Sticking with the game plan
Thomas is practicing what Patriots have been preaching
FOXBOROUGH - He has always been about the work. It has always come first and foremost. Santonio Thomas didn't mind if he was pegged to start the season on the Patriots' practice squad for the third consecutive year.
The former University of Miami standout defensive lineman from Belle Glade, Fla., knew if he was going to improve, he was going to have to put in the work to earn a spot on the active roster.
"Like Coach [Bill Belichick] is always telling us: 'Put the work in and it'll pay off,' " Thomas said yesterday as the Patriots continued preparations for tomorrow's game against AFC East rival Buffalo at Gillette Stadium.
"Thank God, it's paid off this year."
As an undrafted free agent who for the last three years in a row was cut from preseason camp, Thomas's perseverance finally paid off when his preparation collided head-on with opportunity.
"Santonio, he's really worked hard," Belichick said. "He's a kid when we drafted Vince [Wilfork in 2004], came and signed here as a free agent and again, like Vince and even Kareem [Brown], all of the defensive linemen from Miami, their system that they played in is a little different than what we do. Santonio has worked hard to make those adjustments and make that transition to a little different style of play."
When the 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound Thomas failed to make the final 53-man roster and was released Sept. 1, opportunity presented itself two days later. The Patriots signed him, along with six other training camp refugees, to the practice squad, marking Thomas's third tour of duty. But Thomas just kept working to avoid becoming a practice-squad lifer.
"As well as you got it now, it could always be taken away from you," he said.
As he spoke, Thomas was standing in front a memorial to that concept: the empty locker that belonged to Marquise Hill, who, at 6 feet 6 inches, 300 pounds, cast a larger-than-life presence in the locker room. The former Louisiana State defensive tackle drowned over the Memorial Day weekend in Lake Pontchartrain near his home in New Orleans. He was 24.
Thomas stole a quick glance at Hill's locker, where Hill's helmet was placed on a hook, his shoulder pads rested on an upper shelf, and his silver practice pants and blue No. 91 practice jersey were reverently displayed.
"That's why you just keep working," Thomas said, his voice trailing off. "You just keep working."
With Richard Seymour on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, and Mike Wright suffering a knee injury before the season opener Sept. 9 against the Jets, the Patriots signed Thomas from the practice squad Sept. 8 and he made his debut in a 38-14 victory over New York.
"I think last year he had a good offseason, and just didn't get off to a real good start in training camp," Belichick said. "I don't think it was from a lack of effort or anything, it just wasn't going as well for him as what I think he or anybody else would have wanted it to go. This year, training camp went a lot different for him.
"I thought he got off to a real good start and he built on that fast start and had a real good preseason and training camp," Belichick said. "And that has created some opportunities for him here in the early part of the season with a couple of guys that we had that are banged up and he's taken advantage of those opportunities.
"I think it's a good example of where hard work and preparation came together and there was an opportunity and then he was able to take advantage of it."
So what was it that made this camp different?
"Just technique, just learning the technique," Thomas said.
But that came as a bit of an understatement to his teammates, who believe Thomas has begun to bear the fruits of his labor. Thomas has gained a greater understanding and confidence in his role in the defense, where he is listed as a backup on the depth chart to right end Jarvis Green, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisiana State in 2002.
"You see him with his head up more," Green said. "I mean, I went through the same thing starting off. I wound up being drafted, but when you're starting off, you're just trying to get some confidence and trying to find where you fit in and that's the biggest thing and I've seen him come around to that."
That much was evident against the Jets. Thomas made three tackles, holding running back Thomas Jones to a 1-yard gain on his first NFL tackle. He followed with an impressive assist in his second game, combining with safety James Sanders to stop LaDainian Tomlinson for no gain on third and 1 in the second quarter of the Patriots' 38-14 romp over the Chargers last Sunday.
"Again, it goes back to doing what the coaches told me to do all week, playing the proper technique and the right thing happened and that's what I did and that's what happened," Thomas said. "I'm just going out and doing what the coaches asked me to do and just try to do it the best I can and just keep working."
As hard as Thomas worked, "It was tough to release him," Belichick said. "But at the same time, we felt like he did have a role on this team and through a quick change of circumstances in a couple of days, he was right back at it and I think that's the type of attitude that Santonio has."
Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com. 