some great defensive teams and was named defensive player of the year in 2011. Polamalu helped the Steelers win some big games due to some great splash plays.

Favre wasn't a better QB than Aikman he just had better numbers. Polamalu was clearly a better player than Darren Woodson and it's not even close. Even with all the Cowboy FANS out there not many would take Woodson over Polamalu had they played during the same era. Just imagine how great the Cowboys 90's defenses would have been having a Troy Polamalu flying around making plays all over the field. I can't stop shaking my head at this thread.

 

[KJJ]

This play by Polamalu helped lead the Steelers to the SB. No disrespect to Woody he was a very good player but he was no Troy Polamalu.