Former Cardinals QB: Logan Thomas ‘didn’t understand connection between lower and upper body’

Make no mistake, former Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas is a project in every sense of the word.

Taken by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 120 pick in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Thomas has all of the physical qualities to make it at the next level.

A highly-touted tight end coming out of high school, Thomas has the build (6-foot-6 and 248 pounds), the elite arm strength and the sheer athleticism to succeed as a professional.

But as he showed during his time in Blacksburg, with the good (9,0005 career passing yards, 1,359 rushing yards and 78 total touchdowns) comes plenty of bad (55.6 completion percentage and 39 interceptions).

For all of his natural gifts, Thomas struggled as a pocket passer with the Hokies, leaving many to question his footwork, instincts and overall accuracy heading into last weekend’s draft.

And count Kurt Warner, the last Cardinals quarterback to lead the organization to the postseason back in 2009, among those who are not convinced Thomas will ever be able to put it all together.

“Here’s a kid, he has all the physical talent,” Warner said while appearing on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Bickley and Marotta Friday. “He can run. He can throw and do all those things. But when I watched him at the NFL Combine, I saw a guy who really didn’t understand the connection between the lower body and upper body when it comes to throwing.

“That to me, it’s very difficult to be accurate that way, to try and throw with your arm and make all the throws with your arm. Especially knowing that the NFL is played in an imperfect world.”

Now an analyst with the NFL Network, Warner attributed the physics of the body, especially when it comes to taller quarterbacks, as a reason why Thomas’ potential growth in the Valley might always be stunted.

“I’m a firm believer that it’s very hard for tall quarterbacks to develop great technique and great accuracy,” Warner said. “Not that you can’t, but it’s difficult. When you’re so big, there are so many parts to throwing.

“The longer your arms are the more motion with your arms and body and the harder it is to be consistent every time you do it.”