Receiver looked good returning kicks
ASHBURN – His impact wasn’t unusual, not in his mind. What Devin Thomas did Friday vs. New England is exactly what he did in college: threaten teams as a returner and as a pass catcher.
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To this point, he hadn’t done either in the NFL. Which is why, as Thomas explained his desire to return more kicks, secondary coach Jerry Gray walked by and needled him with a laugh, “It’s about time.”
But Thomas showed Friday that perhaps he could be a threat on kick returns. He and his coaches also said performing that role helped him contribute more as a receiver.
And that’s where he needs to do more. Thomas remains in competition for the No. 2 receiver’s job with Malcolm Kelly. In the first two preseason games he did little, with two catches for 19 yards.
But, Friday, he caught three passes for 36 yards — hardly Pro Bowl numbers, but more productive. He also returned three kickoffs for 79 yards.
“That was his best game,” receivers coach Stan Hixon said. “His routes have really improved from this time last year. His routes were mostly on point in this past game. In the past I couldn’t say that.”
He still has more to learn at receiver, like coming back harder for the ball on certain routes. Players talk about his need to concentrate more. But on kick returns, it’s mostly about explosion and instinct.
With one more block on his first return, Thomas might have broken a long return. Instead, he went 29 yards. Rock Cartwright, who missed the game with a groin injury, is the No. 1 returner. But the Redskins could pair Thomas with him.
Special teams coach Danny Smith was non-committal about that and said Thomas was merely “OK.”
But Thomas’ explosiveness would contrast with Cartwright’s rugged consistency.
“Anytime you’ve got a guy back there with speed who has big-play capability, it can definitely help you,” Cartwright said. “I don’t plan on giving him my job, but if Danny wants to put him back there then I’m all for it.”
Redskins coach Jim Zorn noticed a difference in Thomas partly because of the returns. Thomas, he said, appeared intent on breaking a long return every time.
“I loved that attitude and he transferred that concentration level the whole game,” Zorn said, “and he made significant plays.”
Thomas averaged 29.1 yards on kickoffs his final season at Michigan State. He also caught a school-record 79 passes.
“It gets me in a rhythm,” he said. “That’s something that excites me. Anytime I can get the ball in my hands, I definitely like doing it.”
