[Ellard]

I think Tavon is a very poor route runner in that you can't rely on him being in the right place at the right time. Look at who Goff wants to throw to (to me that is Woods and Kupp), guys whose timing is excellent. They run precise routes in that they are in the right spot at the right time. In this one way Tavon and Watkins are very similar in that they are more athletes than receivers who have made it more on their ability than attention to detail. It seemed to me both Tavon and Watkins had very limited route trees. I really don't think Goff was confident in either being where they were supposed to. That being said, given his new contract I am glad he is staying. Just the extra game planning opposing teams have to do for his handful of plays is worth it.

[/zn/]

I really don't think Goff was confident in either being where they were supposed to. That being said, given his new contract I am glad he is staying. Just the extra game planning opposing teams have to do for his handful of plays is worth it.

Well it bears repeating that he was good enough on some routes to catch 59+% of his targets in 2015 and 2016. Which is not that bad. It's not great but it;s not bad, and it;s balanced out by the fact that Tavon can break one on any play, and the fact that he can do that terrorizes defenses.

That's obviously not him running a bunch of sophisticated real receiver routes, but he does have a set of things he can do. And given McV's ability to set up composite routes, playing with Woods and Kupp is going to get Tavon more space than he got in 2015 and 2016 with Cook, Britt, and Quick.

I just think McV didn't want to use him that way last year. There could be a lot of different reasons for that. Either way, with Watkins gone now, there's less reason to under-use Tavon in the passing game.

Which, of course, as everyone knows, isn;t going to turn him into a fully equipped receiver all of a sudden. But in 2015 & 2016 combined, he averaged 55 receptions a season. Last year it was 13.

If Tavon does not improve in the slightest this year over his 2015/16 play as a receiver, he can still do far better than 13 catches.

And they will probably still use him as a runner and jet sweeper etc.

...

..

[Legends]

Don't know what "gut feeling" is worth, but I have a feeling that before the season is over we will be glad Tavon Austin is a Ram. This kids attitude has really changed.

[RamsFanSince82]

Keeping Austin is the only offseason move that I haven't liked so far. I know it's not costing anything to keep him (as long as they didn't make it very easy for him to receive the $3 M incentives). I thought they should've just moved on from him and given some of the younger players more opportunities.

[sloramfan]

i have no problem keeping TA for the price we paid..

and if he gets ALL of his incentives, i be even happier, because that will equal nice production...

go rams

slo

[CanuckRightWinger]

So...
some Rams faithful are worried that the loss of deep threat Sammy NotQuiteTheRightFit Watkins will limit & restrict the 2018 space that Woods, Kupp AND Gurley enjoyed (& prospered from) during last season, right? A fair concern, yes?

Okay...
so we decide to keep a cheaper 2018 Contract version of Tavon 12WonderlicGuy Austin when no NFL trade partner (with a spare 6th Round pick) could be found, right? Alright, well we know Tavon has alot of speed....elite NFL speed right?
BUT...the knock on TA is his imprecise routes right?....and he may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer.....okay. Got it.

So why not send Mr. Austin on long straight SIMPLE fly patterns, with his blazing speed to create the 2018 room for Mssrs. Woods, Kupp, Reynolds AND Gurley huh?? Just send Tavon MinimalWindResistance Austin on simple deep patterns and have Jared AmpleEnoughHandSize Goff launch some rainbows TA's way, huh???
Historical Note: Fisher's Rams went into Indianapolis back in 2015 (or so) and Tavon UntouchedAllDay Austin single-handedly handed the Colts their lunch as he scored on two long passes, and a 90+ yard punt return.

So......can somebody please explain to me why Tavon Mach3Capable Austin cannot be utilized as "a NFL deep threat" by McVay & Co.????

I personally think that Sean McVay, let alone rookie Rams players.....but Sean McVay, THE RAMS ROOKIE HEAD COACH, may see more of the forest from the trees in his second year at the helm.....and maybe part of that enhanced vision might include an enhanced offensive role for one Tavon NeglectedIn2017 Austin.

Final thought from North of the Border: No matter how much increased offensive success TA might reap in 2018 as a WR and RB......no matter how swimmingly he blossoms as a pass-catcher or ball carrier....

DO NOT LET TAVON AUSTIN FIELD PUNTS IN 2018.....EVER!!!

[ramsman34]

As long as he can beat press coverage off the LOS, this is as sound a plan as any for the 5 Million Dollar Man - Mr. Austin.

[/zn/]

So why not send Mr. Austin on long straight SIMPLE fly patterns,

They've done that. We've seen it. He has to have the ball right in front of him in stride within his natural reach. Do all of that (which they have done) and it works. It has worked as a surprise the defense isn't expecting but I don't see them doing it as a routine play the defense knows could be coming. I bet we will see some of those this year, if Tavon is on the team, but I also bet it won't be his role to do that regularly. That sounds more like something more for Thomas or Reynolds.

And he caught 50+ passes on average in 2015/16. There are things he can do. They just didn't do them last year.

[sloramfan]

lol... free..

go tayvon, earn those incentives...

go rams

slo

[Horny Mcbae]

The plan to use Austin as deep threat on a simple route even he can run has one problem......... his hands.

I don't think he'll be a Ram come opening weekend.