The San Francisco 49ers cornerback played only 41 defensive snaps last season with no starts. By mid-season, he knew something needed to change.
"I would say, for me, after Week 8 last year, I put in my mind right there what I was doing in the offseason," Thomas admitted to reporters on Tuesday. "I had my offseason plan already planned out. I knew when I was leaving, I knew where I was going, I knew who I was training with. So around that time, that's when it kind of clicked in for me."
Thomas had a more structured offseason, working in Dallas with defensive teammate Charvarius Ward and others.
What went wrong last year? What does the cornerback attribute to his reduction in playing time?
"I just felt like, mentally, I wasn't prepared," Thomas said of his sophomore NFL season. "Physically, I wasn't prepared. I kind of felt like it was given to me just because I came off a strong playoff run my rookie year. But this year, anybody's job is up for grabs. That's how I look at it, and that's the mentality I took going into work, starting from OTAs."
The hard work is paying off. Thomas has a lot more confidence heading into his third NFL season.
"I just feel like I'm getting back to who I am," he shared. "Last year, I don't feel like I was me all the way. ... I just didn't feel like me. But now, I feel like I'm back."
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks made a point to name Thomas as one of the positives coming out of Sunday's preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Ambry, I thought, did a tremendous job in some of the things that we saw on tape, particularly also during the game, coming up strong on that fourth down play and then having a PBU (pass breakup)," Wilks said.
The cornerback was happy to get back on the football field after not playing much last season.
"For me, it felt good to be back out there," Thomas said. "I feel like I ain't played football in almost a year. So it just felt good to be back out there with my team, getting comfortable with the cause, playing fast."
Despite last season not going how he had hoped, Thomas never felt dejected. He never lost confidence in himself or his ability to make it in the NFL.
"I thought they thought that, but that just made me more mad and just more eager to prove them wrong," Thomas said. "I like proving people wrong. So yeah, that was my mindset, just, let's prove them wrong."
Thomas added, "I'm trying to keep getting better for myself, honestly. I mean, I love proving people wrong, but I know what I'm capable of, and I know what I can do. And I just feel like I'm not all the way there yet, but I'm getting there, and I feel it."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Named As Potential Trade Destination for All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson
As higher-profile contract talks continue between the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy, the team is still putting in plenty of time looking at ways to upgrade their defensive line, which (like the rest of the 49ers' defensive unit) struggled mightily in... -
49ers hold pre-draft visit, workout with Pitt OL Branson Taylor
The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler reports that the San Francisco 49ers recently visited with Pitt offensive lineman Branson Taylor and held a private workout with the draft prospect. The 49ers recently visited with Pitt OL Branson Taylor (6'6", 321, 33 1/4 arm) and also held a... -
Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?
Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's... -
49ers surpass Ravens for rushing records after NFL incorporates AAFC stats
The 2019 Baltimore Ravens rushed for an impressive 3,296 yards during the regular season, setting what was then the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season—until now. This week, the NFL announced it would begin incorporating statistics from the All-America...