PITTSBURGH — Troy Polamalu walked off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice field on Tuesday with rookie safety Shamarko Thomas hanging on the veteran safety’s every word.

To be honest, Polamalu admits it’s still a little strange to think that in the last decade he’s morphed from precocious talent into respected leader. Yet he knows being a mentor is part of his job description these days, and for a team in the midst of startling change, it’s a role he’ll eagerly fill.

“The great thing about the people that we have here is that all we are going to do is give knowledge,” Polamalu said. “There is no hesitation. It’s not like we think this guy is going to replace someone, like other teams.”

Maybe, but there is little doubt that the Steelers expect Thomas to one day take over for the 32-year-old Polamalu or 33-year-old Ryan Clark.

Just not quite yet. For as all the tumult Pittsburgh experienced in the offseason, there was a sense of normalcy during the first day of organized team activities. While locker room fixtures James Harrison, Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall are all gone, a host of veterans remain to help an 8-8 team rebuild on the fly.

“It feels new and different every year at this time,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’re working with 90 guys and every year 40 or so of them, minimum, are new guys. From that standpoint, it’s the same. We’re always excited and energized to work with the new faces.”

So long as the old ones know that needs to be fixed.

The Steelers slid to their worst record of Tomlin’s six-year tenure in 2012 as injuries and uncharacteristic mistakes sent Pittsburgh tumbling out of the playoffs.