By all accounts, 2005 was a spectacular season individually for Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas. He started all 16 games, played eight different positions on the field, finished with a career-high 104 tackles, had a team-high nine sacks and scored three touchdowns off turnovers.During a game, Thomas could be seen helping the defensive line pressuring the running game one play. During the next, he was dropping back, covering some of the league?s top receivers stride for stride.
Yet, he was not selected to the Pro Bowl. On a team of stars, he might be the most underrated player on the roster. Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan takes it one step further.
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“If anybody had scored three touchdowns, nine quarterback sacks, over 100 tackles? there?s nobody in the league (more underrated),” Ryan said. “For him to not go to a Pro Bowl for the excuse they don?t know what position he is, he?s a linebacker. It just so happens he probably covers a little more than the rest of them.”
Thomas does have one Pro Bowl selection, as a special teams player, in 2003.
Head coach Brian Billick thinks he knows the reason Thomas has flown under the radar.
“Anytime you?re the jack of all trades, it?s tough to get the recognition that probably you deserve at any one position when you?re talkingPro Bowls or media around the nation,” Billick said. “The man has literally played every defensive position. That?s unique.”
Thomas said he prides himself on knowing where every play will be and where every player should be at any given time.
“The biggest thing is, the ability to learn more than one position,” Thomas said. “It?s one thing to do it physically. To do it mentally, it?s a lot harder.”
Thomas said it takes an extraordinary amount of study time to learn the various positions and how they are used in Ryan?s system. In order to accelerate that process, he will pick the brains of teammates like safety Ed Reed to gain an appreciation for the position.
“AD?s (Thomas? nickname) everywhere,” Reed said. “D-Line, linebacker, safety, it?s a great deal that you have a guy like that with that much ability.”
Thomas was forced to take a larger leadership position during a 6-10 campaign last season. With linebacker Ray Lewis and Reed returning from injuries, Thomas still plans on sharing the leadership reins with those players.
“I don?t think a true leader ever takes a backseat to no one,” Thomas said. “The more leaders you have, the better your defense gets. I?m not going to change anything I do. I?m still going to be the same person and lead my own way.”
