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Rams receiver Tavon Austin isn’t so sure about 100 catches this year, but the more touches the better
By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
OXNARD >> Given the full context, the slant pass Tavon Austin took to the house on Friday shouldn’t illicit more than a casual nod of approval.
Like everyone else on the Rams organized team activity practice field, Austin was in shorts, jersey, cleats and helmet. Which tells you all you really need to know about the limited physicality during the 11-on-11 portion of practice.
This was two-hand touch, NFL style.
So digest the play as you will.
The door you just heard open is the exit opportunity the pessimists will likely take advantage of right about now.
The optimists might want to stick around a bit.
See, by the time Austin made the catch just a few yards off the line of scrimmage, a group of defenders began converging on him. All it would have taken was one of them getting a good solid hand on Austin and the play would have been over.
Never happened.
A twitch here, a juke there and Austin was beyond the first couple of Rams defenders. Then a lean, a jab step and whoosh, he exploded past the second group on his way to open grass.
In his wake, flailing arms, disbelieving looks and genuine frustration.
And a chorus of oohhs and aahhs from his offensive teammates.
In a very imperfect version of football, this was as legitimate an explosiveness play as you see.
And it was Tavon Austin, defined.
Get him the ball, by any means necessary and at any point on a football field, and let the havoc ensue.
“The one thing we know about Tavon is, he’s a special playmaker,” said Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras.
Which is why the Rams have made it an objective to get Austin the ball more this year, a quest that began last season when Boras took over as offensive coordinator the last four games and has carried over during the offseason.
“Any way you can get an explosive guy like that the ball, we’ve got to get creative and do it,” said Boras, who is concocting ways to do exactly that along with new Rams passing game coordinator Mike Groh.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher let that little nugget out of the bag a couple of weeks ago when he predicted Austin could double the 52 catches he had last year to 104 this season.
“This offense has been re-designed to make sure he gets touches of the football,” Fisher said. “He’s going to have a big year this year.”
Still, the 104 catches seems extraordinarily ambitious for a player who’s averaged 41 catches per season over his first three years. Especially with rookie Jared Goff likely to be the starting quarterback.
If given the chance to explain, Fisher would probably amend his prediction to Austin doubling his offensive yardage production across the board.
Not just through pass receptions.
Austin did his best the throw Fisher a lifeline on that one Friday.
“I don’t think he means 100 catches,” Austin said, smiling. “That’s hard to do. This is the NFL.”
On the other hand, Austin isn’t about to quibble with the overall intent.
“Anytime your coach says he wants to get the ball in your hands more, that’s great,” he said.
Austin averaged 6.5 offensive touches per game last year, with 52 catches and 52 rushing attempts for a total of 907 yards and nine touchdowns.
There is no question the Rams can jack that touch count up. Maybe not double it, but elevating it to 10 per game from the line of scrimmage not only gives him a better chance to produce the big yardage Fisher hopes for, but it also forces defensive coordinators to account for him so much he becomes almost as valuable as a decoy as he does with the ball in his hands.
If the Rams establish Austin as an even bigger focal point, that means less focus on running back Todd Gurley and perhaps more space for fellow wide receivers to operate in.
But mostly it means the ball in the hands of Austin more, and for an offense that scored the second-fewest points in the NFL last year and was among the worst in most other offensive categories, that is essential.
The trick is figuring out creative ways to do that. Boras made it clear he is considering all options, so expect Austin to line up in a variety of different positions and for the ball to get in hands by all means available.
“Obviously, as a receiver, everyone wants to talk about catches he gets. But we can line him up in the backfield as we’ve done in the past, we can get him the ball on the perimeter on screens and reverses,” said Boras.
Austin is one of the most talkative Rams on the field, but admittedly quiet off it. Don’t expect him to make any demands one way or another.
“However it happens, whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it,” Austin said. “But for the most part, I don’t pay too much attention to all the numbers.”
Rams receiver Tavon Austin isn’t so sure about 100 catches this year, but the more touches the better
By Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
OXNARD >> Given the full context, the slant pass Tavon Austin took to the house on Friday shouldn’t illicit more than a casual nod of approval.
Like everyone else on the Rams organized team activity practice field, Austin was in shorts, jersey, cleats and helmet. Which tells you all you really need to know about the limited physicality during the 11-on-11 portion of practice.
This was two-hand touch, NFL style.
So digest the play as you will.
The door you just heard open is the exit opportunity the pessimists will likely take advantage of right about now.
The optimists might want to stick around a bit.
See, by the time Austin made the catch just a few yards off the line of scrimmage, a group of defenders began converging on him. All it would have taken was one of them getting a good solid hand on Austin and the play would have been over.
Never happened.
A twitch here, a juke there and Austin was beyond the first couple of Rams defenders. Then a lean, a jab step and whoosh, he exploded past the second group on his way to open grass.
In his wake, flailing arms, disbelieving looks and genuine frustration.
And a chorus of oohhs and aahhs from his offensive teammates.
In a very imperfect version of football, this was as legitimate an explosiveness play as you see.
And it was Tavon Austin, defined.
Get him the ball, by any means necessary and at any point on a football field, and let the havoc ensue.
“The one thing we know about Tavon is, he’s a special playmaker,” said Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras.
Which is why the Rams have made it an objective to get Austin the ball more this year, a quest that began last season when Boras took over as offensive coordinator the last four games and has carried over during the offseason.
“Any way you can get an explosive guy like that the ball, we’ve got to get creative and do it,” said Boras, who is concocting ways to do exactly that along with new Rams passing game coordinator Mike Groh.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher let that little nugget out of the bag a couple of weeks ago when he predicted Austin could double the 52 catches he had last year to 104 this season.
“This offense has been re-designed to make sure he gets touches of the football,” Fisher said. “He’s going to have a big year this year.”
Still, the 104 catches seems extraordinarily ambitious for a player who’s averaged 41 catches per season over his first three years. Especially with rookie Jared Goff likely to be the starting quarterback.
If given the chance to explain, Fisher would probably amend his prediction to Austin doubling his offensive yardage production across the board.
Not just through pass receptions.
Austin did his best the throw Fisher a lifeline on that one Friday.
“I don’t think he means 100 catches,” Austin said, smiling. “That’s hard to do. This is the NFL.”
On the other hand, Austin isn’t about to quibble with the overall intent.
“Anytime your coach says he wants to get the ball in your hands more, that’s great,” he said.
Austin averaged 6.5 offensive touches per game last year, with 52 catches and 52 rushing attempts for a total of 907 yards and nine touchdowns.
There is no question the Rams can jack that touch count up. Maybe not double it, but elevating it to 10 per game from the line of scrimmage not only gives him a better chance to produce the big yardage Fisher hopes for, but it also forces defensive coordinators to account for him so much he becomes almost as valuable as a decoy as he does with the ball in his hands.
If the Rams establish Austin as an even bigger focal point, that means less focus on running back Todd Gurley and perhaps more space for fellow wide receivers to operate in.
But mostly it means the ball in the hands of Austin more, and for an offense that scored the second-fewest points in the NFL last year and was among the worst in most other offensive categories, that is essential.
The trick is figuring out creative ways to do that. Boras made it clear he is considering all options, so expect Austin to line up in a variety of different positions and for the ball to get in hands by all means available.
“Obviously, as a receiver, everyone wants to talk about catches he gets. But we can line him up in the backfield as we’ve done in the past, we can get him the ball on the perimeter on screens and reverses,” said Boras.
Austin is one of the most talkative Rams on the field, but admittedly quiet off it. Don’t expect him to make any demands one way or another.
“However it happens, whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it,” Austin said. “But for the most part, I don’t pay too much attention to all the numbers.”
