Logan can speak with authority on versatility. Going into his third season with the Lions, he has played wherever needed – wide receiver, running back, punt and kickoff returns and on the coverage units.
His role on offense has been narrowed this year to strictly a running back.
Logan knows what it means to overcome being short in physical stature. He’s 5-foot-6, with 180 pounds lashed on a frame that looks like it was welded together in the Ford Motor Co. foundry.
Teammate
“Even the coaches now call me Low Low,” Logan said after practice Tuesday. “I even changed my email address to Low Low.”
Logan has high standards as a player, and his track background gives him an insight into the improbability of any NFL player beating Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt in any race.
Forget it, Logan says.
“Everybody just wants to challenge him because he’s the fastest man in the world, to see how fast they are,” Logan said after the Lions’ morning practice Tuesday.
“He’s the fastest man in the world. That speaks for itself. The 10, the 20, the 30, the 40 – it doesn’t matter. He’s the fastest man in the world.
“If he comes out of the blocks like he does, you’re going to lose. People don’t understand that. I do. I ran track.”
The notion of a match race against Bolt is something that comes up every four years – after the Olympics. It’s a great discussion point that makes the telephone lines buzz on sports-talk radio, but the idea of Bolt losing to anyone at any distance up to 200 meters is absurd.
Based on his world-record time of 9.58 seconds in the 100, Bolt’s 40 time would be well under 4 seconds flat.
Logan would love to race Bolt, even with no expectation of winning, but his focus these days is on running with the ball in the Lions’ offense.
Logan has had a solid, productive camp. The only times he lines up at receiver this year are on plays where the back shifts and splits wide.
In the first exhibition game against Cleveland, he had three carries for 10 yards and two receptions for 7 yards.
He had a 3-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter on a fourth-down play when he lined up wide.
Logan joked about splitting wide at the goal line – a tactic normally employed by
“I tease him every now and then,” Logan said. “Line me up wide so I can do a fade route. I can jump up and show my vertical. Give me a couple Calvin TDs from the outside.”
Logan should benefit from a narrower and more defined role on offense. The Lions’ cupboard is stocked at wide receiver, but they might have to go shopping at running back because of injuries.
“My role, period, on the team is to do anything I can to help us win,” Logan said. “Whatever position it is doesn’t really matter. I’m just happy now that I’m getting a chance to play ball right now. I’m not out there thinking too much, messing up too much – knock on wood.”
Versatility is a valuable asset – to a team and a player. In Logan’s case, it expands the opportunity to keep his roster spot. And the team benefits from that versatility by having a player who can play more than one position.
Coach Jim Schwartz values Logan’s versatility on special teams and offense, particularly with
“He’s been a little bit of a gadget player, and he’s played running back for us,” Schwartz said. “He’s another guy that’s a valuable member of our offense, particularly where Jahvid is right now.
“Stefan can step in and give us - not the same thing, he does it in a little different way – but he can pick up a little bit of that slack that’s been left with Jahvid.”
