I am confused by the lack of playing time Devin Thomas has recieved as part of the 2010 Washington Redskins. With a receiving corps lacking a true star, many expected Thomas to rise up to the challenge, and grab a starting spot opposite Santana Moss. Many, including myself, were expecting Thomas to become the Redskins go-to receiver in 2010.
Well, up to this point in the season, neither has happened. Thomas is listed behind Moss, Joey Galloway, Anthony Armstrong, and Roydel Williams on the Redskins dept chart.
Thomas has excelled on special teams as a kick returner averaging 28.4 yards on 5 returns this season. He gives the Redskins an added element in the return game we have not seen since Brian Mitchell.
So, the jury is still out on the 2008 second round draft pick of the Washington Redskins: Workout Warrior, or Unproven Talent?
The way I view things from my seat on the couch, I can't see how it would hurt to give this kid a shot to prove his worth on the field as a receiver. I understand he had his chance to impress the new staff in training camp, and didn't exactly lite the world on fire, but come on, this kid is the biggest, fastest, most physical wide receiver we have on the team. You can't tell me that Thomas wouldn't have had a better chance at the two fade routes that were thrown to Anthony Armstrong in the Dallas game.
I have posted some blurbs about Thomas pre-draft 2008 after the jump.
So, I pose the question to you Redskins nation; should Thomas be given a shot to prove himself as a receiver in this offense, or do you view him as a workout warrior, who will never live up to the hype?
The running backs may have stolen the show late, but teams were buzzing early in the day about the performance of Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas. Overshadowed throughout the combine by more recognizable names, Thomas finished among the fastest wide receivers with a 4.40 time and was dazzling during the wide receiver drills. The fluidity through which the 6-2, 216-pound wideout moved through the gauntlet drill and down the sideline was matched only by much smaller receivers. Thomas didn't drop a pass, showing spectacular body control to catch passes thrown behind, below and far in front of him. Ranked by most as a late-second to third-round prospect, Thomas may have pushed himself into legitimate first-round consideration with his performance Sunday.
Devin Thomas is yet another of the Big Ten players to have a great combine performance. Thomas shocked scouts by running a 4.40 in the 40 yard dash. At 6'2" and 218 lbs., Thomas has the speed to stretch defenses and the size to go over the middle. Thomas' 40 time will have some teams thinking about him as a first round possibility, but he will likely still be taken at the top of round two.
Devin Thomas continues to rise up draft boards, partly because of his performances and partly because of disappointing numbers put up by other receivers. Thomas showed off his athleticism with his 33 inch vertical leap at Michigan State's pro day. He also registered 16 reps on the bench press, which he had declined to do at the combine. Thomas has moved himself into position to be taken in the first round, possibly by Dallas, Tennessee, Seattle, or San Francisco.
The odds in his favor? Try the team-record 79 catches (with 1,260 receiving yards, eight touchdowns and 1,135 kick return yards) the junior had last year and the impressive workout season (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the scouting combine in February) during which he has emerged as one of the most coveted receiving prospects.
"If he had been this consistent over his career, then you'd been talking about a top-five pick," said Rob Rang, an analyst for NFLDraftScout.com. "The only thing holding him back at this point is the fact that he only did it for one year."