Logan Thomas assessing his season: ‘I would say it’s middle of the road’
Fans who tuned in to last Thursday’s game against Florida State got a good glimpse at all of quarterback Logan Thomas’ strengths and weaknesses.
They saw the big-armed quarterback who can also make plays with his feet. But they also saw some wayward throws, particularly on the interceptions, that have held him back this year.
The junior, who thinks he’s taken a step forward in his progression despite a step back in stats, thinks it’s been a so-so-season.
“I would say it’s middle of the road,” he said Tuesday. “I’m not excited with how I’ve been playing or I’m not hating how I’ve been playing. Interceptions are up, but like I’ve said before, it’s because of a number of different things. They’re not all my fault. So people look at interceptions and say automatically I had a worse year.
“But you know, in some parts I think I’m a lot better than I was last year. Just being able to handle the entire offense, making checks, you know, being more of a part of the running game. There’s a lot of good things I’m doing well.”
Those picks are hard to ignore, though. Thomas’ 14 interceptions are tied for second most in the country and are four more than he threw all of last year in 14 games. He tries to put the criticism that comes with them out of mind, though.
“Same old, same old,” Thomas said. “I don’t pay attention to you guys much at all. Y’all are going to talk, y’all are going to do your job and I’m going to do my job. That’s just how I am. You know, if some of these people say stuff to my face — they sit there behind computers, cell phones, whatever — maybe we’d have a problem. But I don’t think anybody is going to say something to my face.”
He’s still focused on improving as he heads into his senior year in one area in particular.
“You see things game to game,” he said. “And I guess my reoccurring thing from game-to-game is when I do rollout or throw on the run, that I haven’t been very accurate with it and that’s something I need to get better at.”
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Here are some more notes and quotes from Tuesday’s press conference …
- Trainer Mike Goforth and team doctor Mark Rogers gave an update on safety Michael Cole, who suffered a scary-looking neck injury against Florida State last week. Goforth said the redshirt freshman is improving every day and continuing to go through tests. They’ve ruled him out this week but didn’t want to go any further than that. “I think it’s premature to even talk about two weeks from now, to be honest with you,” Goforth said. “We’ve just have to let it play out and see how he feels. … We’re looking at this as a positive thing to this point. There’s nothing that sets off an alarm right now.”
- Rogers said Cole has suffered stingers in his career before, but never anything this severe. The numb feeling he had in his upper extremities on the field is resolved. “His nerve function is good,” Rogers said. “So I think at this point, there’s not a nerve injury, per se. So that’s good.”
- The staff is following up with strength tests for his neck. Much of that will be gained back through rehab. “Mike is a very motivated guy,” Goforth said. “He wanted to know his practice status yesterday. That’s his frame of mind right now. For him, Friday was business as usual. He got up and went to class and came and got his treatment, and so on. So he’s thinking in that direction. The better he feels, the more we can do with him. He’s just getting comfortable right now. But I like where his mind is, definitely.”
- Cornerback Antone Exum said the Cole play reminded him of former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand, who was partially paralyzed after trying to make a tackle on a kickoff several years ago. Like LeGrand, Cole wasn’t moving on the field. “Then I saw the replay of how he led with his head so I thought like, ‘Man, this might be a really serious neck injury,’ so I was just scared for him,” Exum said. “I said a prayer for him and was just trying to hope for the best.”
- Beamer reiterated that freshman Desmond Frye would step into Cole‘s role in the nickel package. “He’s got a lot of ability,” Beamer said. “I expect he’s going to get some playing time.”
- Interesting Beamer quote on the Marcus Davis blocking video flap from yesterday. Beamer was asked about the video but gave an indirect answer that, if you read between the lines, might give you an idea the route Virginia Tech will go with Davis (emphasis mine): “I think each and every week you evaluate people on their performance, the consistency of their performance. And I can tell you that’s the way it’s always been in our program. And the people that give us the consistency in their performance, that’s who is going to be on the field.”
- Tech’s wide receiver blocking has taken a hit since the end of last season. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale were great blockers, but both graduated. Then D.J. Coles, by far the best blocker of the receivers, was lost for the season with a knee injury after the opener. “If you can get it started, then your wide receiver blocking is critical for the long play,” Beamer said. “If you’ve got a 5-yard gain, it can turn into a 25-yard gain. So there’s no question the importance of your wide receiver blocking.”
- Thomas said he hadn’t seen the video. Asked about the wide receiver blocking, he said this: “You know, I don’t really pay attention to the receivers’ jobs as blockers. I just pay attention to my job throwing the ball and handing it off.”
- Beamer, as you’d expect, didn’t touch a question about Boston College coach Frank Spaziani‘s job status. “I’m worried about Virginia Tech. I think we need to play better, more consistent,” he said. “Coach Spaziani, I wouldn’t want to comment about his situation other than I think he’s a good coach, a good person, like him a lot. And that’s the way I feel about him.” In four years under Spaziani, BC’s win total has gone from eight to seven to four to two this year.
- Exum said the team remains confident despite its sub-.500 record. “It’s not something you can really ignore because we haven’t been 4-6 around here in a long time, but I knew we feel like we’re probably the best 4-6 team out there,” he said. ‘Our record doesn’t indicate how good of a team this is. We still have talent and guys that can get it done, but for some reason, the ball just hasn’t been bouncing our way this year and we’ve just to focus on finishing these last two games and getting to a bowl game.” For a point of reference, Pittsburgh, which beat the Hokies 35-17 in September, is also 4-6.
- Thomas agreed. “We’re confident because we’ve done so many things well and we haven’t put it all together,” he said. “I guess that’s what it’s all about: Putting it all together. Everybody has seen flashes of our offense being almost unstoppable and then you’ve seen times where we can’t even move the ball. That’s just the consistency thing. That’s what makes it encouraging, because when we are playing well, we’re playing hard, physical, intense and we are extremely tough to stop.”
- Before the presser, Exum and safety Kyshoen Jarrett were listening to a song Exum put together last night on a program on his laptop. It’s called “Revis.” He said he’d release it on Twitter only if Tech makes a bowl game.
November 13, 2012 - 3:24 PM
When is the Frank Beamer video coming out?
Armadillo was crushed for being in the middle of the road.
It seems Thomas sees himself in a lot better light, and being a lot better Quarterback than a lot of other people/fans do. I tink he must have Rose colored glasses when he looks in the mirror……
Dropped passes , no blocking ,bad calls by the staff , not playing your best running back(red shirted him),no pass coverage . I can see 4-6 or will it be 4-8?
I hope not ! Remember its a team sport. Everyone has got to pull there weight!
I do not think I would call 14 picks and the lowest completion percentage in the ACC middle of the road. There is no doubt his stock is down sizably. And the issue is not the offensive line or pass rushing pressure. Most of his picks have just been off the mark and have been him. And for all the decent throws he has had, he has had just as many well off the mark that should have been easy completions for that first down or TD.
LT is right, people are going to comment (look at this post); he needs to do his job. The decision-making on the field should improve with time. In my opinion he has not forced it all that often, but he does need to learn to throw it away more and play for the next down. Check that off.
The real problem is accuracy. The accuracy this year has not improved as the season has progressed. And lo and behold, the Hokies continue to underperform on offense and lose the same way everytime. We gain more yards than Clemson and lose by 21? Miami is 1-12 on third downs and routs the Hokies? Yes, 2-3 picks a game causes that outcome. FSU was basically the same. This outcome is destined to repeat itself.
How to improve? Is LT’s passing really like Shaquille O’Neal taking free throws? I do not want to be a doomsdayer on Thomas, but improving accuracy is tough, real tough. It may require a change in deliver or form. Making such changes is risky. But I guess necessary.
I hope LT does it. He is a big guy and if he has more accuracy, would be excellent. If the accuracy does not improve, hopefully the coaches will not move into denial mode (like they have this year) and repeat the same mistakes all over again. If the accuracy cannot be improved, the coaches need to step in and make a change.
Logan Thomas hasn’t been as good or as great as we hoped. This doesn’t mean he is a bad QB. He has made the mistakes that a QB with little to no help makes. He went from being a cog in the machine to the “Machine” defeneses have keyed on him and have had little reason to respect the run game. I absolutely believe he has a great upside, and basically unlimited potential. It’s easy to criticize him for being “down” after last year, but it isn’t his fault we had over zealous expectations. We have been spoiled by 3 straight NFL caliber running backs and expected to have the same sitting in the cupboard. He also lost the 2 statistically best WR’s we have ever had, and 4 senior offensive lineman. He’s had 3 or 4 passes that would have been caught last year that were tipped for interceptions this year. Was I hoping for an RG3 or Cam Newton type Heisman Campaign? Sure I would have loved it, but I hoped for that with Bryan Randall, Grant Noel, Sean Glennon, and Tyrod. I am a Fan it’s what I do, I want W’s and I prefer dominating W’s not squeakers. It’s tough to temper our expectations with this group, we haven’t really had to do it, in 20 years. Watch some of the other QB’s in college football, there are a lot of really bad ones out there, is ours the best? Nope, but he is by far and away not the worst.
I often critcize the offense, because they aren’t getting the most out of our players potential, plus they get paid quite a bit to do a job and to do it well. I am not sure blaming the QB for all the mistakes is the way to go here.
Logan will get better and the hope is that those flashes of brilliance will come on Saturdays instead of Sundays. I really hope its on Saturdays, cause I am a fan it’s what I do.
Thomas is in a state of delusion and denial. Don’t think he will quite make it in the Heisman voting. He needs to play TE, don’t y’all agree?
Two thoughts – First, Logan Thomas seems to have something of an adversarial attitude towards the very fan base that worshipped him last year. It seems his sense of loyalty is not even the size of the fan base. Second – Frank Beamer likes to pretend he doesn’t know how to turn on a computer, much less utilize one – as if that would impress the generation of ballplayers that don’t even think they know people that antiquated – yet he seems to react almost instantly to criticism that is featured solely on the internet via substantiated websites.
LT in one word: Overrated
Logan Thomas IS the Hokie’s offense and he will not get better until he gets better coaching and that will happen next year in the NFL, not with O’Cain and Stiney, two high school coaches at best.
Hey Andy. Look at the picture of Logan. It seems he is in the process of throwing. The strange thing is, the laces of the ball are not under his fingers. I’ve never seen a quarterback throw without his fingers on the laces, even if he was picking the ball up off the ground and was in a hurry. Do you think that’s just a one time thing? That sure would cause the throw to be inaccurate. Wonder if there are any other pics like this?
Some things we learn very early in life and that is to respect each other. What our so called “fan base” has done of late to players and coaches is embarassing – complete lack of respect in many cases.
Players – there are many loyal fans that want to see you/us win but understand its not going to happen all the time – play hard and get as good as you can. Coaches – continue to do your best and pull the team through this year. MD – I am sorry for your treatment. LT – you are the man and have tried to carry this team when we need you the most – great job. M Cole – so glad you are ok…many prayers answered Thur night!.
Win Out Boys! Go Hokies!
“Best 4-6 team out there”?????
WTF
pretty incredible.
pete
“Y’all” dont agree. Thomas is a talent. One of the best Tech q’backs ever. Granted, playcalling/coaching might help. A real pulling guard might help, also. Not to mention wide receivers who can make ‘the’ catch, block downfield, run a route all the way through. Both Roberts and Davis need personal instruction, ie blocking drills til thay quit.
I’d love to see Thomas behind a physical line.
Just too easy to blame Thomas and his ‘interceptions’. Tech needs players. More Knowle’s, more Coles, ….we’ll see how many jump back on the Thomas bandwagon next year. it must be tough to carry a team 24/7….
With the right coaching LT can be really good and live up to the expectations. At this point he’s not getting it.
The coaches have wasted a lot of talent this year, including Logan Thomas.