What are the pros and cons for QB Logan Thomas returning for his senior season
For some reason as Virginia Tech’s coaching search drags on, I keep hearing the “24″ clock ticking in the back of my mind. Underclassmen have until tomorrow to declare their intentions for the NFL Draft, and quarterback Logan Thomas still has a huge decision to finalize.
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There was a pretty good debate on yesterday’s post about how fair this process has been to Thomas, making him wait right up to the deadline to make a final determination about his future.
I’d say the majority of the blog comments thought Frank Beamer has to make a long-term decision that’s best for the program, regardless of a timetable. Others made the point that this process could have been started sooner, like almost every other FBS program does when it searches for a coach.
At the risk of this blog post becoming outdated three seconds after I post it, this is more about the specific pros and cons for Logan. Many of these have been mentioned on the blog before, but since everybody continues to be in a holding pattern on the coaching front, I figure I’d throw it out there for some blog discussion.
Pros for coming back
- Thomas didn’t have a great junior season, which dropped him out of the Top 10 consideration that many draft prognosticators thought was possible last offseason. Returning would give him a chance to boost his stock and, given the rookie pay scale, be a boost to his wallet. Remember, he’ll still be 6-6, 260 at this time next year. The potential that scouts see won’t vanish if he waits a year.
- He, himself, said he probably isn’t ready to start an NFL game right now. As I mentioned in a previous post, the NFL expects almost all of these quarterbacks taken in the top three rounds to start in their first year.
- Should Virginia Tech hire a new offensive coordinator who specializes with mentoring quarterbacks (Pep Hamilton, Scott Loeffler for instance), it could be the fresh perspective that could jumpstart his development again.
- With what is expected to be a pretty good defense again next year, the Hokies have a chance to erase the memories of this 7-6 season if Thomas returns. That could do wonders to change his legacy at Virginia Tech. Call it the “unfinished business” reason.
- There’s not a lot of substitute for developing as a quarterback than game action and gaining confidence from success, no matter what the level. He’d be a starter, obviously, in college, whereas he’d probably sit on the bench in the pros, at least right away.
Cons for coming back
- It’s Jan. 14, and still there has been no formal announcement about who Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator will be next year. Yes, I know Logan has been kept in the loop on the process, but there’s still a certain amount of time that you’d like something to set in before you have to make one of the most important decisions of your life. Wouldn’t you like more than a day or two to actually get to know your offensive coordinator?
- If he needs to develop as a quarterback to succeed at the next level, then NFL coaching is the thing that will get him ready the quickest. He might not play right away in The League, but he’d be getting NFL reps in practice with professional coaching.
- Even second or third round money is pretty good in the NFL. It’s not first-round money, but let’s not act like it’s chump change. Everybody thought Jayron Hosley was making a mistake going pro. But he was a third-round pick, has a comfortable roster spot and seemed to be doing fine by the end of the year.
- Virginia Tech has never been known about offense. Is there confidence in Beamer to get the next offensive coordinator hire right? It’s a serious question Logan has to ask himself.
- There’s always an injury risk to take into account. Normally, this isn’t a big deal for quarterbacks, but Virginia Tech was running him into the line like a battering ram quite a bit near the end of last season. He takes more of a pounding than your average quarterback.
So what are your thoughts? And feel free to add more pros/cons in the comments section below.
January 14, 2013 - 10:46 AM
Either way Thomas goes, he’s not hurting himself in the NFL, with the exception of possible injury before inking a sweet pro contract.
It really just depends on what his personal feelings are. If he’s the type that enjoys the college spotlight, and like Andy points out, has an “unfinished business” mentality, He’ll probably stay.
However, he may feel that the institution no longer has any thing to offer him as far as career development. I really can’t argue either way with this approach. I don’t have insider info. I only know what kind of person I am, and can only speculate what is up over at Merryman. If it were me, and I’m assuming that the offensive philosophy is a mess right now, I’d bolt. I’d take the early pay cut as “paying my dues” and go get a job learning from NFL teachers.
Hope he comes back for senior season and gets drafted by the Giants
Team could be special if he returns and they compete against Alabama
Andy, you forgot to mention that Logan likes being at Tech. He said so himself. He has a lot of friends still here and this is the only time in his life he will be able to have fun playing football without the big pressures of it being a job. I don’t see how VT can have a worse year next year regardless of the coaching changes.
Logan needs to do what he feels is best for him personally.
I’ve thought all along that Thomas should head to the NFL. One thing that perhaps I missed, or have forgotten, but typically, when Hokies announce their interest – ala David Wilson, Ryan Williams, etc. Beamer & company publicize their projections once known. Perhaps that got lost in the focus on the coaching search. Did we ever hear anything ‘official’ on that projection?
AB, you might have missed one component – the emotional factor. To me, the other factors – on the field performance and all, lean well towards the NFL. The emotional factor for Thomas to stay in his clique of Hokie teammates as the Alpha Hokie one more year probably should be considered. Also, emotionally, as a ‘youngun’, he might shoulder blame for the season onto himself, and want to return to prove himself as a team leader and a QB. Much as you mentioned with the unfinished business reference…
Go,Go,Go…as you said, he needs pro coaching or any coaching but VT for that matter.
As far as the NFL pay goes – his real contract will be the second one. As someone once said – your first pro contract is the one you waste before you grow up and understand it’s actually your money you’re spending.
Thomas would have to make a quantum leap in performance next season to ratchet up the draft status very much. This is a weak crop of QBs for the draft this season. LT could come back and show good improvement, yet get stuck behind 2-3 other QBs that come out early or have stellar seasons, thus remaining about where he is now.
The rookie salary cap pretty well eliminates all the outrageous numbers, and his risk of loss is minimized by coming out early, while his assurance of that extra couple million of income is maximized. Not to mention, the sooner he comes out, the quicker he gets to that second contract, where – after spending 2-3 years learning how to QB at the NFL level – he can then explore his opportunities.
In the end, I think his emotions will keep him at VT, or else he would have already announced. Either way, good luck to him, he’s earned the right to leave if he wishes, and if he stays, I hope it fulfills his wishes.
Think he comes back. What he relly needs is game experience. No matter how much film and drills you do your biggest learning curve is game speed. At least playing in college he gets used to that speed before the next BIG jump on Sundays. Another thing to consider is just 2 real years as QB. Add to that 2 dif. O philosophies. Pro sets to spread/pistol. Both good foundation for the next level. Just needs to learn to execute both faster. Obvious looking @ rumors, Frank seems to be leaning going back to the Pro/Multiple. I think he stays. Had he had another year of onfield training I see him going.
IMHO, I think Thomas better pack his bags and go…..anywhere. He has all ready graduated, isn’t that the primary reason for college…an academic education? With the current situation going on at VT in finding, much less hiring a competent OC at this late date that can help him up his stock, he’d be foolish to stay. But…..this is his decision and if he wishes to gamble on his future, that’s his business. I, for one, would like to see him re-coached as a TE, not as QB (anywhere but VT). He’s good, of course, but not great at that position. I can only imagine what he has given up by being talked into switching positions.
I think Logan should stay. One more year makes a huge difference between a good contract and a great one. I agree that he needs more work in order to improve himself. He needs to redeem himself from this horrible season
I see no business or developmental advanatge to staying. Even if they get a great QB developer what is that coach going to accomplish in one full season? He’ll have Thomas for however many unofficial workouts he can have, plus Spring Football and Summer Camp. To Logan’s advanatge he has already graduated so class won’t be in the way and he could treat it as Rookie Camp, but really, the most he could hope for is adjustment rather than a “rebuild”. I think he would do better getting that rebuild with an actual pro team. Considering the mobility and arm factor as the read option becomes more successful in the NFL I think he is as “NFL ready” as Wilson or RGIII. Those guys weren’t seen as “ready” either. Many said RGIII was going to have a tough time but the Skins brought the offense to him. Same with the Seahawks.
Give Logan a line and bring the offense to him and he will succeed at the next level. Try to make him a 3 or 5 step drop guy and you will lose something and he will have to relearn what to do.
I’d like him in KC with Andy Reid myself.
He’d still have to go to class as a graduate student. You can’t just stop being a student and still play college football.
Andy,
See if you can find out about Jim Weaver Health.He may not be AD much longer. One point about Offensive.If you watch the NFL alot of the teams are running a (read opinion) with some of the younger QB,s and it works. (just got to have blockingup front)Someone got to be able to teach our o- line to block!!
Here’s my thoughts:
The Good
*Has the size to be able to take the pounding of NFL defense. Fits the prototypical model of a ideal quarterback.
*When he is on, his aim can be laser accurate and deadly.
*His work ethnic is top notch and his laid back personality helps him stay calm in pressure situation (think Joe Flacco).
The Bad
*Struggle with accuracy for most of the seasons. (Think overthrowing a wide open Philips in the Miami game, for example).
*Shouldered too much of the offense load, especially since the brain trust of the offense couldn’t see that running east to west were killing the offense.
*Playbook that was installed past spring messed up his footwork.
The Ugly
*Interception number. Yikes!
*Struggle to recongize coverage.
*Tends to lock onto his primary read instead of going through the ladder of options.
That said, I think if Thomas went pro, he would get to work with a quarterback coach on a daily basis without the NCAA’s restriction on practice time, film study, and he would get to fine tune his mechanics.
He said he would return to George Whitifield to work more on his footwork and mechanics, which is a huge plus, IMHO.
If he decides to return, and if the rumor of Scot Leoffler being the next QB coach and OC, I think Thomas can and should get better under Leoffler tutelage. Leoffler tutored Tom Brady, Chad Henne, and even Tim Tebow. The biggest knock, though, on Leoffler is his limited experience in calling games. One year at Temple and a distarous year at Auburn, though that was more on Gene Chizik than on Leoffler.
What could harm Thomas more than anything is his number of interceptions if he keeps throwing them, and further mediocrity of the offense. Of course, the risk of getting injuried is always a huge risk.
In my opinion, I think Thomas should go pro. He has plenty of upside. He has the character to be a franchise quarterback someday if he sits behind an entrenched starter (remember, Aaron Rodgers sat 3 years behind Brett Favre), and learn the ins and outs of the offense. When it will be Logan’s turn, I hope he will be ready.
If he receives the invite to the Combine, that should help his draft stock considerably if he work out with a respected quarterback quru.
AB, Matt Leinart might disagree with you on that class attendance thing. The whole seismic change in offensive coaching staff would seem to be one of the obvious factors that should send Thomas away, but he seems to be staying to the end. Maybe he’s weighing the (lack of) difficulty in the schedule to gauge his 2013 stat projections.
Hey, ballroom dancing is a class. I’m not saying it’s a tough one, just that a class schedule that meets the NCAA’s minimum requirements for hours still needs to happen.
I think it all depends on what position is going to play. If he gets drafted as a TE i think he should go now, if as a QB i think he could use another year i mean look at Tyrod and i think he was further along than LT as in QB and has’nt seen the field that much in his career yet butt then again there are alot of QB needs in the NFL right now as a starter even as a rookie especially after this years class and the success they’ve had butt it is definitely a tough decision. OF course if he came back and won VT a NC that would again make him millions right away and with all that said i really don’t know lmao lol lol!!!!!!!
Hopefully, whoever the next OC is, he’ll be allowed to run his game and not be stifled by the wet blanket of an overly conservative mindset.
The last thing we need for an OC is some other joker who is a Jerry Claiborne student.
It will not likely happen, but NFL teams should consider drafting him as TE vs QB. He has experience from high school and excellent size and athletic skills. There are numerous examples of college BB players who’ve been successful at TE.
Hmmmm……ballroom dancing? AB, I guess basket weaving and knitting is still classes for post graduate studies too, huh? So this is what all this is really about, not an education but a very, very, slim chance of super stardom in pro sports. Now I understand what these full ride scholarships are really for. It’s all about VT football and Beamer’s…uh….”legacy”, not the athletes future. As stated in commercials I’ve seen on the NCAA many times, not many will be going into the professional sports world, but will be professional in something else. Just think on it. What’s more important? IMHO
I wonder how many of “GO” supports really have Logan’s best interest or are they just anti Beamer and not true Tech Supporters!
Let the young man make up his own mind!
Pros ~ 6’6″ 260lbs. Good athelete. Strong arm.
Con ~ accuracy, indecisisve.
As Andy said “will still be 6’6″ 260lbs in a year. That will not get worse. What will get better is his ability to process faster and make decisisve throws. Will only get better under fire. Comparing him to other players that had to sit a few years is dif. They had extensive time playing the postion before NFL. He is a bit of a different situation than has been seen before. Usually those are guys that probably did not play in pro friendly systems and had to learn different game. Logan needs to play, play, play. Then still may need to sit after that.
Go.
And hope that Denver drafts him.
Ancient Bobcat, don’t twist my words. I said ballroom dancing because that’s what Leinart took his senior year. Most of these guys are serious about taking classes. I’d imagine Logan would fall in that category.
He’ll never be recruited as a TE, forget that. Hasn’t shown he can catch a ball at the next level, college. He’ll be drafted as a QB so he had better get another years experience at the college level to hone his skills such as reading defenses, going thru his progressions, improving his accuracy under game conditions. He needs game experience which he won’t get if he turns pro. Matter of fact, once the season starts in the pros, he won’t get that many reps behind center. If he is finished with the fun side of football and the college experience, go pro and welcome to the real world. I just hope he’s prepared for the years of work of sending signals in to the starting QB. Money is not everything. He should call Tim Tebow for advice, at least call Tyrod.
Not meaning to twist your words AB, sorry you took it that way. Just trying to making a point on what is more important for these young athletes and their futures. IMHO
I wish nothing but the best for LT…I graduated from his HS and was obviously excited he chose VT! Love his attitude, work ethic and believe he can make difference no matter his direction in life. Thay being said, I would hope he comes back. He is not a good QB at this time. There is no way you can compare his stats today to any QB that was drafted in any round in 2012. His skills are not anywhere near NFL level. The only reason he had a good 2011 was the great recievers who were constantly leaping, reaching and sliding to get to his passes. Guys, take the emotion out of the question and tell me who currently in the NFL would you substitute LT with as a back-up? 3rd team QB’s are generally on the developmental squads where pay and longevity are tenuous.
He needs to improve and the NFL is not a training ground for raw talent.
Are we overlooking the fact that Logan`s great year was aided by a decent O-line 2 great receivers and David Wilson. This year he had no running game, a brand new below average O-line and average receivers. Let`s don`t make him into a tight end just yet. The problem is that next year could be more of the same. Can a new OC make that much of a difference in one year with what he has to work with?
I’m actually adapting this list a little to be an article in tomorrow’s newspaper (provided Logan doesn’t announce anything tonight). Here’s another con for coming back:
This year’s QB draft class isn’t great, and next year’s is shaping up to be better: First-rounders this year look like West Virginia’s Geno Smith, USC’s Matt Barkley and even N.C. State’s Mike Glennon. It’s not the deepest group. Next year is shaping up to have Georgia’s Aaron Murray, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, and that’s before you even get to possible early entrants like Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater. Thomas’ stock might not be great this year, but it’s a weak quarterback field, which means some NFL team might take him higher than expected.
Apologies, AB, the Leinart comment was meant totally in humor. I remember being ‘shocked, just shocked I say’ that a QB at Southern Cal could maintain eligibility by taking only one class, and the nature of that class. That was a bachelor’s degree, though. I still thought they had to maintain at least 9 hours, but moot point now.
AB, I think you mentioned the other day that VT ranks really highly in having guys taking postgrad studies while playing. We might not have the most illustrious degrees, like some faux Ivy schools, but the VTAD does a good job of assisting all our athletes to make solid progress towards a bachelor’s degree. In the case of redshirts, it is sometimes more.
This clears up the Leinart situation: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/9087376/
From the article in 2005:
The fifth-year senior will have plenty of time to focus on football in his final season. Leinart is enrolled in one class: Ballroom dancing will fulfill the final elective for his sociology degree, The Los Angeles Times reported.
“I put in my work to get my degree,” he told the paper. “I came back for my fifth year, and I’m taking what’s necessary for me to graduate. And that’s two units.”
NCAA rules require student-athletes to enroll in 12 semester or quarter hours unless they are in their final semester or quarter and are taking the courses needed to graduate.
He should go for a lot of reasons. Congrats to him for already graduating so it boils down to money and the best coaching available which is clearly the NFL. Also, the supporting cast will be inexperienced and who knows what the coaching situation will be. FB may still be looking in August. If he enjoys his friends and college that much more power to him and that is very refreshing these days but if the decision is only about football there is no decision. Good luck to him, very nice young man he deserves his success and money.
Antonio Gates did not play college football. LT could adapt just fine. QB is not going to work.
Oh my, 10 what are you smoking? To put LT in the same category with RG3 and Russell Wilson is crazy my man. Maybe one day, but not now. I know it’s a pipe dream, but if the new OC put LT to H back and used him like the Patriots use their tight ends we’d be in business!
AB, good comment concerning QB class. So the question to be answered is: Is LT looking for a short term pay check or the chance of playing at a high level and succeeding in the NFL? I go back to my original question and look forward to seeing your research on where he could go and who he could replace. Should be a short list and an easy read.
#34Joe, I really don’t think there would be anyone hired as OC or QB coach that would turn LT into a stud QB in just one season. Not when you compare their effect to what he would learn from an NFL OC or QB coach. That’s just a very different level, especially when you consider the level of candidates it seems are currently being considered by VT.
He’ll be drafted on potential, which should be the same now or next year. It won’t be done in a vacuum, though. Consideration to the other QBs coming out will be a huge factor. Far more so than the next Hokie OC.
Living in Phoenix, I would take Thomas right now. “May you live in interesting times!” New coaches, maybe? New quarterback, maybe? New AD, maybe?
Crooked Road…good points but I disagree on whether he’ll be drafted on potential. What he accomplishes in 2013 will eliminate “potential” and solidify his status. If you were a GM in the NFL and your job was based on securing a QB/or player to take you to the next level, what round would you risk on LT? Would you look at his “potential” in a few years or look for a polished QB through trade or Free Agency. I hope I’m proven wrong but I’ve seen 90% of his games and he is only the 4th or 5th best QB in the ACC!!!!!
I really believe if we can beat Bama that should give us the motivation to know we could tun the table and get to the NC and if we could pull that off LT would probably be drafted ahead of Boyd, Murray etc and again could get a MAJOR contract and i think its very possible with our schedule next year i still believe in my Hokies even after this year and plus with the maroon pants back next year i think its gonna get us back to dominate Hokie football defensively and hopefully with a decent OC as well i think its all very possible!!!! One more year LT please stay
Keep the faith, Desert Hokie…you’ll have a shot at Barkley or you may be able to get Alex Smith…I’m sure he’s on the market along with a guy named Vick.
I hear we are looking at Joker Phillips and if so i think hes a great hire based on his ties to the sec and he competed well at Kentucky butt did’nt have a strong recruiting area like he would in VA as we all know there’s MAJOR talent in the commonwealth!!!!!!
Interesting picture you chose Andy. Logan’s fingers aren’t even on the laces. That may explain some of the poor throws this past year.
#37 Joe, potential is in the eye of the beholder, and the NFL guys seem enthralled with tight end sized QBs now. To me, Thomas is not a starter in the NFL long term. Of course, that doesn’t preclude him being a backup for a decade based on the NFL addiction to metrics like ht/wt/40 times.
As for his improved play boosting him, I see your point. If I were the NFL, I’d want the tiebreaker year to show me. Of course, like Mel Kiper said recently – ‘Logan Thomas could really use a QB coach’.
The thing that probably negates his possible rise next year is the large number of other big QBs that are very likely to hit the 2014 draft. Thomas could improve everything by 25% and still get jumped by a handful of other QBs. This year, the pool is shallow. So he could do well next year and still be a 4th round pick.
Either way, it’s a lot to consider, and too bad that he’s not gotten concrete facts on his coaches to assist him. Assurances? Probably so, but not certainties. He’ll be making the decision without seeing virtually any of his offensive coaches for next season.
#37 Joe, just to clarify – I don’t disagree with your assessment of LT, but there are always NFL ‘experts’ that love to look at combine stuff as opposed to W-L records and actual performance on the field.
Joe- I’d take Vick and Smith over Barkley. And, any of the three over what we have now.
Just a thought ( and that’s all it is so don’t jump on me), what if LT came back next year, had a good year like his sophomore season and moved near the top of that draft class? You never know.
I think it will be best for the Hokie football program if Logan Thomas moves on to the NFL. As talented and competitive as Thomas is, he does not possess the passing/mobility skill set which previous successful Tech quarterbacks have had. It will be better for the Tech football program if a new quarterback, better suited with these skills, is allowed to step in next season. There is no doubt Logan will be successful in the NFL, probably at tight end or wide receiver.
Scot Loeffler & Jeff Grimes were interviewed TODAY in Blacksburg for the Hokie Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line coaching positions. Both men lost their jobs at Auburn in early December when Gus Malzahn was hired.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hokies-journal/post/virginia-tech-interviews-former-auburn-assistant-coaches-scot-loeffler-and-jeff-grimes/2013/01/14/0cb0a558-5e8a-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_blog.html
Thank goodness Frank Beamer waited until a month after they lost their jobs to interview them. I guess that shows how loyal he is to the coaching fraternity. Right, Chili?
Anyone who thinks that LT is not the best option for VT next year is out of their mind. Yeah his completion percentage was lower (still above 50%) and the team lost a lot of games, but the WR, OL and RB corps had as much to do with that as anything. Unfortunately I don’t see any of those getting better next year.
Had he not been so overtly, publicly awful in the Bowl I would tell him to skeedadle, but that performance is going to leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
It’s unfortunate for him because this would be a much better year to try his luck in the draft, but he’s got to come back. Should he test poorly in the combine or tweak something it’ll introduce enough doubt to push him back as far as or 6th round.
Still the thought of Mike Glennon going in the first round must make him think “are you kidding me?”. I’m not sure Mike is any better than Sean.
Joe I agree with several of your items, partically #26. HE returns and with the same offensive line does he have any chance for improvement. Frank Beamer may keep his entire coaching staff.
Hey the reality is LT is not accurate with short passes and cant scramble..I think Vick, Randall and Taylor were better suited for Tech’s offense!
If I were a VT fan, I would hope that he goes. As a Clemson fan, I sure hope he comes back
Not to beat a dead horse, but wtf is that grip LT is using to throw a football??? Hope he starts running post routes and catches a few balls before the combine.
Logan has nothing to gain by staying at VT another year. They will not be a contender at bowl level and are virtually rebuilding at his expense. Anything he has to learn will come from the next level at whatever position best suits his talent. Business is business and he must avoid injury as the only weapon of offense and get engaged at the pro level. He will be better coached with his skillset at the pro level. Go at 2nd or 3rd round and enjoy the view from those seats. Your attributes will serve you well Logan.
I’m a Hokies living in Charlotte. The Panthers and Hokies mirror each other. They both have no OL, Running game, or coaching. He lost two of the top WR in VT history and a great RB. Thats why the numbers dropped. If he stays he’ll be a first rounder. If he leaves he’ll be a 4-6 round guy. Look at Tyrod, maybe the best that has been at VT minus Vick. Tyrod went round 6 or 7. The fact is if he stays he’ll be a more fundamentally sound QB. For him it’s a win, win to stay.
Please go pro so Tech can have a chance with a new qb.you cant take a te and make him a qb and this year proved what life is like without david Wilson.I wish Beamer would go pro.