SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK: No. 1 draft pick Thomas meeting expectations

Published 9:24 pm Tuesday, June 22, 2010

RENTON — Earl Thomas knew he faced big expectations when he joined the Seattle Seahawks after the recent NFL draft.

Not only was the University of Texas safety the No. 14 overall selection, he arrived in Seattle with the Seahawks having recently released their starter at free safety for the last three seasons, Deon Grant.

The 21-year-old Thomas immediately became the heir apparent to the starting free safety spot, and he has done nothing to hurt his chances during subsequent workouts with the team.

On Tuesday, as the Seahawks opened their final minicamp before training camp in July, Thomas worked exclusively with the first-team defense and had some shining moments.

“I’m just trying to get better every day and make each practice my best, and (Tuesday) it paid off,” he said. “I made a couple of plays and I feel really good.”

For all his talent and for all his experience at a top college program like Texas, the NFL is another level of football know-how for youngsters like Thomas.

“It’s a big step up, especially because they drafted me so high and they expect so much out of me,” said the 5-foot-10, 202-pound Thomas. “I just try to be in the film room as much as possible. … I don’t feel pressure. I’m just playing the game I love.”

Thomas is being mentored by strong safety Lawyer Milloy, who is 36 and a 15-year NFL veteran.

“He loves football,” Milloy said. “He has a passion. I see all the (right) characteristics, so my job is to help him get to the level he needs to be before (the season starts in) September.

“I’m very excited, watching him fly around,” Milloy added. “And I’m excited to see him with the pads on in a game situation.”

New Seahawk

Seattle added to its defensive backfield depth on Tuesday by acquiring safety Kevin Ellison off waivers from San Diego. Ellison, who played for Carroll at USC, started nine games for the Chargers as a rookie in 2009, but was arrested in Redondo Beach, Calif., in May for possession of Vicodin without a prescription. He has a July 7 court date on the charges.

New exec

The Seahawks have hired former team executive Scot McCloughan as a senior personnel executive.

McCloughan was with the team from 2000-05 as the director of college scouting under former coach Mike Holmgren (the two had previously worked together in Green Bay) before leaving to become a vice president of football operations in San Francisco.

McGloughan is “a proven veteran talent evaluator,” said Seahawks general manager John Schneider. “Seahawks fans should be very excited about this acquisition, as we got better today.”

Day of rest

The Seahawks will cut short this minicamp by lopping off the third and final day as a reward for an outstanding offseason, Carroll said.

“Our guys have been on the mark the entire time,” he said. “We’ve had extremely high participation in all the offseason work, so … we just feel like they needed it and they deserved it. They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them and I think we’ve made great progress.”

After today’s final practice, the team will not return until training camp next month.

Practice stars

Tight end John Carlson continues to blossom as the team’s starting tight end. Carroll has already called him one of the league’s best low-ball catchers and on Tuesday the 6-5 Carlson made an outstanding leaping catch on a long ball up the right sideline that brought cheers from his teammates.

“He’s had a great camp for us,” Carroll said, “and it’s really exciting to see John in the role we have him in. We’re sure expecting really big things from him.”

Another player earning praise from the head coach was center Chris Spencer, who’s had “a really good camp. He’s one of the real highlight players for us up front.”

Missing faces

As always for offseason practices, there were a few no-shows for Tuesday’s workout. The player with the best excuse is running back Justin Forsett, who was married last weekend. Another running back, Julius Jones, was also not on hand, but Carroll brushed off his absence with a joke, meaning it’s probably not a big deal.

Among the handful of other missing players was linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who had “a family thing going on,” according to Carroll. Tatupu is also overcoming a hamstring injury.

Back in action

Wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch were partial participants on Tuesday due to offseason surgeries. Houshmandzadeh (sports hernia) and Branch (knee) went through some of the individual drills, but sat out the team portions of the practice.

“They’re not quite fully engaged,” Carroll said, “but just to have them on the field working … it’s just great to see these guys getting back in.”