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One of the most hyped up players to come out of the 2013 NFL Draft was West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. The excitement, allure and expectations of Austin had many predicting unrealistic goals for him. That was to be expected since the St. Louis Rams traded up to the eighth overall pick to obtain him. But a lackluster rookie campaign has people dubbing him a “bust” prematurely. This is clearly a mistake this early in his career.
One thing that was made clear last season is that Austin isn’t designed to be a No. 1 receiver. Let’s keep in mind that Austin is a smaller 5’9′, speed receiver, who is suited to playing in the slot. That doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of racking up big yardage. The Rams may have assembled a corps that will allow him to be placed in more appropriate formations. Additions like fellow wide receiver Kenny Britt may challenge defenses to take some attention away from Austin. The entire offense must complement each other in order to provide any success, and of course Austin’s role will also vary from how cohesive the offense becomes.
Teams recognized the threat that Austin possesses. Give him a sliver of open space and he will respond with points on the scoreboard. Often times, Austin was well-covered, which is partially why he had a mere 40 receptions for 418 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Another issue for Austin was the transition from the high-flying offense of the Mountaineers to the more complex playbook of the Rams. Route-running proved to be a challenge for Austin, because there were times last season where he appeared lost. He did seem to improve as the season progressed, but he must master the playbook before he dazzles the crowds with his playmaking abilities.
That’s not to say Austin’s shortcomings have been all his fault. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has struggled to find a suitable role for him. Last season, Schottenheimer did manage to find ways to place the ball in his hands, but they were for minimal yardage. It will take some creative thinking on the part of Schottenheimer to utilize Austin to his full potential.
To point out the obvious, Austin is fast. He can be used as much more than just a receiver, and the Rams have had some success experimenting with him. Sometimes it might be more efficient to just handing the ball off to him. On nine attempts last season, Austin registered 151 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run. He also returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown. Creativity is the key to maximizing Austin’s potential.
Don’t write off Austin after one season. He can contribute positive results under the correct circumstances. If nothing else, he certainly will be one of the more entertaining players on the roster. Have faith Rams fans.
Source: NFL.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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One of the most hyped up players to come out of the 2013 NFL Draft was West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. The excitement, allure and expectations of Austin had many predicting unrealistic goals for him. That was to be expected since the St. Louis Rams traded up to the eighth overall pick to obtain him. But a lackluster rookie campaign has people dubbing him a “bust” prematurely. This is clearly a mistake this early in his career.
One thing that was made clear last season is that Austin isn’t designed to be a No. 1 receiver. Let’s keep in mind that Austin is a smaller 5’9′, speed receiver, who is suited to playing in the slot. That doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of racking up big yardage. The Rams may have assembled a corps that will allow him to be placed in more appropriate formations. Additions like fellow wide receiver Kenny Britt may challenge defenses to take some attention away from Austin. The entire offense must complement each other in order to provide any success, and of course Austin’s role will also vary from how cohesive the offense becomes.
Teams recognized the threat that Austin possesses. Give him a sliver of open space and he will respond with points on the scoreboard. Often times, Austin was well-covered, which is partially why he had a mere 40 receptions for 418 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Another issue for Austin was the transition from the high-flying offense of the Mountaineers to the more complex playbook of the Rams. Route-running proved to be a challenge for Austin, because there were times last season where he appeared lost. He did seem to improve as the season progressed, but he must master the playbook before he dazzles the crowds with his playmaking abilities.
That’s not to say Austin’s shortcomings have been all his fault. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has struggled to find a suitable role for him. Last season, Schottenheimer did manage to find ways to place the ball in his hands, but they were for minimal yardage. It will take some creative thinking on the part of Schottenheimer to utilize Austin to his full potential.
To point out the obvious, Austin is fast. He can be used as much more than just a receiver, and the Rams have had some success experimenting with him. Sometimes it might be more efficient to just handing the ball off to him. On nine attempts last season, Austin registered 151 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run. He also returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown. Creativity is the key to maximizing Austin’s potential.
Don’t write off Austin after one season. He can contribute positive results under the correct circumstances. If nothing else, he certainly will be one of the more entertaining players on the roster. Have faith Rams fans.
Source: NFL.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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