National Football League

Carroll, Polamalu reunite as Steelers host Seattle

Published Sep. 17, 2011 10:32 p.m. ET

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Pete Carroll has Troy Polamalu's evolution from raw talent to defensive superstar on tape. Every now and then the Seattle Seahawks coach will pop it in to show his players how to play safety the way it was intended.

''We've used him as (an) example,'' Carroll said. ''He is still in a bunch of my cut-up films from the old days. I appreciate everything he is, who he is and the way he plays as much as anybody could.''

And on Sunday, Carroll will get an up-close look at his former project when the Seahawks (0-1) face Polamalu and the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1).

Polamalu called Carroll a ''huge influence'' on his development, crediting Carroll for teaching him to trust his instincts after Carroll took over at Southern California following the 2000 season.

At the time, Polamalu was just scratching the surface with his ability. Carroll, a longtime defensive backs coach and coordinator before becoming a head coach, helped Polamalu blossom into a two-time All-American.

''He gave me a lot of freedom,'' Polamalu said. ''He taught me a lot about defenses, taught me how to find freedom within certain responsibilities. He taught me a lot about the safety position in general. I had a great coach before him in Dennis Thurman and (Carroll) continued to add to that and I'm very thankful.''

Even if Polamalu wasn't quite sure what to expect when Carroll took over for Paul Hackett in December 2000.

''It's tough, we have such a redundant life as an athlete,'' Polamalu said. ''We have everything scheduled out and when there's even a little bit of change it really throws you off. ... Obviously you're a little hesitant. You're not very comfortable just because things are different. But once we met him and saw him and talked to him on a one-on-one level, we were really excited.''

So was the always excitable Carroll, who adapted USC's defense to take advantage of Polamalu's strengths, namely his speed, tenacity and intelligence.

''We put him all over the place,'' Carroll said. ''We thought of him everywhere we could and gave him special freedoms that we didn't give other players because we could trust him and he could take advantage of it and he is still doing it.''

Just not last Sunday.

Polamalu and the rest of the Pittsburgh defense struggled in a 35-7 loss to Baltimore a day after the All-Pro agreed to a new contract that could keep him in black-and-gold through 2014.

The result was so thorough Polamalu momentarily lost his cool, getting into a shoving match with Baltimore running back Ray Rice in the fourth quarter. He wasn't fined, though the NFL did hit him with a $15,000 penalty for a horse collar tackle.

The tackle wasn't intentional, but it was typical Polamalu, whose fiery play quarterbacking the Pittsburgh defense has made him an icon in a city that reveres big hitters.

Carroll saw that intensity firsthand a decade ago, and had little doubt there was untapped potential just waiting to be unleashed. It's what made Polamalu's rough rookie year in 2003 so puzzling to his old coach.

''I was amazed way back when he didn't get played as a rookie that much because I just thought he could be as good as anybody and that anybody would have him regardless of what team he went to,'' Carroll said. ''But they brought him up right. I remember him saying how confused he was his first year. But then the second year when they started playing him, he just took off and he has just been ridiculous.''

Carroll is hoping his own version of Polamalu will make a similar jump this year. Carroll feels second-year safety Earl Thomas has some of Polamalu's attributes. He saw them in flashes a year ago when Thomas finished with five interceptions.

''You look at them and say there are a lot of similarities in what they're able to produce,'' Carroll said. ''They're not the same guys at all but they have the same fire about them, their will to be the best.''

Don't get Carroll wrong. He's not ready to declare Thomas the next coming of Polamalu. Still, there are worse role models.

''Earl, he's emerging,'' Carroll said. ''We really want to do similar things (with Thomas) like we did with Troy back in college because of their nature and the style of play that they offer you.''

Polamalu and Carroll don't talk much these days, though Polamalu expects a handshake and maybe a hug before the opening kickoff. After that, it's down to business for two teams trying to avoid an 0-2 start. Polamalu will do his best to make sure Carroll wears that collar by Sunday night, though he wouldn't expect Seattle to be down for long.

He remembers USC struggling early during Carroll's regime before taking off and points to Seattle's NFC West title and upset of New Orleans in the playoffs as proof Carroll is on the path to duplicating his college success in the NFL.

''He made the playoffs last year,'' Polamalu said, ''I don't see why not.''