What TA could be.

[RhodyRams]

well right now Cook is supposedly the Rams #1. I think we will see the resurgence of one Mr. Brian Quick this week vs the factory of sadness, which will open up more of the run game.

Once that happens, then I think we will see TA getting more touches in both the run and passing game.

 

[jrry32]

The thing about Austin is that he's a major weapon against man coverage. Any time the opposing defense is in it and he gets a 1 on 1, you should be looking to get him the ball. But he's not as dangerous against zone coverage. Not to say he's useless against zone, he's just not going to do as much damage. But I'd still find ways to get the ball in his hands.

 

[GabesHorn]

One guy and GREAT team Weapon and talent that is NOT being used to our teams detriment is Tre' Mason (IN SPACE) , not so much a guy who needs to actually run for it. Have Gurley and Mason in the same backfield and if you have everyone keyed in on Gurley after he has been eating yards then you throw it to Mason who like Tavon Austin just needed plays that helped fit his skills.

I see so many routes that get Tre' Mason open in wheel routes and even line him up as a reciever if need be. Lets not stop being creative when I'm sure Masons' hammy is healed. This guy is a homerun threat we NEED to use and its a dang shame we have not done so while wasting throws to guys who are dropping the ball. Since this thread is focusing on our top TWO offensive weapons. I'm gonna assert myself and probably piss some of saying Mason is underused when he is healthy. He can FLY when he is on the Dome turf. Come on Cignetti ,find a way to get Mason in the script. Double screens to Gurley one side and Mason the other. We've all seen this play. Fake it to Gurley and watch Mason go.

If we can get some big chunks with Mason in space it helps take the load off of Gurley who should not face more than 20 tackles a game as he needs to use the sidelines MORE. Lets not use him up like we did another great RAM RB who had no other help (Jackson). A Gurley/Mason backfield could be a VERY scary backfield to face. Lets use the skills WE have and lets not waste HOMERUN threats. I'll put my soapbox back where I got it.

While we are all upset at the lack of WR production lets find a way to get our STUDS the ball and gouge people BADLY!!! Step on their throats. Spread it around and the passing attack WILL COME. :yess:

 

[Rams43]

If they doubled his receiving and rushing touches from 5.6 TOTAL per game to 11.2 TOTAL, extrapolated out over 16 games.

1,555 yards.

13 TDs. (Plus 3 from punt returns or more if they actually punt to him).



There are probably at least two stars on this team (I think Quick will make three when he settles in). One, in his second full game, got 30 touches against GB, the other got 5 touches.

Every 5 touch game this season for TA we lost. Zero drops, best rushing average on the team, by far, and he is all but ignored.

In Green Bay, TA got 5 touches out of 70 plays. 7% of the plays went to TA.

In two games, Gurley touched the ball as many times as TA will in 9 games. NINE!

Cook has been targeted TWICE as many times as TA in the passing game.


This is a 100% inexcusable coaching error IMHO. Going forward I really hope we see TA get the ball half as many times as Gurley. Quick, Britt, and Bailey can carve up the rest based on situation. Getting Gurley and TA the ball over and over will leave Britt and Quick blazing downfield in man coverage.

A fan can dream, can't he?

You know, the more I think about it, the more I like your idea, RamzFanz.

Dropping Gurley from 30 carries to 25 and giving those 5 to Austin. Our two best playmakers on O.

What a concept.

Geez, it almost makes too much sense.

Sprinkle in some Britt, Quick, and Bailey. The occasional Kendricks when he returns. Sounds like a potent mixture to me.

Cook who? Lol.

 

[RamzFanz]

I don't think Britt's all that good man, just my opinion. He stays healthy and can stretch the field, but just like Cook his size doesn't translate into an ability to catch contested balls. Way I see it this offense is better with Austin/Quick/Bailey as the guys getting the lion's share of snaps and early reads in the passing game.

Really. Not my perception as much. I see him as a WR 2 opposite Quick.

 

[RamzFanz]

How many? Until they stop him consistently.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Cook has been targeted TWICE as many times as TA in the passing game.

oh boy. now that's a complete fail.

surely the coaches can see what we're all seeing during games.

the cook experiment is over. he just doesn't want it enough.

.

 

[RamzFanz]

The thing about Austin is that he's a major weapon against man coverage. Any time the opposing defense is in it and he gets a 1 on 1, you should be looking to get him the ball. But he's not as dangerous against zone coverage. Not to say he's useless against zone, he's just not going to do as much damage. But I'd still find ways to get the ball in his hands.

Put him in shotgun, put foles on the line behind the guard to block and he can call the snap. TA ball in space, let him rip. :shocked:

 

[RamzFanz]

One guy and GREAT team Weapon and talent that is NOT being used to our teams detriment is Tre' Mason (IN SPACE) , not so much a guy who needs to actually run for it. Have Gurley and Mason in the same backfield and if you have everyone keyed in on Gurley after he has been eating yards then you throw it to Mason who like Tavon Austin just needed plays that helped fit his skills.

I see so many routes that get Tre' Mason open in wheel routes and even line him up as a reciever if need be. Lets not stop being creative when I'm sure Masons' hammy is healed. This guy is a homerun threat we NEED to use and its a dang shame we have not done so while wasting throws to guys who are dropping the ball. Since this thread is focusing on our top TWO offensive weapons. I'm gonna assert myself and probably pee pee some of saying Mason is underused when he is healthy. He can FLY when he is on the Dome turf. Come on Cignetti ,find a way to get Mason in the script. Double screens to Gurley one side and Mason the other. We've all seen this play. Fake it to Gurley and watch Mason go.

If we can get some big chunks with Mason in space it helps take the load off of Gurley who should not face more than 20 tackles a game as he needs to use the sidelines MORE. Lets not use him up like we did another great RAM RB who had no other help (Jackson). A Gurley/Mason backfield could be a VERY scary backfield to face. Lets use the skills WE have and lets not waste HOMERUN threats. I'll put my soapbox back where I got it.

While we are all upset at the lack of WR production lets find a way to get our STUDS the ball and gouge people BADLY!!! Step on their throats. Spread it around and the passing attack WILL COME. :yess:

I wholeheartedly agree. Mason is not Gurley, but he can be studly none the less in the right play designs.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Whatever moves the chains on 3rd down I'm for.....But I still believe he needs to become a better receiver for this to happen...More touches in the run game is dangerous....

 

[RamzFanz]

You know, the more I think about it, the more I like your idea, RamzFanz.

Dropping Gurley from 30 carries to 25 and giving those 5 to Austin. Our two best playmakers on O.

What a concept.

Geez, it almost makes too much sense.

Sprinkle in some Britt, Quick, and Bailey. The occasional Kendricks when he returns. Sounds like a potent mixture to me.

Cook who? Lol.

Especially in quick plays to negate the pass rush. If we can't block them, we have to defuse their effectiveness.

 

[RamzFanz]

Whatever moves the chains on 3rd down I'm for.....But I still believe he needs to become a better receiver for this to happen...More touches in the run game is dangerous....

I see a better WR this season all around in TA. Better routes, better hands, crisper and high energy. I'm not sure how more runs is dangerous. Because of his size? I trust him to negate the risk. He's really good at it. Has to be to last this long I suppose.

 

[Ballhawk]

Cook has been targeted TWICE as many times as TA in the passing game.

There's your problem!

 

[V3]

@Picked4td nails it. You can't just say get Tavon the ball 10+ times. It still looks like his route tree is pretty limited(it's gotten better, though), he's not open all the time, the O-line doesn't help, is Foles having a good or bad day, etc, etc. There are just too many factors that play into whether you can get him the ball 10+ times a game. You can't keep repeating the same plays, either. Defenses pick that up quickly and have already shown it for certain plays.

 

[CGI_Ram]

@Picked4td nails it. You can't just say get Tavon the ball 10+ times. It still looks like his route tree is pretty limited(it's gotten better, though), he's not open all the time, the O-line doesn't help, is Foles having a good or bad day, etc, etc. There are just too many factors that play into whether you can get him the ball 10+ times a game. You can't keep repeating the same plays, either. Defenses pick that up quickly and have already shown it for certain plays.

Pretty much.

@jsimcox said what I was thinking; it's not a linear projection.

Tavon gets the yards he gets because of the plays he doesn't get the ball.

That said; I am more than supportive of getting him the ball more.

 

[RamzFanz]

@Picked4td nails it. You can't just say get Tavon the ball 10+ times. It still looks like his route tree is pretty limited(it's gotten better, though), he's not open all the time, the O-line doesn't help, is Foles having a good or bad day, etc, etc. There are just too many factors that play into whether you can get him the ball 10+ times a game. You can't keep repeating the same plays, either. Defenses pick that up quickly and have already shown it for certain plays.

Any OC worth his salt could get TA the ball 10 times in a reasonably open situation. Especially now that Gurley is the main threat and Quick is coming back.

 

[RamzFanz]

Pretty much.

@jsimcox said what I was thinking; it's not a linear projection.

Tavon gets the yards he gets because of the plays he doesn't get the ball.

That said; I am more than supportive of getting him the ball more.

When we try, we will see. They had no problem targeting Cook that many times. TG should provide the distraction from TA we need especially if they start passing to TG.

 

[Picked4td]

Any OC worth his salt could get TA the ball 10 times in a reasonably open situation. Especially now that Gurley is the main threat and Quick is coming back.

I feel like you make it seem easier than it really is. IMO, 3-5 touches off runs or screens is a realistic number per game for 1 player, especially a guy like Tavon who the defense is likely expecting him to get some of those plays. That leaves you with 5-7 touches off catches from traditional passing plays. A lot of the top WRs in the league, who are far better at route running and catching than tavon, dont even average that amount. 10 touches per game sounds nice and all, but unrealistic imo

 

[Memento]

I actually agree with @GabesHorn in that we need to get Mason more touches than he's been getting. If that means lining him up out wide, split backs with him and Gurley, taking away every touch from Jared Cook, etc., we should be doing it. Mason is another game-breaker who's sitting on the bench, and he shouldn't be sitting there when he's the third best option that we have right now period.