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Austin flashes big-play potential
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_ba79dc2a-ba45-5da7-8e61-9a83f6d44cd3.html
LOS ANGELES • For those hoping new Rams offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti can bring out the best in Tavon Austin, play No. 2 in Friday’s preseason opener against Oakland was a tantalizing tease.
Austin caught a quick screen from quarterback Nick Foles, got loose thanks to a block from wide receiver Kenny Britt, and was off to the races. He gained 35 yards before the Raiders brought him down.
After the Rams’ 18-3 loss, coach Jeff Fisher said: “That’s one of Tavon’s finest since he’s been here. That was real impressive.”
Torry Holt thought so, too.
“That ‘smoke’ was nice,” Holt said. “That wasn’t bad at all.”
The Rams refer to the quick-hitting wide receiver screen play as a “smoke.” Holt, the former Rams wide receiver great, did color commentary Friday as part of the Rams’ television broadcast team.
He was in the locker room afterward, talking football with Austin. And Austin enjoys any time he can get with Holt, one of the stars of the Greatest Show on Turf team.
“He just comes to me, tells me a couple things I should work on,” Austin said. “I definitely try to put it in my game and keep on going. He’s one of the greats. Hearing it from him, him just seeing the fire in me, makes me want to go there and do it some more.”
When it comes to electrifying plays, the Rams definitely would like to see Austin do it some more. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 draft has had several highlight moments in his first two seasons with the Rams. Just not enough.
Last year, his production as a receiver dropped from 40 catches, 418 yards, and four touchdowns as a rookie to 31 catches, 242 yards, and zero TDs.
Cignetti, who has replaced Brian Schottenheimer as Rams offensive coordinator, is trying to change all that.
“When you watch him out there, he’s becoming an outstanding route runner, from his releases, top of the route ... getting tremendous separation,” Cignetti said. “I’m very excited about Tavon.”
Cignetti has had only a few media sessions since taking over as coordinator, but the Tavon topic always comes up.
“You know what? It’s a point of emphasis to get everybody open,” Cignetti said. “But Tavon, because he has a certain skill set, there are certain things you would like to do with him to put him in a position (to make plays).”
Austin admits his route running wasn’t where it needed to be when he came into the NFL after dominating Big 12 defenses at West Virginia. But he believes he has come a long way in that area.
“I definitely feel like my route running’s gotten so much better,” Austin said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. My mental game got stronger. It’s not really about the physical thing, that’s not really the problem with me.
“For me, it was being mentally challenged, and for the most part just being where you need to be when the quarterback’s ready to deliver the ball.”
When it came to Friday’s big play, there was nothing too complicated. Without running downfield, the receiver turns, waits for the throw, and then tries to make people miss. In fairness to Austin, the blocking simply wasn’t there on many similar plays he has run in the past. But it was on Friday.
“Kenny Britt made a great block that sprung it open,” Austin said. “I had some big blockers down the field, made a couple moves, and from there I let my speed take over.”
He added with a smile, “I hit the gas a little.”
Austin says he has a good relationship with Cignetti. They talk about the playbook, and Austin gives him feedback on what he likes or doesn’t like.
“And we go from there,” Austin said.
Austin also seems to be hitting it off with Foles.
“Tremendous guy,” Austin said. “Not even talking about on the field. Off the field, too. He comes and talks to us. He’ll be chilling with the wide receivers. Just talking to us, seeing what we like, what we don’t like.
“And we aren’t always talking about football. We talk about random stuff. You know, basketball, anything. I really do like Nick Foles.”
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_ba79dc2a-ba45-5da7-8e61-9a83f6d44cd3.html
LOS ANGELES • For those hoping new Rams offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti can bring out the best in Tavon Austin, play No. 2 in Friday’s preseason opener against Oakland was a tantalizing tease.
Austin caught a quick screen from quarterback Nick Foles, got loose thanks to a block from wide receiver Kenny Britt, and was off to the races. He gained 35 yards before the Raiders brought him down.
After the Rams’ 18-3 loss, coach Jeff Fisher said: “That’s one of Tavon’s finest since he’s been here. That was real impressive.”
Torry Holt thought so, too.
“That ‘smoke’ was nice,” Holt said. “That wasn’t bad at all.”
The Rams refer to the quick-hitting wide receiver screen play as a “smoke.” Holt, the former Rams wide receiver great, did color commentary Friday as part of the Rams’ television broadcast team.
He was in the locker room afterward, talking football with Austin. And Austin enjoys any time he can get with Holt, one of the stars of the Greatest Show on Turf team.
“He just comes to me, tells me a couple things I should work on,” Austin said. “I definitely try to put it in my game and keep on going. He’s one of the greats. Hearing it from him, him just seeing the fire in me, makes me want to go there and do it some more.”
When it comes to electrifying plays, the Rams definitely would like to see Austin do it some more. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 draft has had several highlight moments in his first two seasons with the Rams. Just not enough.
Last year, his production as a receiver dropped from 40 catches, 418 yards, and four touchdowns as a rookie to 31 catches, 242 yards, and zero TDs.
Cignetti, who has replaced Brian Schottenheimer as Rams offensive coordinator, is trying to change all that.
“When you watch him out there, he’s becoming an outstanding route runner, from his releases, top of the route ... getting tremendous separation,” Cignetti said. “I’m very excited about Tavon.”
Cignetti has had only a few media sessions since taking over as coordinator, but the Tavon topic always comes up.
“You know what? It’s a point of emphasis to get everybody open,” Cignetti said. “But Tavon, because he has a certain skill set, there are certain things you would like to do with him to put him in a position (to make plays).”
Austin admits his route running wasn’t where it needed to be when he came into the NFL after dominating Big 12 defenses at West Virginia. But he believes he has come a long way in that area.
“I definitely feel like my route running’s gotten so much better,” Austin said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. My mental game got stronger. It’s not really about the physical thing, that’s not really the problem with me.
“For me, it was being mentally challenged, and for the most part just being where you need to be when the quarterback’s ready to deliver the ball.”
When it came to Friday’s big play, there was nothing too complicated. Without running downfield, the receiver turns, waits for the throw, and then tries to make people miss. In fairness to Austin, the blocking simply wasn’t there on many similar plays he has run in the past. But it was on Friday.
“Kenny Britt made a great block that sprung it open,” Austin said. “I had some big blockers down the field, made a couple moves, and from there I let my speed take over.”
He added with a smile, “I hit the gas a little.”
Austin says he has a good relationship with Cignetti. They talk about the playbook, and Austin gives him feedback on what he likes or doesn’t like.
“And we go from there,” Austin said.
Austin also seems to be hitting it off with Foles.
“Tremendous guy,” Austin said. “Not even talking about on the field. Off the field, too. He comes and talks to us. He’ll be chilling with the wide receivers. Just talking to us, seeing what we like, what we don’t like.
“And we aren’t always talking about football. We talk about random stuff. You know, basketball, anything. I really do like Nick Foles.”
