Signing Joe Thomas [JT] is huge! I thought his game play was the best of all ILBs in Preseason and that he was the 4th ILB in the pecking order behind Barrington, Palmer and Ryan; but they only kept 3.
Then was shocked GB didn’t sign him to Practice squad figuring they were concerned over his size or that he had warts in practice or on game film that I didn’t see. But, now it looks like JT spurned GB’s offer for PSquad and Bradford or Vaughters were signed only as consolation.
JT showed what he was made of as a man and teammate when in OTAs and mini camps he helped Ryan w/ playbook [Of course he may have told Ryan EG, “in our playbook the term “spill” means to immediately run to the end zone.” LOL], and Ryan ended up taking his job. This guy is the perfect blend of Barrington’s downhill thump and Palmer’s speed and coverage ability, though at the moment, probably not as good as either in their strength. Only concern is he was 6’0 227 at pro day and I’m not sure if he was able to put on that extra 13-18 lbs.
I noticed JT on his first play in 2013 1st PS game v. Tenn: On the 2nd half KO Tenn’s Mariana [Now Bears’ KOR] was returning, he ran about 15 yards up field and then cut to his right behind 2 blockers. JT maintained his lane discipline to Mariana’s right. When JT saw Mariana coming toward his lane, he broke down perfectly and waited; as soon he entered JT’s lane, JT exploded through the 2 blockers and wrapped him up in textbook fashion for the tackle. The demonstration of reading a situation; taking the perfect angle; while maintaining lane responsibility and exploding through traffic to make a tackle, showed the kid has instincts; Ray Lewis kinda instincts.
His 4 preseason plays showed great instinct, explosion, quickness and toughness [plays #1, 2, 4, 5 to begin 2nd half:
1st and 10- JT reads pass, I believe he is keyed on RB as Whitehurst [QB] fumbled snap. JT exploded to the ball and was by far the first player on O or D to react to the fumble [beside QB]. His quick twitch reaction, speed burst and dive almost beat QB to the ball, which was at QB’s feet and JT started 5-6 yards away.
2nd and 11-JT at LILB. Play went to his right took 2 controlled steps in and to his right. This was either non aggression or more likely he had cut back responsibilities. Once RB committed to the GB right, JT aggressively went for tackle and nicely fought off 1st round T Lewan who came to second level to get JT. JT would have been in position made tackle after a 3 yard gain, if RB wasn’t tackled for a 1 yard gain.
When play was over, Palmer crashed into the side of JT’s left knee causing his knee injury. It looked very bad; but because JT’s spikes didn’t hold, JT kinda flipped over Palmer and the force of the blow only caused nonsurgical damage to LCL and MCL.
On 3rd and 10; In nickel JT was replaced by a DB. JT, the tough guy, didn’t tell anyone of the injury and after a first down pass went back onto the field.
1st 10- Doughty started to line up at LILB, but JT directed him to right side, showing his greater mastery of playbook. At LILB, JT correctly read run and moved to fill his hole w/ controlled aggression; the hole that RB initially targeted. The RB quickly bounced outside and JT reacted INSTANTLY [well before Banjo and Rolle, who had contain] and took a pursuit angle sprinting to sideline. His reaction was stellar, his first step explosion and sprint outside looked very pedestrian; but it’s quite impressive and tough given he had a bruised MCL and LCL. He limped back to huddle.
2nd 9 – Lined up at RILB. RB takes hand-off to GB right; JT reads run taking an aggressive and perfect angle forward and to his right. He avoided G [Tyler Horn on PS for 2 years w/ Tenn, presently unsigned] RB studdered looking for a cut back lane before heading back outside. JT mirrored the RB, perfectly breaking down and being aggressive w/o over committing. RB is tackled for no gain b4 JT gets a chance. Nice reaction and play, incredible given his injury.
At end of play, he hobble badly on right sideline in view of GB bench. They yanked him from game and cut him at final cut down w/ injury settlement. Then, at the first opportunity JT was signed to PS in 2013.