Hard Hat Award (Game #3, @ Indy)
Stillers LB James Harrison and SS Troy Polamalu are the co-winners of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
The rest of the team may have skulked their way through this abysmal showing, but not these 2 men, who double-handedly won this game for the Stillers.
Dirty Harry started early and laid the wood on the Dolts. Early in the game, Harrison disposed of TE Dallas Clark on a ground play, much the same way a trash man disposes a Hefty bag full of rubbish. Harrison threw Clark aside, and then stuffed Addai for a meager 2-yard gain. THAT is how you play OLB in the NFL. No endless jousting or titty-fondling....but rather shed and destroy.
A couple plays later, Harrison again shed and destroyed, this time fighting off a double team and totally blowing the play up, while an unblocked OLB jogged over for a slop assist. RB Delone Carter tried his left side later in the 1Q, only to be blistered by Harrison on a 1-yard loss. In the 3Q, Harrison nabbed Collie on a WR screen for no gain. Then, with the game tied and less than 6:00 remaining, Harrison abused the LT and then blistered the QB, Painter, forcing a fumble that was returned for a TD.
Troy again looked like the Troy of old, making plays all over the field with quickness and guile. Pola was all over the field.....flashing up when needed and reading and anticipating with superb command. He had a bust-up on a 3d & 2 in the 1Q. He blitzed and totally blew up a ground play at 3:22 1Q. He had superb press coverage on Clark on a key 3d & G in the 2Q, and then busted up the lob attempt. Pola blitzed a couple times in the 2H and brought heavy pressure, and came within an inch of blowing up the Addai run that scored a TD late in the 4Q.
A few other players warranted attention by The Committee. Mewelde Moore came off the bench and ran well late in the game. Trai Essex also came off the bench and did well. Mike Wallace had another stellar game.
Kudos to Harry and Pola for winning the Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, fellas !
Previous 2011 Hard Hat Winners:
Game #2, vs. Seattle: Mike Wallace and Troy Polamalu
Game #1, @ Balt: No One