What I'd Do With Logan Thomas

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.