Washington Football Team: Pete Hoener sees Logan Thomas as ‘complete’ player
Logan Thomas is a complete player according to one coach.
Washington Football Team tight end Logan Thomas literally came out of nowhere in the 2020 season to become an offensive force for a team that desperately needed play-makers to come forward.
In all sincerity, not much was expected in year one of the Ron Rivera era on offense from anyone not named Terry McLaurin. If had stayed that way, Washington never would have won its division, even at 7-9, nor would it have had a chance to sniff a home playoff game.
Thankfully for Washington and its fans, Logan Thomas was able to produce in a big way considering. After being drafted out of Virginia Tech in 2014 as a quarterback, Thomas had only accumulated 35 receptions since his position change to tight end in 2017.
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During the 2020 campaign alone, the former Hokie standout finished with 72 catches for 670 yards and six touchdowns. Obviously, that’s a sizable increase in production compared to previous years.
The real question for Logan Thomas going into 2021 and beyond is figuring out what his ceiling may be.
Thomas can unquestionably be a Pro Bowl level type of player moving forward. Respected WFT tight ends coach Pete Hoener cemented this belief during a scheduled press conference on Monday.
Via video from the Washington Football Team’s own website, Hoener was asked at the press conference about his thoughts on how Thomas developed throughout 2020, and what the next step for the big tight end might be.
Hoener answered that question from a local reporter by saying, “Where I see him, I think right now, when I talk about a complete tight end, he’s got to be in the top five, six, or seven in the league as far as the way he blocks, his total attitude as a real pro, his leadership qualities, and then his production as a receiver obviously is proven now, and I just look for that to keep going up and up.”
This quote should raise the eyebrows of the league and followers of the team. One could assume that a position coach would not bash his own player in this type of setting. However, a respected veteran coach like Hoener who has been involved in the league for 20 plus years for different teams likely wouldn’t heap this sort of praise on a player if he truly didn’t believe it.
From a physical standpoint, Logan Thomas has always had what it takes to be a solid tight end. He checks all the boxes when it comes to height, weight, and speed. Thomas measures in at a hulking 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, to go along with 4.6 40-yard dash speed.
What helped Thomas transition into becoming both a productive and complete tight end for the WFT in 2020 was his focus on the details of the position. Details including digesting the offense and understanding his role, footwork and creating separation as a receiver, and hand usage along with body positioning as a blocker in the trenches.
In addition to excelling at the finer details, reliability, dependability, and leadership were on display from Thomas all throughout his first year in the burgundy and gold. Whether making a key block or sacrificing his body for a much-needed first down, he has earned the respect and praise he has gotten thus far by all involved.
Realistically, is Logan Thomas to the level of the other elite tight ends in the league? Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller are arguably the benchmarks at the position. Thomas isn’t quite to that level yet, but if last year proved anything, it proved that he has the skill-set and work ethic to get there.
Going into the last year of his two-year contract, Logan Thomas will be aiming for excellence again in 2021. If he can continue to produce and solidify his standing as the top-seven tight end in the league that his coach believes he is, then excellence will be for the taking. A Pro Bowl nod, contract extension, and hopefully team success will all be for the taking.
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