Tavon Austin vs. A Cheetah

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RamzFanz

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Yeah, a good game (minus the fumble), I also saw all his drops.

I think Cook is being judged a little harshly in general.

That was his only fumble.

He had the most Rams receptions (51 for 16th TE in the league), most receiving yards (671 for 11th TE in the league), and most receiving TDs (5 tied at 12th among TEs), with 6 drops.

That's just over a drop every 3 games.

He was 5th in the NFL for yards per catch among TEs with 30 or more receptions and 3rd in the NFL for TEs with 50 or more catches. He was around 26th in the league for yards per catch among ALL receivers with 50 or more catches. That's pretty damn good for a TE.

Not as bad as it seemed. With a season in the system and Bradford back... top 5 in the league this season? Top 10 for sure.
 
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CGI_Ram

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I think Cook is being judged a little harshly in general.

That was his only fumble.

He had the most Rams receptions (51 for 16th TE in the league), most receiving yards (671 for 11th TE in the league), and most receiving TDs (5 tied at 12th among TEs), with 6 drops.

That's just over a drop every 3 games.

He was 5th in the NFL for yards per catch among TEs with 30 or more receptions and 3rd in the NFL for TEs with 50 or more catches. He was around 26th in the league for yards per catch among ALL receivers with 50 or more catches. That's pretty damn good for a TE.

Not as bad as it seemed. With a season in the system and Bradford back... top 5 in the league this season? Top 10 for sure.

I agree RamzFanz.
 

OnceARam

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Man I love this guy. We have to figure out how to get him the ball in space. No more excuses. We must UNLEASH the man on the NFC West.
 

RamzFanz

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Man I love this guy. We have to figure out how to get him the ball in space. No more excuses. We must UNLEASH the man on the NFC West.

That is by FAR the biggest question mark for the Rams receiving corps IMHO.

Can Schotty get him the ball in space?

All through last season some people criticized the notion that it is a unique requirement on ROD.

They said anyone could be great if you got him the ball in space. False. Tavon proved he can eat up yards wholesale when he has space where other players are just closed in on and dropped. TA has direction changes opponents can't adjust to. He has speed changes opponents can't adjust to. He has fakes opponents can't adjust to. What he does NOT have is size to power through 4, 5, 6 defenders 3 yards off and closing when he gets the ball.

Over and over Schotty called bad plays that harmed the Rams and the players. Not just TA but DR and others too.

He also didn't get Bailey involved. Bailey dropped ZERO passes last season and STILL Schotty didn't use him more. Dude has smooth moves and solid route running. He was a superstar in college and stepped up day one on special teams for the Rams. That's unexcusable.

I'm saddened that Schotty's still on the Rams. I don't see him adjusting and exploring the talents of the team. He seems to make players try to play the way he wants instead of scheming to the Rams' strengths.

There is no doubt in my mind he's the weak link in building a power offense this season. He's conservative, irrational, and insistent on repeating mistakes.

But you know my opinion.
 

OnceARam

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That is by FAR the biggest question mark for the Rams receiving corps IMHO.

Can Schotty get him the ball in space?

All through last season some people criticized the notion that it is a unique requirement on ROD.

They said anyone could be great if you got him the ball in space. False. Tavon proved he can eat up yards wholesale when he has space where other players are just closed in on and dropped. TA has direction changes opponents can't adjust to. He has speed changes opponents can't adjust to. He has fakes opponents can't adjust to. What he does NOT have is size to power through 4, 5, 6 defenders 3 yards off and closing when he gets the ball.

Over and over Schotty called bad plays that harmed the Rams and the players. Not just TA but DR and others too.

He also didn't get Bailey involved. Bailey dropped ZERO passes last season and STILL Schotty didn't use him more. Dude has smooth moves and solid route running. He was a superstar in college and stepped up day one on special teams for the Rams. That's unexcusable.

I'm saddened that Schotty's still on the Rams. I don't see him adjusting and exploring the talents of the team. He seems to make players try to play the way he wants instead of scheming to the Rams' strengths.

There is no doubt in my mind he's the weak link in building a power offense this season. He's conservative, irrational, and insistent on repeating mistakes.

But you know my opinion.

Amen brother! Every damn time TA got the ball there were 2-3 defenders around him. Every time. How is that even possible? The only possible explanation is that Schotty could not (or would not) game plan to TA's unique skill set. It was almost like he was being treated like some average slot receiver.

I just don't understand it. TA is a wet dream for an OC. I mean how many guys in the entire league have the God-given talent of TA?

Anyway, year 2 is going to be a breakout year for him - and hopefully Bailey starts. We need some consistency and Bailey has consistency written all over him...
 

RamzFanz

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Amen brother! Every damn time TA got the ball there were 2-3 defenders around him. Every time. How is that even possible? The only possible explanation is that Schotty could not (or would not) game plan to TA's unique skill set. It was almost like he was being treated like some average slot receiver.

I just don't understand it. TA is a wet dream for an OC. I mean how many guys in the entire league have the God-given talent of TA?

Anyway, year 2 is going to be a breakout year for him - and hopefully Bailey starts. We need some consistency and Bailey has consistency written all over him...

It's my only knock on Snisher that they allow Schotty to be the OC. It was a bad decision and he proved it over and over. He is not capable of using this talent in its margins. To the edge of the envelope. If it's vanilla again I will be setting up the FIRE SCHOTY petition game one.

But you know my opinion.
 

OnceARam

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It's my only knock on Snisher that they allow Schotty to be the OC. It was a bad decision and he proved it over and over. He is not capable of using this talent in its margins. To the edge of the envelope. If it's vanilla again I will be setting up the FIRE SCHOTY petition game one.

But you know my opinion.

I agree bro. Vanilla ain't going to get it done in the NFC West. I'll support your petition if we aren't able to get TA in space, come Game 1.
 

Zaphod

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Highest number of drops on the team. If he caught more of those he would have looked incredible. You can't blame Scotty for that. In fact if I were to blame him for anything it would be giving the rookie too many targets.

Teams knew we were going to try to get him the ball and they respected his speed, and I think that mow all we have to do is exploit that. We need to use Bailey more and Givens less.
 

RamzFanz

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Highest number of drops on the team. If he caught more of those he would have looked incredible. You can't blame Scotty for that. In fact if I were to blame him for anything it would be giving the rookie too many targets.

Teams knew we were going to try to get him the ball and they respected his speed, and I think that mow all we have to do is exploit that. We need to use Bailey more and Givens less.

TA had the dropsies. No doubt. At first. After a few games, he settled in and had very few.

Go back and watch the videos and see how many time TA got the ball when he was surrounded by the opponent and no Rams were around. Then factor in his great plays where the Rams drew a penalty.

He did all he could do. They just didn't know how to use him.
 

Zaphod

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Oh I remember those, but I expect teams to key on him when he's targeted like that.

Like I said, he drops less, his decoy value goes up and we exploit it with someone who can make the catches.

I have my own issues with Scotty but not in regard to trying to get Austin the ball. He tried too hard on that regard and no doubt had political pressure to do so.

JMO drop Givens like a bad habit, play Austin more outside routes and use Bailey more.

My biggest problem with Shottenheimer was that he tried to run his stretch offense the same as his play action, trying to stretch the field vertically with Givens and coming up short on the intermediate stuff when he settled for it too little too late.
 
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OnceARam

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Oh I remember those, but I expect teams to key on him when he's targeted like that.

Like I said, he drops less, his decoy value goes up and we exploit it with someone who can make the catches.

I have my own issues with Scotty but not in regard to trying to get Austin the ball. He tried too hard on that regard and no doubt had political pressure to do so.

JMO drop Givens like a bad habit, play Austin more outside routes and use Bailey more.

My biggest problem with Shottenheimer was that he tried to run his stretch offense the same as his play action, trying to stretch the field vertically with Givens and coming up short on the intermediate stuff when he settled for it too little too late.

Let's settle down. TA dropped balls because he was pressing: trying too hard. He'll settle into the role this year. But I totally agree with you about TA being used on the outside more; like DeSean is... I still think Givens could come through for us though. Let's give him one more year with a big arm QB before we give up hope.
 

Zaphod

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I'm not criticizing his drops or saying that he didn't or won't improve, just stating that between those and penalties his success was extremely limited by circumstance, not opportunities afforded him by Shottenheimer.

I think he will see more outside routes and as a side affect of that and Bailey will mean less Givens. It's no secret that even Pettis is a better route runner on intermediate stuff than Givens. I really do hope to see his role reduced.

The point is that it's an inaccurate herd mentality that Scotty was the reason for his lack of immediate success. He was a rookie.

And again Shottenheimer's true weakness was running the spread like play action.
 

OnceARam

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I'm not criticizing his drops or saying that he didn't or won't improve, just stating that between those and penalties his success was extremely limited by circumstance, not opportunities afforded him by Shottenheimer.

I think he will see more outside routes and as a side affect of that and Bailey will mean less Givens. It's no secret that even Pettis is a better route runner on intermediate stuff than Givens. I really do hope to see his role reduced.

The point is that it's an inaccurate herd mentality that Scotty was the reason for his lack of immediate success. He was a rookie.

And again Shottenheimer's true weakness was running the spread like play action.

What do you mean by "running the spread like play action"? The spread is an offensive system. Play action is just a technique. I don't understand the comparison that you're making.
 

Zaphod

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What do you mean by "running the spread like play action"? The spread is an offensive system. Play action is just a technique. I don't understand the comparison that you're making.
Sorry what I meant was how he was trying to stretch the field vertically too fast. I just think he's used to setting it up with the run.

It's always about taking what's there, and to me he wasn't exploiting the intermediate stuff.
 

RamzFanz

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The point is that it's an inaccurate herd mentality that Scotty was the reason for his lack of immediate success. He was a rookie.

I disagree. We analyzed the play design for TA several games and it clearly showed Schotty was not getting him the ball in space. He was doing what they said they'd do, they just got TA the ball any way they could. That wasn't working.

"Won't you give me three steps,
Gimme three steps mister,
Gimme three steps towards the door?

Gimme three steps
Gimme three steps mister,
And you'll never see me no more."

Schotty needs to heed the wisdom of Lynyrd Skynyrd
 

OnceARam

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I'm not criticizing his drops or saying that he didn't or won't improve, just stating that between those and penalties his success was extremely limited by circumstance, not opportunities afforded him by Shottenheimer.

I think he will see more outside routes and as a side affect of that and Bailey will mean less Givens. It's no secret that even Pettis is a better route runner on intermediate stuff than Givens. I really do hope to see his role reduced.

The point is that it's an inaccurate herd mentality that Scotty was the reason for his lack of immediate success. He was a rookie.

And again Shottenheimer's true weakness was running the spread like play action.

I also think a lot of us saw the same thing in terms of not getting TA in space. I wouldn't call it heard mentality though. Other people's opinions of our offense don't change what I saw or what I think about the game or my experience with the game. I have lots of opinions not shared by others on this board, especially concerning Bradford. I won't change them until I see a healthy, productive, aggressive QB. Maybe you see some guys change their opinions... But for the most part; I would say we are a bunch of over opinionated, stubborn SOB's. :D