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Tavon Austin (2 Viewers)

fire_tune said:
Too much things going against him right now. The OC, Pettis/Cook ahead of him, the QB and his abilities. There was a report earlier that said he would see work from the backfield. Guess not with no carries this week.
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If they had any sense, they would. It would create all kinds of good mismatches. Green Bay did it with Cobb last year with great success. NO does it with Sproles every week.

cubbie5150 said:
I don't get why the Rams moved up to draft him.
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If they're just going to stubbornly try to use him the way they have been, I don't either. The play calling is horribly unimaginative.

 
I dropped him this week (non ppr league) even knowing that he was about to play jax. I knew that even if he had a good game he'd still be fools gold.

His OC is terrible and he is too small to break tackles. And he's not a real red zone target. In ppr he is still a viable wr3/4. In standard scoring he is waiver wire fodder.

Some poor fool picked him up after I dropped him and played him in lieu of Calvin. It's been fun with the back and forth texting all day.

I said "I hope you're enjoying tavon Austin's weekly 30 yard game?"

Lol

 
Wow... didn't take long for all the Austin backers to slink into anonymity that were so vehemently telling the sober skeptics how stupid we were to doubt him.

 
Austin has a ways to go, but the OC there should be fired there the next he uses a 3 yard curl route for Austin.

Rams need to establish throwing the ball downfield to Givens/Cook for Austin to be effective. (I can't recall a single downfield completion to Cook since Week 1. Most of the pasess I recall completed to him is underneath stuff you'd expect more from Austin)

 
Invictus~Bronte said:
Wow... didn't take long for all the Austin backers to slink into anonymity that were so vehemently telling the sober skeptics how stupid we were to doubt him.
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way too early to tell either way. some guys take a year or two of seasoning. Jury is still out and probably will be for a while yet IMO.

 
finito said:
Invictus~Bronte said:
Wow... didn't take long for all the Austin backers to slink into anonymity that were so vehemently telling the sober skeptics how stupid we were to doubt him.
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way too early to tell either way. some guys take a year or two of seasoning. Jury is still out and probably will be for a while yet IMO.
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The Austin backers were telling us all how he would have an immediate impact. The fact that we are talking about players needing seasoning and time was a point brought up by several others but they ignored.
 
I doubted him to begin with and after the first game I was converted. I still think he can be somebody in the NFL... the Rams just don't know how to use him unfortunately. If that will ever happen, we'll see... could be another wasted talent in the NFL.

 
jurb26 said:
finito said:
Invictus~Bronte said:
Wow... didn't take long for all the Austin backers to slink into anonymity that were so vehemently telling the sober skeptics how stupid we were to doubt him.
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way too early to tell either way. some guys take a year or two of seasoning. Jury is still out and probably will be for a while yet IMO.
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The Austin backers were telling us all how he would have an immediate impact. The fact that we are talking about players needing seasoning and time was a point brought up by several others but they ignored.
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That's a good point for sure, but long term I don't think we know just yet. I would have a hard time guaranteeing any rookie WR would have an immediate impact.

 
jurb26 said:
finito said:
Invictus~Bronte said:
Wow... didn't take long for all the Austin backers to slink into anonymity that were so vehemently telling the sober skeptics how stupid we were to doubt him.
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way too early to tell either way. some guys take a year or two of seasoning. Jury is still out and probably will be for a while yet IMO.
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The Austin backers were telling us all how he would have an immediate impact. The fact that we are talking about players needing seasoning and time was a point brought up by several others but they ignored.
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I suppose it was naive of me to think that the OC would have actually studied tape of Harvin and found a way to use a guy like Tavon effectively.

 
Exec: Sam Bradford's inaccuracy hurts Tavon AustinBy Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

Tavon Austin played just three snaps in the St. Louis Rams' blowout win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, a head-scratching development for the eighth-overall pick in April's draft.

Austin leads the Rams in catches (24), but he's made very little impact through six games, dropping six passes while averaging just 6.6 yards per reception. This is not the unguardable playmaker we were told of.

So what's the problem? A personnel man from another NFL team revealed his theory to USA Today: "Little receivers don't work with inaccurate quarterbacks."

A direct shot at Sam Bradford, who's completed 59.5 percent of his passes this season. In fairness, Bradford also has thrown 13 touchdowns against just three interceptions with a passer rating north of 90.

Austin stands at 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, making him one of the smaller wide receivers in the NFL. Does his size make him a poor fit for a franchise committed to Bradford?

"You can get away with those guys if you have (Drew) Brees or (Tom) Brady," the executive said. "Of course, you can get away with a lot with those guys."

Neither Bradford nor Austin are going anywhere, so the Rams better hope this outside observation is incorrect. And while we don't profess ourselves to be personnel experts, we're not so sure we buy into the logic that Bradford can't connect with Austin because the receiver is too small.

Is Austin slight? Sure. But he's not a field mouse.

The "Around The League Podcast" is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.
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Faust said:
Exec: Sam Bradford's inaccuracy hurts Tavon Austin

By Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

Tavon Austin played just three snaps in the St. Louis Rams' blowout win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, a head-scratching development for the eighth-overall pick in April's draft.

Austin leads the Rams in catches (24), but he's made very little impact through six games, dropping six passes while averaging just 6.6 yards per reception. This is not the unguardable playmaker we were told of.

So what's the problem? A personnel man from another NFL team revealed his theory to USA Today: "Little receivers don't work with inaccurate quarterbacks."

A direct shot at Sam Bradford, who's completed 59.5 percent of his passes this season. In fairness, Bradford also has thrown 13 touchdowns against just three interceptions with a passer rating north of 90.

Austin stands at 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, making him one of the smaller wide receivers in the NFL. Does his size make him a poor fit for a franchise committed to Bradford?

"You can get away with those guys if you have (Drew) Brees or (Tom) Brady," the executive said. "Of course, you can get away with a lot with those guys."

Neither Bradford nor Austin are going anywhere, so the Rams better hope this outside observation is incorrect. And while we don't profess ourselves to be personnel experts, we're not so sure we buy into the logic that Bradford can't connect with Austin because the receiver is too small.

Is Austin slight? Sure. But he's not a field mouse.

The "Around The League Podcast" is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.
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How do you drop passes that travel less than 5 yards?

 
For some reason I'm getting a David Wilson type vibe from Austin backers. It seems we will be getting a litany of excuses for his under performance for a long time. I think there will be some very long threads on this guy the next couple years.

 
It’s Way Too Early to Declare Tavon Austin a Bust

October 19th, 2013 at 7:30 AM

By Chuck Chapman

The St. Louis Rams are riding the crest of a modest two-game winning streak, but all is not well in Rams Nation. In the midst of that streak, the Rams first round draft choice, the one they traded up to get, WR Tavon Austin, has been absent.

The rookie who cost the Rams plenty of draft capital, if not a whole lot of cash, is playing second fiddle in the Rams' passing game to a fourth rounder (Chris Givens) and a third rounder (Austin Pettis). After being featured extensively in preseason and in the first four games, Austin's playing time slimmed down to just three offensive snaps in the Rams win in Houston last week.

Austin's drops (7) certainly have something to do with that, as does his inability thus far to get much after the catch. Austin, like a lot of young wide receivers, is getting an eye-opening look at real life in the NFL, where every defensive back can run and tackle.

That's why Rams fans need to take a deep breath and give Austin some time to adjust to the NFL game.

Austin is still lightning in a bottle in the open field. The problem is that open field closes a lot more quickly than it did when Austin was running rampant in college. A former NFL defensive back confided that he often took plays off in college. In fact, there were times when he could pretty much relax the entire game if the opposition didn't have an NFL-caliber WR lining up. The talent difference between those who can play in the NFL and those who don't is that great.

Once in the NFL, that talent gap is non-existent. Every corner Austin faces now is All-American caliber or better. He can't get by on just talent alone. That's why he's going to have to learn how to run good routes to create some separation. It's also why Austin is going to have to get used to catching balls in traffic. Gone are the days when he had enough separation to catch a ball securely and turn and look upfield. The closing speed of NFL defensive backs is off the charts.

He's still learning the pro offensive game, too. As much as we can criticize Brian Schottenheimer's often vanilla play-calling, no NFL offense outside of Philadelphia is going to look anything like the one Austin was in while at West Virginia. It's going to take a little time for him to learn his role. The reciprocal is true as well. Austin is a unique talent and the Rams are still learning how to best use him.

Add to that Austin's stature. Unlike AJ Green or Julio Jones, whose height and reach allows Andy Dalton and Matt Ryan to put passes anywhere in their vicinity with a chance to be caught, Austin is very under-sized. This is really the only concerning part of his game. While he can make adjustments to the speed of the game and the complexity of the offense, Austin won't be growing any time soon.

Still, Austin isn't the second coming of Mardy Gilyard as some fans seem to think. He's a very talented receiver who will make big plays for the Rams, both as a receiver and as a return man. His kind of speed can't be coached. Once he starts to understand the speed and his offensive role, his play should become much more consistent.
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Tavon had a long TD catch called back. They used him down field more today, looked better. He did have a fumble I think though

 
Maybe, just maybe, with Bradford out, the Rams will get more creative with the playbook and maybe, just maybe, get the ball to Austin in space. Screens, wheels, whatever. They will need to screen the crap out of some D's in order to protect their backup QB.

 
TheFanatic said:
Maybe, just maybe, with Bradford out, the Rams will get more creative with the playbook and maybe, just maybe, get the ball to Austin in space. Screens, wheels, whatever. They will need to screen the crap out of some D's in order to protect their backup QB.
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This is my thought as well... also keep in mind the kid has been making plays. I feel like every week I've watched him make an amazing play for it to get called back on some penalty that was away from the play and was irrelevant to it. He should have about 5 TDs right now with 2 of them being punt returns and another from last night. Maybe more. He is showing he's electric, maybe not as much show as we wanted to see. But it's there, the Rams just have to stop committing stupid penalties every time the kid makes a play.

Maybe with Bradford out they'll be forced to be more creative to try and win games. Which you'd hope would involve their #8 overall pick. Then again, this is baby Shotty we're talking about here, so I expect more of the same with even less accuracy than Bradford had.

 
Khy said:
TheFanatic said:
Maybe, just maybe, with Bradford out, the Rams will get more creative with the playbook and maybe, just maybe, get the ball to Austin in space. Screens, wheels, whatever. They will need to screen the crap out of some D's in order to protect their backup QB.
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This is my thought as well... also keep in mind the kid has been making plays. I feel like every week I've watched him make an amazing play for it to get called back on some penalty that was away from the play and was irrelevant to it. He should have about 5 TDs right now with 2 of them being punt returns and another from last night. Maybe more. He is showing he's electric, maybe not as much show as we wanted to see. But it's there, the Rams just have to stop committing stupid penalties every time the kid makes a play.

Maybe with Bradford out they'll be forced to be more creative to try and win games. Which you'd hope would involve their #8 overall pick. Then again, this is baby Shotty we're talking about here, so I expect more of the same with even less accuracy than Bradford had.
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Sadly, I agree with you here...

 
SportsGuru311 said:
This guy is a complete bust
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Thus far, sure.

He is still learning a normal offense. He played in a freaky one in college. I can understand the struggles from scrimmage. He also plays for a horrible offensive coordinator.

What I don't get is the awful punt returning stats.

 
Fariq said:
He is still learning a normal offense. He played in a freaky one in college. I can understand the struggles from scrimmage. He also plays for a horrible offensive coordinator.
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Yeah, it's very common for players to have trouble adapting to simpler offensive schemes. :mellow:

 
Fariq said:
Mr. Retukes said:
Fariq said:
He is still learning a normal offense. He played in a freaky one in college. I can understand the struggles from scrimmage. He also plays for a horrible offensive coordinator.
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Yeah, it's very common for players to have trouble adapting to simpler offensive schemes. :mellow:
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The Rams scheme is simpler than WVU's? I cannot agree with that at all.
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I remember Geno Smith saying the WVU offense was only described in three digit numbers, that sounds pretty simple to me.

 
Clemens gives me no confidence that the Rams can do anything on offense.

I think their season is shot.

Austin and Quick need to be in on every play they can handle. Run plays specifically for them and overwhelm these young WRs to try and almost force-feed experience to them.

At times I wonder about each while other times I feel like you can see the hope. Going into next year with the excuse filled negative notion that either still has to develop this way or that way stinks. The Rams need both to "arrive" and I think they ought to just push the envelope the rest of 2013.

I'd like to see a half dozen screens to Austin and a half dozen lobs to Quick. The Gmen used to snap it and throw a lob right away for Plaxico to get under. The Pats did this some with Moss too. It's not far downfield, it's not that productive. I do bet it's a confidence builder and forces the safety to cheat to that side.

High schools use this play where two WRs are next to each other (very close, stride for stride) and ten fifteen yards down field they break at the same time in different directions. The DBs usually decide ahead of time who breaks which way. I'd like to see the Rams do this simple play. The same DB probably can't cover each, they're quite different.

The Titans had a play where the plan was for Cook to be blocking ahead of CJ and no one else on that side of the field. I'd guess they ran it forty times and it worked four. It wasn't successful at all, but it was pretty great when it did. Do it with Austin. Cook maybe needs to be relegated to the fastest blocker on the field, so what, use that then.

I think Quick is going to be like Ramses Barden and so many others before where it just always seems like they're developing and someday....push it with this guy. He looks close. If he messes up and there's a pick six, umm Clemens might have done that anyway. I think it'd be a different world for the Rams in 2014 if Quick is a 1000 yard WR.

 
Mr. Retukes said:
Fariq said:
He is still learning a normal offense. He played in a freaky one in college. I can understand the struggles from scrimmage. He also plays for a horrible offensive coordinator.
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Yeah, it's very common for players to have trouble adapting to simpler offensive schemes. :mellow:
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Seriously? There are a lot of things to rip the guy for, but this is not one of them. Learning a new offense, whether a simple one or not is akin to learning a second language. And he has to do it in a few months. Oh, and if you mistranslate a word in this language, it could get you clobbered or your QB picked.

Ridiculous argument...

 
Was just offered Austin for a presumably late 2014 First round pick. I turned it down, I'd rather have the pick to be honest.

 
I have a hard time believing the guy I watched torch OU last year just completely forgot how to play football. He's obviously having a hard time adjusting and I'm not completely sure he's being utilized correctly, but I'm willing to wait it out.

 
bigmarc27 said:
I have a hard time believing the guy I watched torch OU last year just completely forgot how to play football. He's obviously having a hard time adjusting and I'm not completely sure he's being utilized correctly, but I'm willing to wait it out.
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It's college football. Completely irrelevant.

 
Sabertooth said:
jsharlan said:
I still think it has more to do with how they have been using him than his own lack of ability.
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Fisher isn't going anywhere for a while.
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He's not but Schottenheimer might. And then Bradford is set back again. So it's a lose lose for St. Louis.

The comment that Tavon Austin is a chess piece and Schottenheimer is playing checkers applies here. But if you get an OC that is creative enough to use Austin properly, then it's the QB being set back by having to learn a whole new offense. Lose, lose...

 
As a Tavon owner (Dynasty) it's been rough, but I still cling to the "give him time" theory.

First 8 Games of NFL Career [Catches - Yards - TD's]

Calvin Johnson: 21 - 357 - 2

Wes Welker: 17 - 266 - 0

Randall Cobb: 11 - 187 - 1

Danny Amendola: 19 - 189 - 0

Tavon Austin: 31 - 207 - 2

 
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I'm a believer. I've just been looking for a sign, any sign, that's he legit.

I don't see it. It's not just how they use him, although that's awfully conventional as well.

He just doesn't pop.

 
What I'm worried about is his lack of escapability. Before the season started, detractors said Austin would get destroyed if he ever were to have a clean shot upon him. Austin supporters said that would never happen because he's too quick and could avoid hits. Well, they were both wrong, because he gets hit all the time and doesn't get hurt. Austin has only 106 yards after a reception on 31 receptions. Only one player has more receptions than Austin with less YAC and that's Steve Smith with 87 on 32. One difference is that Smith runs deeper routes more regularly (his YPC is 10.5, Austins is 6.7). So what we have in Austin is a quick/fast guy that can't get away from anyone even when he runs routes designed to get the ball in his hands quickly so he can make people miss. He averages 6.7 yards per catch, and 3.3 of them are after he catches the ball. That's terrible. This isn't happening and it's not because he needs to get acclimated to the league. No one says "Next year this kid will be quicker".

 
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