New role for Devin Thomas

mastdark81 · Post by **mastdark81** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:15 am

Good win against the Eagles. One thing I've observed this game as well as the Texan's game that we are weak when it comes to the jump ball on critical Hail Mary passes.

I say lets put Devin Thomas in only on last second Hail Mary passes as an extra guy, taking out a lb. You see alot of other teams put their best vertical leapers, catchers in on these situations (R.Moss).

Also I'm glad Banks got an opportunity in the redzone but you can't tell me this shouldn't be also designed for Thomas as well. Shame he isn't getting some opportunities.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:28 am

If we had a big tall guy maybe, but Thomas is no better going up for the ball than a player whos job it is to defend the pass imo

markshark84 · Post by **markshark84** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:44 am

I agree on typical hail mary's, but yesterday was not the case to use a WR. Because the eagles were on the 30, they could have thrown the ball to the 10 and ran it in or they could have just thrown it up like they did. This was a coverage situation and not a "stand in the endzone and jump for it" situation. Taking out a LB in that situation would have opened up the middle -- and could have caused an opening in the 10 yard line range -- and when you have a guy like McCoy or Desean, they could have easily taken it to the house from 10 yards away.

I believe that the reason that the pass was turned into a "hail mary" was because the skins coverage was good and the eagles had no other alternative after Kolb went through his progressions, didn't find anyone open, so he had no other choice but to throw it up.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:56 am

I suspect that Devin Thomas will shortly be moving into a new role as Shanahan's personal hatstand. There seems little chance that he'll actually ever be used on offence.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:05 pm

It will go down as one of our worst draft years ever as soon as Thomas is gone

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:20 pm

Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

ATX_Skins · Post by **ATX_Skins** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:31 pm

Damn, I was halfway joking about Thomas being gone and Vet goes and finds this...

I agree hes got all the tools, but there is also a reason he sees limited action. Maybe he doesn't have thumbs?

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:51 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

Me and you both. We seem to be in the minority here though. I still think Devin is a better option than Williams or Galloway at WR. Outside of Moss we have no WR that can catch it and make a play. Thomas has show flashes of this when he had the ball in his hands last year.

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:57 pm

MDSKINSFAN wrote:Outside of Moss we have no WR that can catch and make a play.

Armstrong can catch and make a play.

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:16 pm

Deadskins wrote:
MDSKINSFAN wrote:Outside of Moss we have no WR that can catch and make a play.

Armstrong can catch and make a play.

I like Armstrong, but I haven't seen anything from him that says he can catch it and make a few guys miss. He's got good speed and seems to get open. If you go back and watch Thomas vs the Saints and Broncos last year he did this. It's not much but in little playing time he has had he's shown bursts of the talent he has. He has to be given a chance before we can cast him off as a complete bust.

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:08 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

The other WR"s we have after Moss don't need his help sucking, so I'm thinking we keep him fresh for returns where he doesn't suck. I'm with you though in that I can't imaging we can get enough value to give him up as a return man, so I'm actually not interested in trading him even though I wanted to cut him in pre-season.

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:00 pm

Who knows if that story about DT is true or not, but it absolutely blows my mind that Thomas can't get on the field for this team.

mastdark81 · Post by **mastdark81** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:29 pm

riggofan wrote:Who knows if that story about DT is true or not, but it absolutely blows my mind that Thomas can't get on the field for this team.

You would think he could at least run a few wr screens. Thats his strength..his ability to run after the catch.

He blocks like a beast also. Wouldnt' hurt to get him in the game and have some plays suited to his strengths. The other guys may be more reliable (maybe) but who know's without giving the guy a chance.

We are the only team in the NFL who acts as if our players are GOLD and Hall of Famers....they seem to be more trying to proove a point then WIN. This has been even in the Gibbs years. I remember they wouldnt' even throw Brandon Lloyds way yet he started dang near the whole season. Tell me TO couldn't have helped this team!! We want choir boys though lol

everydayAskinsday · Post by **everydayAskinsday** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:30 pm

riggofan wrote:Who knows if that story about DT is true or not, but it absolutely blows my mind that Thomas can't get on the field for this team.

agreed.. I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes and at practice but the simple fact he hasnt seen the field for as much as one series is crazy to me...

could he be THAT bad in practice and that far behind in terms of knowing the offense that there isnt even a package that they could use him in..

you cant convince me that Roydell Williams is truly a better option than him YET Roydell has at least seen the field for a few plays here and there

now I know people will talk about route running and this that and a third but damn put the kid out there for a Fly route at least.. when the ball is snapped run straight.. seems simple enough to me

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:30 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

Yet, we have no idea what's going on behind those doors... I suspect that, on some level, job security is a component of Shanahan's psyche... so, why would he simply refuse to let "the most athletic WR we have" put it to use on the field?

There's more to this story... and they have no obligation to tell us what it is. Keep in mind, this is a head coach who has, in the past, had no problem getting the most out of egocentric head cases (Brandon Marshall?), and has provided opportunities to some very talented boneheads (including, most recently, Larry Johnson)...

I recall that Brandon Lloyd is one incredibly talented dude... yet, he really hasn't shown up for a game until... ummm... YESTERDAY... The Redskins last decade is jammed with wideouts who were full of talent, and yet could not figure out the definition of TEAM.

Whatever it is that's keeping Thomas off the field... I doubt that it's Shanahan's ego...

EasyMoney · Post by **EasyMoney** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:40 pm

I haven't posted in a while. Interesting season so far isn't it? I have no clue what to expect from this team week to week.

Has anyone ever thought about trying out Thomas as a RB? I've been thinking about this lately and it might be a way to get him on the field.

Attributes:

The Good
Fast
Good size
Strong/Physical
Good with the ball in his hands
Great straight line runner
Good open field blocker (this could translate well)

The Bad
Below average hands
Below average route runner

There are probably more I'm missing but if I was a coach and I observed these same traits over and over I'd try him out at RB and see what happens.

It looks like its a little too late in the game for Thomas at this point but what do you think? He might be a hell of a RB and so-so at WR. :-k

cleg · Post by **cleg** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:50 pm

Maybe they could move him to DB opposite Carlos Rogers - at least there may be an INT every once and a while.

EasyMoney · Post by **EasyMoney** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:58 pm

cleg wrote:Maybe they could move him to DB opposite Carlos Rogers - at least there may be an INT every once and a while.

I think Rogers needs to have an eye examination. There is no way a professional athlete can have hand/eye coordination that poor.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 6:31 pm

I don't know but from what we've heard, the knock on this guy seems to be that he just doesn't seem to understand the importance of applying himself in the film room and on the practice field

it seems that since he came here he has never really tried very hard to be all that he can be

this guy could be a very special WR but from all reports he doesn't work very hard to show it

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:09 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

There is no reason why DT cant at least get a few plays in a game. He deserves at least an opportunity.

Fred Davis needs to get more plays as well.

chiefhog44 · Post by **chiefhog44** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:51 pm

Countertrey wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:Thomas on the block?

God I hope this isn't true. I don't know who he's pissed off, but whoever wants to trade him is making a mistake. I still believe he's the most athletic WR we have and not having him in the offensive gameplan is a mistake.

Yet, we have no idea what's going on behind those doors... I suspect that, on some level, job security is a component of Shanahan's psyche... so, why would he simply refuse to let "the most athletic WR we have" put it to use on the field?

There's more to this story... and they have no obligation to tell us what it is. Keep in mind, this is a head coach who has, in the past, had no problem getting the most out of egocentric head cases (Brandon Marshall?), and has provided opportunities to some very talented boneheads (including, most recently, Larry Johnson)...

I recall that Brandon Lloyd is one incredibly talented dude... yet, he really hasn't shown up for a game until... ummm... YESTERDAY... The Redskins last decade is jammed with wideouts who were full of talent, and yet could not figure out the definition of TEAM.

Whatever it is that's keeping Thomas off the field... I doubt that it's Shanahan's ego...

totally agree.

chiefhog44 · Post by **chiefhog44** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:54 pm

everydayAskinsday wrote:
riggofan wrote:Who knows if that story about DT is true or not, but it absolutely blows my mind that Thomas can't get on the field for this team.

now I know people will talk about route running and this that and a third but damn put the kid out there for a Fly route at least.. when the ball is snapped run straight.. seems simple enough to me

No offense but ROTFALMAO

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:55 pm

HEROHAMO wrote:There is no reason why DT cant at least get a few plays in a game. He deserves at least an opportunity

He gets TONS of opportunities. All week long in practice. There is no reason to think that if he can't show the coaches he deserves a shot in practice he'll do well in a game. There are so many practice phenoms...we've had a few ourselves. There's almost no one who can't do it in practice then tear it up in games. Sorry. And the last two years in games he sucked big time as well.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:58 pm

It's not like it's never been done. Many teams put in WR's on last second hail marys. I know I've seen Pittsburgh do it.

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:02 pm

Bob 0119 wrote:It's not like it's never been done. Many teams put in WR's on last second hail marys. I know I've seen Pittsburgh do it.

In my view on that though someone correctly pointed out that they were close enough to take a legit shot. You can't have a WR actually covering WR's. But I take your point if it'd been further and a true hail mary then it can make sense if you have tall receivers.

The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

New role for Devin Thomas

Devin Thomas in on defense for Hail Mary's?

New role for Devin Thomas