Rams will give Tavon Austin 'a break' from punt returns

[RedRam]

I suppose giving him the nickname 'Muffy' is a little harsh, eh?

 

[MrRiceGuyRJ]

I've made this comment before and I'll continue to compare him to Az. He's a huge playmaker or a massive liability. If he catches the ball, he can take it to the house. However, that's a massive IF

 

[FrantikRam]

I hope it's a permanent break

 

[-X-]

It looks like the guy knows its a mental problem, get a sports psych in there and get it sorted...

That's my bet. He fumbled zero times in college fielding punts, and I don't recall many prior to this year with the Rams.
Getting in your own head like that is a real thing. Saw it happen many, many times.

 

[Legatron4]

I think Tavon could be a starting RB in this league. He’s tough as nails and breaks tackles. McVay sees him more of a RB at this point and I’ve been saying we should start using him on screens out of the backfield. He would be deadly.

 

[Karate61]

 

[tempests]

For some reason, I thought he had more of a history of the muffs... could be wrong... not sure where to find those stats.

NFL.com tracks punt return fumbles.

He had five fumbles on punt returns in 2014, more than any other player.

 

[Bryan Smith]

I think they should shop him. Are the Rams really getting their $42,000,000 worth? They guy has tremendous talent but he doesn't seem to fit anywhere in the offense. Maybe he can help another team. Cleveland? Saints? He could be a playmaker on one of those teams but on the Rams he's the #4 receiver / gadget player and he's being paid way to much for that role.

 

[jap]

That's my bet. He fumbled zero times in college fielding punts, and I don't recall many prior to this year with the Rams.
Getting in your own head like that is a real thing. Saw it happen many, many times.

This season is the first time he has approached roller coaster play that the Wizard of Az made so famous and infamous over a decade and a half ago. Tavon used to be Az sans the fumbles/muffs. Now he is either overthinking the muffs or physically compensating for his surgically repaired wrists. However, he seems fine running the ball out of the backfield thus far. I was hoping that Tavon would come on later on and really take our offense fireworks over the top this season. It may still happen, and I really hope he gets it together.

 

[VegasRam]

NFL.com tracks punt return fumbles.

He had five fumbles on punt returns in 2014, more than any other player.

How many’d he lose?
And what about ‘13, ‘15 and ‘16?
And how many to the house, including penalties?

Cherry picker.

 

[Farr Be It]

This thread title reminds me of my boss when he fires someone. He "invites them to go work somewhere else."

 

[kurtfaulk]

I will never watch him field another punt.

If they decide to put him back out there to return one... I'll be forced to leave the room and turn the sound off. I don't want to see or hear another muff from TA. EVER.

His lack of mental concentration is going to get him tossed out of the league.

Do you do the same thing when they hand the ball to Gurley?

.

 

[raised_fisT]

On that last one he stayed on the ground for a while and looked pretty dejected. I think it IS mental and he's just pressing way too hard trying to make a play in stead of just going out there and being instinctive with it. No doubt he hears all the contract and money talk. He's got a rookie that is outplaying him and 2 veteran WRs that aren't going to concede their spots. I hope he does get it together, but I think he might be on his way out.

 

[tempests]

How many’d he lose?
And what about ‘13, ‘15 and ‘16?
And how many to the house, including penalties?

Cherry picker.

I was responding to another poster who was talking about Austin's past issues with ball security and also wondered where to find those stats.

Lighten up.

 

[Psycho_X]

I've made this comment before and I'll continue to compare him to Az. He's a huge playmaker or a massive liability. If he catches the ball, he can take it to the house. However, that's a massive IF

Yeah that loss to the Saints in the playoffs which may have robbed us of another super bowl trip still hurts to this day and makes me cringe every time a punt return happens whether it's TA or not. But TA isn't half the WR Az Hakim was unfortunately. And I'm not sure he's even as good at returning punts when he does catch it.

I hope McVay finds more ways to get him the ball in the offense though. They've used him as a distraction and gadget guy directly out of the backfield or in motion but would love to see them progressing those looks into some screens on the outside. Get him in space with the ball in his hands please.

 

[den-the-coach]

Do you do the same thing when they hand the ball to Gurley?

.

Gurley has to secure the ball better, but Tavon on punt returns has been a mess, I bet he has not fielded more punts cleanly then juggling the rock, they had to make a change and quite frankly should not have went back to him after he recovered the first muff, but McVay felt after his TD the confidence level was up.

My feeling on punt returners is this, I'd rather have a guy who just catches the ball and moves the ball forward as opposed to the guy who can be electric, but will lose yardage and muff the punt, which is a major turnover because your defense that just got off the field, now has to go right back on the field again....Moving forward the only way I would give Austin another shot for this season is if he showcased ball security in practice and the Rams were up by double digits, otherwise if I'm McVay I inform Tavon on Punt Returns to stand next to me.

 

[Rmfnlt]

But TA isn't half the WR Az Hakim was unfortunately.

Actually, I thought that too... so I checked their stats and it's pretty close... in fact, I think Austin has been more productive.

 

[bubbaramfan]

I don't care how fast and elusive a guy is, if he can't field the ball cleanly, he's worthless as a returner.

Tavon Austin can't be trusted to be a returner. Not right now.

 

[Rmfnlt]

NFL.com tracks punt return fumbles.

He had five fumbles on punt returns in 2014, more than any other player.

Thanks...

Unless I'm seeing this wrong...
2013: 3
2014: 5
2015: 2
2016: 3
2017: 4
Can't determine how many were lost or recovered.
So, that's 17 over 4.25 years.
Still looks like poor ball control, regardless.

Compare that to, say, Hakim...
14 over 6 years.

 

[Prime Time]

View: https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/917911208602120193