Logan Thomas was named QB-two yesterday. This should not come as a surprise to anyone who has watched or read about any significant portion of practice since spring. He's outperformed Ju-Ju on the field and the upside of his athleticism is a bonus. The experience of all the backup reps during the fall will give him the inside track to be the starter going into spring 2011. In fact, it will essentially guarantee him the job. However, my opinion contradicts what Mike O'Cain has said.
ON THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THOMAS IS THE HOKIES' QB OF THE FUTURE: "Yeah, but the competition will open up again. It's never closed. So next spring, he won't inherit the No. 1 spot. It'll be a competition going into the spring. Unless something would happen this fall that he ended up playing a lot and played outstanding, then he may inherit No. 1 and you go. But in fairness to all those other guys, you want to open it up and give them a chance to compete for it as well. We've named him the No. 2 guy. Now he's just got to keep it. That’s the best way to put it."
That's coach speak for you. Obviously he's not going to anoint Logan Tyrod's heir because a healthy competition for the number one job is only going to make all participants better. And unless Young or Leal make significant strides Ju-Ju is going to be his best backup option. It's in the best interest of the team that he doesn't transfer, and to his credit Ju-Ju has said he's going to stick around and try to win the job next year.
As for this year, the coaches have decided Thomas' athleticism (4.6s 40-yard dash and 40" vertical jump at 6'6" 242lbs) can be used for something better than holding a clipboard on gamedays. I agree, but we have this wonderful problem of only having one ball to share amongst a plethora of playmakers. Also, he'll be spending the majority of practice repping at quarterback. So ultimately I think whatever he's asked to do on the field will be simple to learn, limited and specialized to accentuate his God given gifts.
With that in mind, I'd have him be the cherry picker. Plain and simple, when we're inside the red zone Thomas should be on the field lined up at receiver or tight end running a post to the back corner of the end zone. How many defensive backs can cover a 78 inch tall beast who can leap an additional 40 inches? There aren't many. So let him stand in the back of the end zone and pluck down touchdown passes. If he commands double coverage from two DBs, then another receiver will be open. If a linebacker helps cover him, then run through a softened up gut.
Of all the different roles Thomas could fill it's the simplest to practice, easiest to execute and yet hardest to defend.
Comments
we've got a few other guys
Our backup receivers are specimens too. But I do agree this is all I would let him do really; everywhere you look there is someone who is a baller and needs the ball. I'm very skeptical of this TE experiment and think it is a tad unecessary, even if it seems wasteful keeping him sidelined.
However, it would be nice if he gets a LOT of meaningful snaps under center this year after Tyrod and company put the game out of reach. I'd let him play the entire second half against JMU and Central Michigan.
more thoughts
Agree, Andre Smith is looking like he could be a good one at TE too. We need one of the other younger guys to step up and earn the job of second (more blocking) tight end. Logan is not going to have the time in practice to prepare to be the backup QB and learn blocking techniques, so I wouldn't even consider him for that.
It goes without saying that actual snaps in a game are priceless. But I wouldn't play him for an entire half, I'd give him a quarter at most. JMU and CMU are early enough in the season where the starters (including Tyrod) are going to need the work to get polished.
NSFW
Actually this may be safe b/c I won't go into details but the question: What I'd do with Logan Thomas has a lot of different answers. If we win the National Championship this year and he is one of the main reasons we do, I would do his bidding, no matter what he asked of me. The wife would be a little upset but she has leaned to love the Hokies and she has always been a football fan so she would understand. If he wanted me to wash his clothes, drive him to class, carry his books, buy all his meals, cut his nails (hands and feet), make beer runs, bring home "talent", ....well this list could go on all night and I eventually have to get to sleep but I think you get my drift. I wouldn't say no to ANYTHING.
Otherwise get him the ball, get him in the game more than the previous #7 (not Vick, I just don't want to say his name) did his freshman year. See if Andre Smith can prove to be the #1 TE and if so, just use LT in the red zone for double tight end sets, wild turkeys, and whatever else the genius Stiney can come up with. We have to get this guy some experience but if he averages 1.3 touches a game it seems worthless.