| Authored by Andrew Perna - 4th September, 2009 - 9:45 am
 There are just two spots left in the Elite Eight of our contest. Today, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will battle with Steelers safety Troy Polamalu for one of those berths.
How They Got Here
Flacco took down Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers with 72% of the votes in their first-round matchup, while Polamalu left Browns lineman Joe Thomas in the dust 77% of the ballots.
Why Flacco Is A Franchise Player
Solid is probably the best word is describe Flacco's play in Baltimore last season. If it wasn't for Matt Ryan's statistical success in Atlanta, Flacco would have gotten a lot more attention on the national stage.
He struggled in the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers, going 13-for-30 with 141 yards and three interceptions, but asking for much more from the rookie would have been a little excessive. He finished the season with an overall mark of 13-6 as a starter.
The Ravens are known for running the football, and despite Flacco's strong arm, that isn't likely to change anytime soon. They ranked fourth in rushing in 2008, and just 28th in passing. Unfortunately for Flacco, we may not see his ceiling as a quarterback for quite some time. That may not be a bad thing, though, as I could see him as a Roethlisberger-type, without as many bad decisions (on and off the field).
Why Polamalu Is A Franchise Player
He was first a novelty because of his long hair and hard hits, but is now one of the league's most consistent playmakers. He grabbed seven interceptions in 2008, and has tallied seven sacks, seven forced fumbles and 17 picks in his six-year NFL career (doesn't it seem longer?).
Polamalu makes plays all over the field, and is exceptional in both run and pass coverage. His numbers prove his ability to cause turnovers in a variety of ways. If you don't think the safety is important to the Steelers, you're horribly wrong. They were 3-2 without him in 2007, when they went 11-5 overall.
He has made five-straight Pro Bowls, is a two-time First Team All-Pro selection and, obviously, has a pair of Super Bowl rings on his million-dollar fingers.
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the opening article
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
