Rams Mailbag:Finding Tavon Austin's Fit in Run-Heavy Offense

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RamBill

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Rams mailbag: Finding Tavon Austin's fit in run-heavy offense
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...inding-tavon-austins-fit-in-run-heavy-offense

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With organized team activities finally set to begin this week, the St. Louis Rams have some sorting out to do with their offense after an offseason full of change.

At the top of that list might be receiver/returner Tavon Austin, who at first blush doesn't look to be a fit in the run-heavy offense. We explore that and more in this weekend's mailbag, Part II.

Chad @squick4n
Where do Tavon and Cook fit in to ground and pound? Big offseason acquisitions just a couple of years ago look like square pegs


@nwagoner: I've been wondering about this myself. It goes back to the team's inability to go all in on an offensive identity until this, the fourth year of the Jeff Fisher/Les Snead regime. Going back to that offseason, the team wanted to be a spread-it-out, throw-it-around offense and invested heavily in skill position guys like Austin and Cook to make it happen. But they didn't invest in offensive linemen who could protect well enough to handle the offense. Now they have those pieces, but they've invested in offensive linemen (through the draft) to go all-in as a power-running team. That puts the onus on new coordinator Frank Cignetti to find ways to use them. Cook should be OK and will likely come in around his usual production, but Austin is a bigger test. In an ideal world, he can represent a real change of pace from what the Rams will be doing down to down. But it's fair to wonder if a team that's struggled to get the most from him in his first two seasons can flip the switch and do it now that the team has gone even further in the opposite direction of his skill set.

Mark Warren @MarkWarren_39
Where is WR Brian Quick in his rehab? Will he be ready to go week one?


@nwagoner: As I wrote about in March, the Rams don't want to commit to a timetable for Brian Quick, given the severity of his injury and what's required for him to get back up to speed. But all signs point to him making progress and it seems like Week 1 is going to be realistic. We'll get a better idea when we get to see what he's up to during OTAs starting this Thursday and, more importantly, how far along he is when training camp rolls around in late July.

Chris @BiggameCB
5th CB? Do the Rams like Marcus Roberson for the spot or do they give McGee another shot (injury prone)


@nwagoner: The battle will likely come down to those two players, but the Rams are high on Marcus Roberson and he performed pretty well when given some chances late in the year last year. I'd tend to think Brandon McGee's best chance it to make it in addition to Roberson as a sixth corner rather than as a fifth corner who beats him out. With Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson set for free agency after the season, Roberson might have a chance to stake a longer-term claim this year, if given the opportunity.

Jim Everett @dcfilmninja
Fish does orientations, not OTAs, doesn't that contribute to the teams slow starts year over? 4 old school guy its odd


@nwagoner: I'm not sure that's really at the root of that problem, but there's no doubt that the slow starts are a major issue that must be corrected. They continue to dig themselves in an early hole they can never get all the way out of. And they do OTAs just like every team. He does orientations instead of minicamps. I don't think that's really a problem. In fact, I think it's one of the "different" things the Rams do that makes a lot of sense. Fisher does it to protect his players and it generally seems to work. I don't know the reason for the slow starts, but I don't think this is it.

Eric W @biggs_73
How do you see the battle for OC and OG playing out? Who gets the first crack at ota's?


@nwagoner: As it stands right now, it's hard to make a call on center. I think the Rams would like to see Barrett Jones claim that job, but I get the sense they really will evaluate all of the options. Tim Barnes has at least a little experience and don't underestimate Demetrius Rhaney, who has the toughness and quickness to be an intriguing option. But when evaluating centers, I always tend to lean toward intelligence above all else and from talking to people at Rams Park, Jones is one of the smartest players on the team. If he's healthy, he's probably the favorite, but that guarantees nothing moving forward. At guard, I tend to wonder if the team is comfortable just plugging Jamon Brown into a spot and having him start right away. If they didn't have so much youth elsewhere, maybe there's no concern there. That's not to say it would be a surprise if he did, but it also wouldn't be a surprise if Garrett Reynolds got some work there until they're comfortable with Brown in one spot. I still maintain signing Justin Blalock would be the best move (unless there's injury issues or something else I'm unaware of), but they don't seem to be in a rush to do that.

derrick costoplos @costoplos
EJ starts opposite JJ with LJ in the nickel...TJ to the 4th corner?


@nwagoner: As it stands, this would be how I'd project everything to play out. E.J. Gaines and Janoris Jenkins on the outside with Lamarcus Joyner in the nickel. Theoretically, they could also go with Trumaine Johnson as the third corner and bump Gaines inside in the nickel. But having Gaines and Jenkins on the outside with Joyner in the slot not only makes sense for this season, but could be how they want to line up for the long term as well.
 

HometownBoy

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They have big play ability and that's fundamental in a ground and pound, because eventually they'll start stacking the box in an attempt to stop your run and that's when you throw over their heads.

With guys like Austin and Cook who can gain chunks of yards in a short amount of time that makes a deadly combination of attacks. While I hate to sing the Shehags praise, look at the type of things they did with Lynch running wild on people and then Taint and Harvin grabbing chunks through the air.
 

CGI_Ram

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People act like a run emphasis offense means we won't throw the ball. That couldn't be further from the truth...

This team will take its shots and Tavon will get more big play opportunities if we're successful running.
 

-X-

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Finding a Use for Tavon Austin in the Rams’ Run-First Offense

Two years ago, the Rams were in the midst of changing their offense in efforts to play to quarterback Sam Bradford’s strengths. They ostensibly tried to recreate Bradford’s Oklahoma offense by spreading things out and using newly-acquired toys Tavon Austin and Jared Cook to create mismatches in the passing game.

That didn’t go well.

Coach Jeff Fisher ditched the experiment just over a month into the season.

tavon-austin-2.jpg


Austin’s production dropped in 2014, totaling 466 yards from scrimmage.

Fast-forward to this offseason and the Rams have gone back to their “ground and pound” ways under Fisher. There will be no identity crisis for the team this year: They’re going to pound the ball on the ground with Todd Gurley and Tre Mason, then use play-action to strike for big yardage. Along with a new offensive centerpiece in Gurley, the Rams drafted four offensive linemen, all with strengths as run-blockers.

So how does a player like Austin fit into a run-first system?

For starters, it’s time to change the expectations for Austin now that he’s heading into his third season. When the Rams traded up for him in 2013, most expected him to be a dynamic playmaker that puts up No. 1 receiver numbers.

But in two years St. Louis has received production more fitting from a No. 4 wideout than a legit go-to receiver. In fact, Austin’s numbers declined last season when he posted a 31-242-0 line coming off a rookie season that saw him catch 40 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns.

He has contributed on punt returns, finding paydirt in each of his two professional seasons.

But the Rams didn’t trade into the top 10 to nab a punt returner.

The fact is that Austin is, and always will be, a space player. He’s not someone that has the natural ability to consistently win outside the numbers by creating separation at the top of his route, high-pointing passes or being physical through the catch point. He’s not Dez Bryant, which should surprise no one.

What Austin does posses is homerun ability thanks to his straight-line speed and quickness. He may never be a featured receiver, but he’s one of the few Rams players with difference-making speed. And if puts enough good production on film, he’s someone that could start dictating coverage.

The success and/or failure of Austin will come from his ability to develop as a player and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s ability as a play-caller/designer. That may seem unfair to Cignetti, seeing as how he can only work with the talent at his disposal. But often times the difference between NFL offenses that are homogenized and the ones that are creative lie in the abilities of the play-caller.

todd-gurley1.jpg

The Rams’ draft of Gurley makes clear the team’s tendency towards a run-first offense.

I’ve been critical of Brian Schottenheimer in the past, but he received more blame for the Rams’ offensive problems over the past three years than is warranted. And he did try to get the ball into Austin’s hands, although I’m not sure what outcome Schottenheimer expected while running the 176-pound receiver between the tackles. Still, it’s not like he completely ignored Austin as a play-caller.

The challenge that Schottenheimer faced, and Cignetti will face moving forward, is designing ways to get the ball into Austin’s hands while taking advantage of an otherwise disciplined defense. This is easier said than done, but play-callers like Asshole Face, Andy Reid and Chip Kelly have had varying degrees of success doing so over the years.

Payton showed a knack for dialing up the right screen for Reggie Bush or Darren Sproles, while designing their plays to have a lead-blocker in front. He also has the innate ability to design roles for space players as underneath receivers, giving quarterbacks an easy look over the middle while drawing the rest of the coverage downfield.

Payton has consistently shown the ability to hurt opponents with a well-timed and well-executed screen after the defense had become impatient and overly aggressive.

Reid uses plenty of pre-snap movement and personnel groupings in order to get his players into open space. Jet sweeps as part of packaged plays, misdirection with multiple backs and receivers, and the use of screens are all tools in his offense. While some criticize Reid for complicating things, there’s no question he’s an outstanding offensive mind.

Kelly also utilizes packaged plays to get a defense to overpursue and leave space for his skill position players, all while running his offense at breakneck speed. He might be the best at simplifying the game for his quarterback while maximizing the potential for one-on-one matchups.

Of course, Austin’s future isn’t solely on the play-caller.

While he initially needs open space, once Austin gets into open field, it’s his job to find creases between defenders. Too many times Austin has danced instead of using his instincts, quickness, and lateral agility to get upfield.

It’s not like Schottenheimer was 0-for-200 in finding open space for Austin; at times Austin just failed to use the space he had.

Still, Austin has the skill set to make an impact. The Colts game from his rookie season proved that. And just because the Rams will have a run-first philosophy doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities for Austin in Cignetti’s offense. In theory, the running game should create more one-on-one matchups for Austin to exploit a defense that has committed numbers to stopping Gurley and the rushing attack.

It’s up to Austin and Cignetti to maximize those opportunities and stop leaving production on the turf.

http://www.101sports.com/2015/06/03/finding-a-use-for-tavon-austin-in-the-rams-run-first-offense/
 

Ram Quixote

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@nwagoner: I'm not sure that's really at the root of that problem, but there's no doubt that the slow starts are a major issue that must be corrected. They continue to dig themselves in an early hole they can never get all the way out of.
Has everyone (meaning Wagoner) forgotten that the Rams got off to a 3-2 start in 2012? Or that they were 3-3 in 2013 after the 1-3 start?