Seahawks safety Thomas draws comparisons to Polamalu
RENTON, Wash. – Locked out this summer like the rest of his NFL colleagues, Earl Thomas decided to do a little homework.
But Thomas wasn’t studying to finish his degree at the University of Texas – something, by the way, he plans on doing eventually. The more immediate subject of study for Seattle’s second-year free safety was Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu, a six-time Pro Bowler who happens to play the same position.
“He’s definitely a special player,” said Thomas. “I studied some of his tape during the lockout. He’s a great player, man. He knows what’s coming sometimes before the play even develops. He’s always around the ball, his motor never stops running. He’s just a great player and he’s always around the ball. And he feeds off his energy. If he makes one positive play, look out, it’s going to be a long game.”
On Sunday, Thomas will get an up-close-and-personal look at the player he spent part of his summer observing as the Seahawks travel to face the Steelers, a team that for close to a decade hast thrived under the defensive leadership of Polamalu. And while Polamalu has already established himself as one of the game’s best players and a likely Hall of Famer, Thomas, a first-round pick in 2010 is just beginning his promising career. Despite being at different stages in their career, the head coaches of both players see a lot of similarities between Thomas and Polamalu.
“Boy, there are some tremendous similarities,” said Pete Carroll, who coached Polamalu at USC. “They’re about the same size, one. But the thing that separates them and makes them and kind of makes them alike is they’re both so darn fast. Both these guys ran in the 4.3s (in the 40-yard dash). It shows up all the time. Some people run a 4.3 and you don’t see it. These guys, they show it.”
That being said, Thomas and Polamalu aren’t the same player.
“They’re totally different guys,” said Seahawks receiver Mike Williams, who was teammates with Polamalu for a year at USC. “You’re never going to hear a word out of Troy on the field. You’re just not. It doesn’t matter if some guy gets up after catching the ball and wants to tack a bunch of smack, or does a dance, or whatever. Troy, he’s so wired in all the time. Earl is a little more outgoing, a little more outspoken.”
“I’ve always told myself that I never want to be compared to anybody because I feel like that limits me,” Thomas said. “I want to be better than him. I know he’s a great player, I know he’s done a lot in this league, but I’m working to be better than that.”
Injury update
Left guard Robert Gallery was listed as a full participant in Wednesday practice after missing the opener with a knee injury. Carroll said he doesn’t know if Gallery will play Sunday. Rookie James Carpenter returned to right tackle with Gallery back in action. Receiver Sidney Rice (shoulder) was limited in practice. … FB Michael Robinson (ankle), CB Byron Maxwell (ankle), DE Dexter Davis (hip), T Jarriel King (ankle) and LB Malcolm Smith (hamstring) all sat out of practice.