When the Seattle Seahawks used third and fourth round picks in the 2017 NFL draft on safeties Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson, respectively, they always hoped the two of them would compete for starting spots in the post-Legion of Boom secondary.
Now, Thompson and Hill (who goes by Lano now) are doing exactly that.
Although Thompson is a free safety and Hill is a strong safety, the two are competing against each other to start alongside versatile veteran Bradley McDougald – who is capable of playing either spot, thus opening up a competition between the two third-year vets.
Thompson was given the starting job in Week 1, thanks in part to a nagging hip injury that slowed Hill down in the preseason.
However, Thompson missed the next two games with a hamstring injury, allowing Hill to take over as a starter.
Now, with both players expected to suit up on Sunday, coach Pete Carroll is relishing in the battle between the two.
“The comp is on,” coach Pete Carroll commented on Wednesday. “He [Hill] has played well enough to start. We’re lucky in that regard. We got two guys who can start at the spot and feel comfortable about it.”
Neither Hill or Thompson have stood out this season, but both have had their moments – good and bad.
Rookie Marquise Blair appears to be the odd-man out at the safety position at this point, thanks in part to a hip injury that slowed him down during the preseason.
While Blair could factor into the position at some point, for Week 4 it will be between Hill and Thompson in a good old fashioned position battle – a specialty in the Carroll era.
