Q: What do you think contributed more to the defense's woes this season, the loss of Troy or the overall lack of depth?

Rick Mikszan, Leesburg, Va.

BOUCHETTE: Without question, the loss of Polamalu. There is a reason the Steelers gave him so much money in his last contract. He makes that defense go and there is a dramatic change without him. It does not mean they should have collapsed so many times in the fourth quarter without him, but he is a special player and when you lose special players, you lose strength.

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