PITTSBURGH (AP) — If Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu has a big day against Seattle on Sunday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll only has himself to blame.
Carroll helped mold Polamalu into an elite player when he took over at USC following the 2000 season. Polamalu says Carroll gave him freedom to trust his instincts and changed the defensive system to accentuate Polamalu’s talent.
The two haven’t faced each other since Polamalu left for the NFL in 2003. Carroll says he still uses film of Polamalu in college to show his players the proper way to do things.
Polamalu says he and Carroll haven’t really kept in touch, but he believes Carroll’s success at USC can translate to the NFL. Carroll led the Seahawks to the NFC West title and a playoff victory a year ago.
