Something I would like from Arians regarding Thomas...

[Jetstream Green]

I would like him or Tom Moore to humor us and instead of just citing that Logan Thomas needs help with his footwork and such to improve his accuracy, I want them to get specific about the footwork and why. In other words, what is it that they saw in Thomas, specifically in his mechanics, that made them think they could change what was hampering his accuracy. What is it about Thomas that made it more possible than other QBs with accuracy problems. I have said it before that I do not think you can change accuracy problems drastically, and the only way I think one can is if the guy has a obvious flaw that is correctable. Give me the power point screen coach and diagram exactly what it is about Thomas that made you go "I can correct that". I'm a Cardinal fan who is excited about what a guy with Log's physical attributes can do, but have visions of faulty howitzers Derek Anderson and Skelton dancing in my paranoid head... I want some solace coach lol

 

[Goldfield]

We just need speed receivers that can get so open accuracy won't matter

 

[Jetstream Green]

Preseason is gong to be fun if Thomas does take off running and a smurf CB comes up to tackle him

 

[desertdawg]

I want a blood test, I think Logan might be a relative of BA's, it would all make so much sense.

 

[juza76]

I would like him or Tom Moore to humor us and instead of just citing that Logan Thomas needs help with his footwork and such to improve his accuracy, I want them to get specific about the footwork and why. In other words, what is it that they saw in Thomas, specifically in his mechanics, that made them think they could change what was hampering his accuracy. What is it about Thomas that made it more possible than other QBs with accuracy problems. I have said it before that I do not think you can change accuracy problems drastically, and the only way I think one can is if the guy has a obvious flaw that is correctable. Give me the power point screen coach and diagram exactly what it is about Thomas that made you go "I can correct that". I'm a Cardinal fan who is excited about what a guy with Log's physical attributes can do, but have visions of faulty howitzers Derek Anderson and Skelton dancing in my paranoid head... I want some solace coach lol

I read the issue with footwork cause he tend to stay on his toes while throwing,so he is not so stable on the ground .

 

[DoTheDew]

I have said it before that I do not think you can change accuracy problems drastically, and the only way I think one can is if the guy has a obvious flaw that is correctable.

I think this is true of guys who have been playing QB since high school or earlier. Thomas played TE in high school except for 1 season as a QB.

He's not nearly as far along in the learning curve as some college QBs were.

I do wonder if BA thinks that if Thomas doesn't work out he can convert back to TE. He was considered the 2nd best high school TE when Virginia Tech recruited him afterall.

 

[tnmike]

I would like him or Tom Moore to humor us and instead of just citing that Logan Thomas needs help with his footwork and such to improve his accuracy, I want them to get specific about the footwork and why. In other words, what is it that they saw in Thomas, specifically in his mechanics, that made them think they could change what was hampering his accuracy. What is it about Thomas that made it more possible than other QBs with accuracy problems. I have said it before that I do not think you can change accuracy problems drastically, and the only way I think one can is if the guy has a obvious flaw that is correctable. Give me the power point screen coach and diagram exactly what it is about Thomas that made you go "I can correct that". I'm a Cardinal fan who is excited about what a guy with Log's physical attributes can do, but have visions of faulty howitzers Derek Anderson and Skelton dancing in my paranoid head... I want some solace coach lol

Maybe they think his shorts are too tight

 

[D-Dogg]

I think this is true of guys who have been playing QB since high school or earlier. Thomas played TE in high school except for 1 season as a QB.

He's not nearly as far along in the learning curve as some college QBs were..

IMO this is the key. His flaws aren't grooved in with 15 years of playing the position. BA already said he saw a lot of progress in the off season with Thomas working with coaches and trainers BA trusts.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would like him or Tom Moore to humor us and instead of just citing that Logan Thomas needs help with his footwork and such to improve his accuracy, I want them to get specific about the footwork and why. In other words, what is it that they saw in Thomas, specifically in his mechanics, that made them think they could change what was hampering his accuracy. What is it about Thomas that made it more possible than other QBs with accuracy problems. I have said it before that I do not think you can change accuracy problems drastically, and the only way I think one can is if the guy has a obvious flaw that is correctable. Give me the power point screen coach and diagram exactly what it is about Thomas that made you go "I can correct that". I'm a Cardinal fan who is excited about what a guy with Log's physical attributes can do, but have visions of faulty howitzers Derek Anderson and Skelton dancing in my paranoid head... I want some solace coach lol

What I want is an explanation of the assumption that a QB cannot improve his accuracy. In basketball, mechanics impacts accuracy significantly, it does in football as well. Other things in football can also hinder accuracy, like trying to do it all yourself when you have subpar talent around you.

This assumption about accuracy is just bogus. While some might not improve accuracy, to say you can't do so just doesn't make sense.

 

[ProdigalSun]

What I want is an explanation of the assumption that a QB cannot improve his accuracy. In basketball, mechanics impacts accuracy significantly, it does in football as well. Other things in football can also hinder accuracy, like trying to do it all yourself when you have subpar talent around you.

This assumption about accuracy is just bogus. While some might not improve accuracy, to say you can't do so just doesn't make sense.

I'm more concerned with "touch" which I do believe is something more subtle and isn't easily taught through fixing mechanics. It's what makes guys like Peyton, who throws one of the ugliest balls I've ever seen but somehow always finds its target, so special

 

[Jetstream Green]

This is what I think as well, he has not been playing the position long. As far as improving accuracy, show me one guy who was a QB through high school and college which had a accuracy rating close to fifty that did improve where they could be considered a starting QB? Good luck. Thomas has not been playing long and help towards his accuracy has not been really applied yet. The other guys who have played the position long did have help and a disheartening little over 50 was all they could top off on. Let's see what Thomas can do with some actual tutoring from some of the best. I will say this, the man is a freak athletically and happy we selected him

 

[JCSunsfan]

This is what I think as well, he has not been playing the position long. As far as improving accuracy, show me one guy who was a QB through high school and college which had a accuracy rating close to fifty that did improve where they could be considered a starting QB? Good luck. Thomas has not been playing long and help towards his accuracy has not been really applied yet. The other guys who have played the position long did have help and a disheartening little over 50 was all they could top off on. Let's see what Thomas can do with some actual tutoring from some of the best. I will say this, the man is a freak athletically and happy we selected him

OK. I am just playing devil's advocate here. Isn't Thomas a senior? Hasn't he played a full college career at QB? Wouldn't that time in college be just as much of a problem as the years in high school (if he was coming out early like Johnny Football)?

I personally think that varying offensive coordinators, with different schemes, lack of qb experience, and poor talent around him are factors Arians took into consideration, and he does follow VT very closely since it is his alma mater. Its just like Honey Badger last year. Its a player that lots of people had concerns about but the huge potential is there. The Cards have personal and coaching ties to the players and college programs and because of the extra knowledge were willing to take the risk.

I can't wait for training camp because this is a story I want to follow.

 

[D-Dogg]

3 years as far as I know and in college they aren't teaching fundamentals...especially that college.

 

[JCSunsfan]

3 years as far as I know and in college they aren't teaching fundamentals...especially that college.

That's fair. BTW, I was thinking of cannon armed gunslinger type qb's who succeeded in the NFL and I thought of Brett Favre. When I checked Favre's college numbers, they were worse than Thomas, yet he was highly regarded coming out of college. I also noticed that Drew Brees had his best year during his sophomore year and declined every year after that.

Have college offenses changed so much that expectations of qb's regarding completion percentages and PER's are much higher now? I really don't know, but I am sure there is someone here with an explanation.

 

[Buckybird]

That's fair. BTW, I was thinking of cannon armed gunslinger type qb's who succeeded in the NFL and I thought of Brett Favre. When I checked Favre's college numbers, they were worse than Thomas, yet he was highly regarded coming out of college. I also noticed that Drew Brees had his best year during his sophomore year and declined every year after that.

Have college offenses changed so much that expectations of qb's regarding completion percentages and PER's are much higher now? I really don't know, but I am sure there is someone here with an explanation.

I think you guys are just grasping for straws. This is 2014, when QBs play from the spread & all kinds of numerous QBs at the college level excel in passing the football & most complete 60+ % of their passes. IMO this pick was made because he's from BAs alma mater, big, athletic, has a strong arm & they want to win now thus not investing a high pick on a QB. Just my 2 cents

 

[Mainstreet]

What I want is an explanation of the assumption that a QB cannot improve his accuracy. In basketball, mechanics impacts accuracy significantly, it does in football as well. Other things in football can also hinder accuracy, like trying to do it all yourself when you have subpar talent around you.

This assumption about accuracy is just bogus. While some might not improve accuracy, to say you can't do so just doesn't make sense.

I want to see his free throw percentage which is often indicative of a good shooter.

 

[CardLogic]

All I know, Thomas will be the topic of the most threads and arguments around here for the next two-three years; so we've got that to look forward to. . .

 

[Harry]

I fully believe you can improve accuracy. That said Thomas is a Herculean task. Footwork is only part of the issue here. However he does almost everything wrong. Partly this is the case because he has such a strong arm he can get away with doing many things poorly. At various times he throw off his toes, his back foot or without setting for balance. These can be improved but part of my concern is that 3 different offensive coordinators couldn't improve this. Some people tout the 3 as a reason for the problem, yet all of them would have seen these flaws and would have tried to correct them. They were all incompetent?

Also he does not anticipate routes and speed well, failing to properly gauge where to place the ball. He often throws well behind crossing receivers. He either doesn't read coverage well or simply thinks his arm is strong enough to force the ball in to tight spots. He also seems to underestimate the closing speed of defenders.

He doesn't look off the safety with any regularity and usually doesn't move off primary receivers. All of the above means he throws stacks of interceptions.

He also holds the ball too long or doesn't properly secure the ball when running and so he regularly puts the ball on the ground.

Overall, though often difficult, many of these faults can be cured. Some probably cannot. My concern is this is a considerable number of issues to correct. If BA can do this he will surely be the best QB guru in history. It certainly won't happen in a year or two.

This division had a great draft. The Cards were already playing catchup to 2 teams. Now the Rams are greatly improved. Wild Card-wise the Cards will play each of these teams twice, so the road to the playoffs looks extremely difficult. This was a 4 round draft. There were players on the board that could have helped now.

 

[Russ Smith]

What I want is an explanation of the assumption that a QB cannot improve his accuracy. In basketball, mechanics impacts accuracy significantly, it does in football as well. Other things in football can also hinder accuracy, like trying to do it all yourself when you have subpar talent around you.

This assumption about accuracy is just bogus. While some might not improve accuracy, to say you can't do so just doesn't make sense.

So list all the QB's who came out of a "big"D1 program horribly inaccurate and wound up being accurate in the NFL.

That's why, I'm sure there are some but not very many.

College career 53 TD's 39 INT's. He's a great athlete like others said he could probably flip to TE if he fails at QB. Maybe he's a late bloomer but the odds are he's not going to be a successful QB because very few kids play that much for 3 full seasons, under 60% every year(2 years well under) and wind up being good NFL QB's.

Hopefully he's the exception.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Overall, though often difficult, many of these faults can be cured. Some probably cannot. My concern is this is a considerable number of issues to correct. If BA can do this he will surely be the best QB guru in history. It certainly won't happen in a year or two.

Thanks for the input Harry. Always enjoy reading your posts.

I saw a lot of the flaws you have pointed out when I watched some film on him. It will be a huge task for the coaching staff to correct all these.

On the other side he has a really quick release and can really throw the ball. He is big and can run real well. In the highlights there are some really nice throws that he makes.

We will have to wait and see what Tom Moore can do with him.

 

[PACardsFan]

It appears that BA has been monitoring his offseason workouts very closely. It's also been indicated that BA trusts these trainers very much. BA has also said that he's shown tremendous progress during these workouts. So why are we basing our opinions on watching old videos, when perhaps his mechanics were more flawed than they may now be. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but for now, I'll trust someone like BA & Tom Moore.