Yesterday the Pro Bowl rosters were announced, and five Pittsburgh Steelers made the team. Now while some people put a lot of stock into making the Pro Bowl, I do not. It's more of a popularity contest than anything else in my opinion. Players and coaches aren't watching all the games, they see game film of who they play and maybe Monday Night and/or Sunday Night games. Fans vote specifically for players of their favorite teams, rather they deserve to go or not.
Steelers who made it:
Ben Roethlisberger, QB: 3856 yards, 91.5 QB Rating, 21 TD, 14 INT
I think he deserves a backup spot to Tom Brady, partly because the AFC quarterback play is down this year. Phillip Rivers is the third QB on the roster, but he had a very bad season. I think Andy Dalton deserved to get to the Pro Bowl over Rivers who made it on name alone. This is Ben's second Pro Bowl.
Mike Wallace, WR: 71 receptions, 1182 yards, 8 TD
This will be Mike Wallace's first ever Pro Bowl, and I think he deserves it. His production has dropped off some lately, but that's partly because he's seeing more double coverage so Roethlisberger is looking for his other receivers a little bit more.
Maurkice Pouncey, C: 13 games started
Pouncey went to the Pro Bowl last year as a rookie, but didn't play because the Steelers were playing in the Super Bowl the following week. Pouncey has missed some time this year due to an illness and then injury, but he has played very well this season. I do think he's the second best center in the NFL behind the New York Jets' Nick Mangold.
Antonio Brown, KR: 24 kick returns, 664 yards, 27.7 avg, 2 TD; 30 punt returns, 325 yards, 10.8 avg, 1 TD
Brown made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, but I am sure he will see snaps at receiver also. He was electric on returns this season and set the Steelers record for all-purpose yards in a season with one game to add onto it. He is deserving of his Pro Bowl nod.
Troy Polamalu, SS: 89 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 11 PDef,
Polamalu is considered one of the best two safeties in the NFL. This year he hasn't been the turnover machine that Steelers fans are used to, but he has been a disruptive force for this defense. He is the one player that the other team absolutely has to account for before every snap on this defense because they don't know what he is going to do. While some people feel he's going based off of his name and not his production this season, I think he is deserving.
And those who were snubbed:
Ike Taylor: 42 tackles, 2 INT, 13 PDef
Ike Taylor plays for a defense that is one of the best in the NFL...but they are known more for stopping the run than their pass defense (even though this year their pass defense has been better than their run defense). Ike Taylor is never going to have a big interception total, he has hands of bricks. But he does more-often-than-not shut down the opposing team's top receiver. He's a shutdown corner and one of the best in the entire AFC. He deserves a Pro Bowl spot.
Ryan Clark: 96 tackles, 1 INT, 5 PDef
Ryan Clark isn't going to get a ton of interceptions either, but he's a vicious hitter who can knock the ball out of a receivers hands and is a solid tackler in space. While his backfield partner, Troy Polamalu, is the bigger name...Clark is also deserving of being a Pro Bowler.
Two players I am not listing as snubs, though many people feel they were snubbed, are outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Both have missed a lot of games this season due to injury and/or suspension and I feel that keeps them out of the snub category.
Those are my thoughts on the Steelers' Pro Bowl selections. Like what I had to say? Don't agree? Feel free to leave comments and let me know! HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO!
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