This is not a post saying we should bench Logan Thomas. This will not be a place to bash Logan Thomas. If you have those feelings, please express them elsewhere.
I'm just wondering what sort of playing time Mark Leal might see this season. At the moment, he's the heir apparent to our offensive train wreck, and I'm curious to see if the coaching staff tries to get him some playing time during the remainder of our conference games. Obviously, you put your younger guys in during your first non-conference blow-out wins to get them reps. We didn't do so much of that this year, and I'm guessing Leal didn't get the snaps Beamer & Co were hoping for. It'll also be interesting to see if him not playing much this season hurts him going in to spring practice or with any future QB competition.
Comments
I would doubt it. I don't recall LT getting much mop up duty either, and neither did JuJu as I can recall. I don't think Frank tends to do that, at least that I recall. There were some times when Jeff Beyer got to go in and take snaps if games got out of hand near the end of his/Tyrod's senior year, but I think that's cause he was a senior.
LT3 played extremely sparingly, but Stinespring never relegated him to simply handing the ball off.
I still remember that 3rd and long against Miami where Tyrod got injured and LT3 came in. Stiney called in a deep pass and Logan completed it deep, but Tyrod came in after.
I wonder if that's where Logan's confidence against Miami started?
i think everyone remembers this play.
I'm going to be honest, I don't want Leal to start next year. It's nothing personal but I'd rather just go through one year with a new quarterback instead of two consecutive years of new quarterbacks. However, if starting Leal next year in an effort to get someone to learn the system better (Redshirting Ford or someone) then I'm okay with that (and I expect that). I like continuity and I'm ready for the next big Hokie Quarterback in 2014, not 2015.
It's just my opinion, and I'm not going to be salty and #TeamBenchLeal all year if he gets the job like we've seen this year.
I don't foresee any real opportunities for Leal to get significant time for the rest of the year. For any of us who didn't already know, we learned this past Saturday that no game is a gimme. That being said, I'm not sure we'll ever have a large enough lead on anybody for Beamer to feel comfortable getting Leal some reps. I would LOVE to be up 35-0 on BC at half time this weekend and maybe see some of Leal in the second half, but with the way our offense has been playing for the last 8 games, people would call me crazy if I expected that.
Unless we're really blowing somebody out (LOLUVA perhaps?) I don't think we'll see Leal. We're just going to have to wait and see what happens next season I'm afraid.
Unfortunately I think there is an implied deal attached to Thomas' return that his position as starter and team leader should never be in question. It probably wouldn't make too much sense to "sacrifice" ur draft opportunity and return to school only to get benched.
Where I have an issue with this arrangement is in games like duke where its just not clicking, some relief should be worth considering; at least somewhere between picks 3 and 4. I like LT but I think he has proven over the years that when he's off, boy is he off. And if it challenges his ego that much to get benched after throwing 3 picks then he is clearly not ready for the league after all.
I agree with your point that if he struggles with his ego for being benched after tossing 3 picks he's not ready for the league. Do you think, just maybe a little selfishly, the coaches are afraid of damaging his ego for the sake of VT and not so much for the sake of LT's hopes in the league?
I can only assume that the coaches could give a rat's ass about his draft prospects. They have priorities, and the number one priority is win this game.
That's not true at all. Higher LT3 gets drafted, the better case they can make to future recruits.
And also maybe they care about Logan Thomas as a human being and maybe they want to see good things happen to him after he leaves Tech. Crazy, I know.
Bottom line....if LT is healthy he will be playing. Unless of course we are kicking someone's ass, then Leal will
see some playing time. No offense to Leal but I don't want him to play. I want LT to finish out his senior
year which he came back to do.
Oh contraire!!...I would LOVE to see Leal play...if it means we're blowing people out. If LT plays the first half of the rest of our games and Leal plays the second half of the rest of our games I'm absolutely ecstatic!
But, realistically, I don't think anybody on here see's that happening. Thomas will start and finish (barring injury) the rest of our games this season (whether it's 5 games or 6)
He isn't playing this year unless Logan is hurt or the Hokies are on the right or wrong side of a blowout score.
The entire offense is predicated on Logan Thomas, for better or for worse, this season. He is the guy, and the minute he isn't, then all these guys, not just the QBs, are starting back at square 1.
Florida State had Jameis Winston last year. It probably makes more sense to honor EJ Manuel's legacy, but do you think FSU is a better team with Jameis playing last year; I think so. Do you think FSU plays Winston last year if they had any idea he could was this good? Possibly.
I think sometimes you just have to find out what you have on your roster in the interest of winning. Its easy for us to assume coaches are completely informed and ALWAYS make the right choice (hence why Thomas is starting and someone else isn't), but then there are hidden gems discovered every season. I think Logan should start just off principle but it be kinda cool to discover we have Kenny Guiton somewhere on our depth chart.
Difference is F$U won a lot of games last year. They weren't trailing dook 13-0 and throwing interceptions like mardigras beads.
I think Leal would get some playing time, ....if we could blow teams out by like the third quarter..
But you have to score points for that to happen....
Ssssooooo..... no. Lol
I think this post is a little premature. This may be a good question if we lose another game or lose to Miami.
This situation reminds me (scarily) like DeShazo's senior year. He had a few games where he was a dumpster fire (orange unis UVA for example) and the staff didn't pull him (even if just for a series). We (fans) were all clamouring for him to sit (even temporarily) before his confidence was completely distorted.
We all thought back up must have been really terrible.
Turns out it was some guy named Jim Drunkenmiller. He turne out to be pretty okay.
Not saying Leal is the seconding coming or anything. Just saying you don't know what you've got until you put him on the field.
I'm getting the feeling that a lot of people are missing the point of this post, so here's my shot in the semi-dark. I don't think Leal will see much/any time unless Thomas is hurt, cause I don't see us being on the right side (cause of the offense) or wrong side (cause of the defense) of a blowout. He's gonna have to earn his spot next year in the spring. If he doesn't have that starting QB spot on lockdown heading into the summer, I think there's a good chance he finishes his career as the #2 guy.
I'm actually more curious about Motley. I think we need either an incredibly speedy/Athletic QB or an incredibly accurate QB in order to offset our offensive weaknesses.
For some reason, Leal has never earned the respect of his coaches, even during the Alabama game when he went in he just handed the ball off. He was only given permission to throw it 4 times this season against Western Carolina.
I think if Andrew Ford somehow is an early enroll for next spring, and blows the doors off (or is above mediocre) he might be next years QB as a True Freshman. This year, Frank has started more true Freshmen than I can remember for the past 20 years.
I wouldn't assume that because Leal isn't throwing is because he isn't respected by the staff. Leal in garbage time is naturally positioned to appear better due to him facing lesser competition. Everyone knows QB controversy is a coaches worst nightmare. Also less necessary to throw is such scenarios with the game well in hand.
Garbage time in a victory is also a time when coaches don't tend to throw a lot. It is viewed as running up the score.
Unless Logan gets hurt, is suspended, or it's a 30 point game; Leal isn't playing. As for next year..the best QB will be starting.
Best QB = Mark Leal
Uhhhh.... =|
I'm convinced this thread made me have a dream about LT last night....WTH