RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle free safety Earl Thomas likes it that some people think the Legion of Boom Seahawks secondary has a bully mentality.

"I think we can bully whoever we want to bully," Thomas said. "It's about us. It's about a mindset. When you have a mindset of you're not going to let anything get in your way, you're determined. You just step over and keep going."

Thomas, who was voted to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team this season, is in the running for the NFL defensive player of the year.

"Everything in my mind is about being the best to ever do it," Thomas said. "Everything is about separating myself from every defensive player in the league. So you look at all the things you have to do. You have to be a great tackler when you tackle somebody in this defense. That's why I like being the only guy back there."

Thomas said he learned to become a better tackler by watching Seattle strong safety Kam Chancellor, known as one of the fiercest hitters in the league.

"I think he brought to the team wanting to be the enforcer," Thomas said of Chancellor. "I saw that and said I've got to add that to my game."