I don't want Austin in at WR

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I think you are going to see TA finally do what he can do this year. The play design we are seeing out of McV here is impressive so far - and even that alone would give me optimism. But when you add the other weapons out there for defenses to account for - especially Sammy - TA is going to finally have space to work.
 
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jrry32 said:
I do want Austin in at WR. Let a guy like Watkins stress the defense deep, let Kupp work them underneath, and then hit Tavon on a crossing route in the intermediate range with room to run.

Getting Tavon on the field gets one of our other WRs a breather and keeps them all fresh. He's still a weapon who can do amazing things with the ball in his hands and some space.
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Agreed.This year Austin will be more dangerous than at any point in his Ram career.
He is not gonna get the touches we thought he would prior to training camp,
but his big play percentage is about to sky rocket.
 
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12intheBox said:
I think you are going to see TA finally do what he can do this year. The play design we are seeing out of McV here is impressive so far - and even that alone would give me optimism. But when you add the other weapons out there for defenses to account for - especially Sammy - TA is going to finally have space to work.
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You also have to keep in mind we are only seeing pre-season plays. Play callers keep the best stuff, offensively and defensively, away from the eyes of opponents during the pre-season. Pre-season play is mostly plain vanilla ball, focusing more on refining fundamental skills & strategy and minimizing mistakes. The good stuff is kept bottled up until the regular season rolls around.

So, no, we won't see that handoff to Tavon who starts on a jet sweep, laterals across the field to the Gurley Express!, who suckers the defense to chase him before he uncorks a long bomb downfield to . . . Jerad!, who races untouched to pay dirt! Hell, we may not see that in the regular season either. This play may have to wait for the post season!!!
 
I value everyone's opinion, I really do, but I continue to not understand why so many want to give up on him.

More proven? Watkins has more TD's receiving but as I had said in another post, TA has like 23 total TD's since being drafted...Who is more proven on our roster? Answer in terms of that stat alone is NOBODY...
Let the guy play in a real offense with what looks like an much improved Goff before we cast him aside.
 
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TA going to be our secret weapon after the first 4weeks of the season (3-1)
 
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IowaRam said:
Need to use him the way Martz used Az-Zahir Hakim
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Maybe. I'm not sure he can do that tbh, whether he has enough hands, football smarts, or basic route running ability to function in the way Hakim did. Az was a very underappreciated part of that offense by anyone other than Rams fans.

I get where @WestCoastRam is coming from. And I have felt similarly for a while now as I've watched this offense start putting the pieces together. IF the Rams were sure about him I don't know that they would have made all the moves they made. Gotta think they're not sure about him any more than some of us.

Difference with me is I'm not sure he can't do it. I think he's a non-fit, lacking the hands and route running this offense requires. I suspect he has been struggling to learn the offense too. But I don't know for sure. So that is why my guess is still that the Rams trade him, because if they're unsure about Tavon but like what they have in the room why not recoup value in him?

Of course on the flip side I'm sure Stan would be irritated by the suggestion we trade the guy he just signed. But it is what it is. This is a big boy offense, and if the dude can't hang then you move him while he's got value.
 
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WestCoastRam said:
Hear me out.

Any way I can cut it, it seems like having him in at WR just takes away a more proven weapon right now. Yes, I'm saying Watkins, Woods, Kupp, Higbee/Everett and Gurley are all better weapons than Austin right now.

I don't really see anyone in that group that I would want taken off the field right now except for Gurley (Austin in a 3rd down role - if he can block) at any time to get Austin playing time when he's only shown his only consistent talent is his speed.

Can he run routes better than anyone above? Can he block better than anyone above? Can he catch better than anyone above?

Maybe we can have him be a WR in 5 WR sets (with Everett/Higbee in and Gurley out) but I don't see any Ace sets I'd ever want him in on right now.

I guess what I'm saying is I don't want to get too cute trying to make a package for Austin when we have so many better weapons at our disposal.
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Before I even read through the thread. I am going to point out that the play action roll out play that sprung Woods for a 9 yard gain early in yesterday's game. That's the type of play that Austin is potentially taking 20+ yards.
 
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A.J. Hicks said:
Before I even read through the thread. I am going to point out that the play action roll out play that sprung Woods for a 9 yard gain early in yesterday's game. That's the type of play that Austin is potentially taking 20+ yards.
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...if Austin catches the ball. I'm happier with a second and one then a second and ten after a shoulda, coulda, woulda play.;)

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Austin playing up to his potential! I stated earlier that I'd like to see him in a five WR set. The thing that adds fuel to the trade TA fire is his contract. Obviously, the Rams have some contract issues to deal with currently and in the near future. Austin's contract doesn't make it any easier. His $$/touch could become cost prohibitive.
 
Best ability is availability, so far this off season he hasn't shown that ability. I'm curious to see what he can offer if he eventually gets healthy.
 
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RhodyRams said:
TA going to be our secret weapon after the first 4weeks of the season (3-1)
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Well, there really isn't going to be anything secret about Tavon. Every NFL DC has been well aware of him even before his rookie season began. It's a pure numbers thing. As long as the OL does their job, there just may be too many talented Horns to account for by most defenses. Tavon would become either a super playmaker or a super decoy, allowing someone else to shine.
 
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I want Austin back, but I just want him to be within his frame. I don't want the team to force feed him targets and expect things to happen just because they should on paper. I want the staff to put him in a position to succeed and not try to force him to be the main weapon. He needs to be the type of guy who might only get 60 or so catches, but averages 15+ yards per catch. I want him to be Travis Benjamin circa 2015, or a Taylor Gabriel of last year's Falcons. He doesn't need to be given 110 targets out of obligation. If he gets fed the ball with no idea of how to get him in a good situation, like the previous staff did, he won't be efficient. I feel like Tavon can be a guy who can do a lot more with less.

I'm sure McVay and LaFleur will do this. They will have an idea of what they want to do with Austin, not just line him up in the backfield and run him into the line, or use him on a reverse 5 times a game. That's not to say he can't be used that way, but that's all the stooges under Fisher knew to do with him. The scheme needs to aid Tavon, as it has with some of the other players on the roster.
 
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IowaRam said:
Need to use him the way Martz used Az-Zahir Hakim
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Just watched George Kittle catch & run for a TD ! At the Combine was really impressive in the 40. He just runs strong.
Gerald Everett has more skill.

Tavon will be the PR guy , but still brings more to the table than Az .
 
UtahRam said:
Tavon Austin, if he stays healthy and they let him return punts, will be our team MVP this year.
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That's a big stretch. He does add a excellent demon soon though, like always has. It's just the surrounding cast is so much better.
I think 8 to 12 TD's this season. He will also open up the run game with I'm going in motion.
 
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