[Elvis]

ED's on board...

[Horny Mcbae]

Perplexing move to keep him. The contract restructuring is really creative though, I like that part of it. Shows our guys have a brain.

I fully expect Pharaoh Cooper to be more productive at WR than Jet Sweep Austin. I really don't understand why we have kept him.... maybe because I have never fully understood what it is that Tavon Austin does well.

Doesn't matter how creative Sean gets with the plays you can't expect Austin to show up and become better all of a sudden. I don't know what he is but I can see what he isn't.

Hope we can trade him.

[moklerman]

I guess I didn't want to give up on Tavon just yet, I'm pretty happy that he's staying. I'm sure curious what is meant by him not running precise routes. I've heard it often and it's a common complaint about him but does it mean he's literally running to the wrong spots? Not reading the defense correctly...or more importantly, the same as the QB?

It's really baffling to me that they can't put him in the slot and create some favorable matchups to get him open.

[BuiltRamTough]

I think i'm one of the few people who doesn't mind this. I'm still hopeful he can be a valuable weapon.

OTOH, i think we can now cut him for nothing at pretty much any point if he doesn't offer any value in this year's offense...

Or even trade him for a late rd pick before the season or during the season.

[ramsrams]

Such a tease. We all like the ankle breakers, but is this a step too far?

Methinks it is simply a case of Sean saying to himself “ I gotta be better than that” and resetting.

I put both Austin and Everett in the same boat. Just from a talent perspective. Appears Les ain’t gonna give that up.

Good luck to all.

[phoenixrising]

I guess I didn't want to give up on Tavon just yet, I'm pretty happy that he's staying. I'm sure curious what is meant by him not running precise routes. I've heard it often and it's a common complaint about him but does it mean he's literally running to the wrong spots? Not reading the defense correctly...or more importantly, the same as the QB?

It's really baffling to me that they can't put him in the slot and create some favorable matchups to get him open.

I don't think it's so much precision as just not knowing how to set up a defender. He can't sell a pattern and he relies too much on his quickness: one cut and go. Easy to anticipate and defend. Kind of the anti-Kupp. If you watch Kupp, it's amazing how often he's breaking just as the defender is slightly out of position, or even just between steps.

I don't know if it's coaching or he's just not picking it up. McVay certainly didn't make it a priority to highlight TA--not that I blame him with Gurley, etc.

But I'm pleased, my TA jersey is good for another year. And he was valuable faking the jet sweep--that was real, the way he shifted defenses. I always hoped they could bring him back at the right price.

[timlan2057]

Meh.

He’s playing for dead money, so nothing to lose, but when it comes to “deep-threat, big-play” receiver, Tavon Austin ain’t near the answer.

If we are taking gambles on resurrecting careers, I think the Rams have nothing to lose by signing Michael Crabtree to a cap-friendly deal.

I actually hope Snead-McVay have a big deal in mind somewhere. I’m concerned with losing what Sammy Watkins brought to the offense. No, his numbers weren’t great, but they’d get better. And the threat of Watkins was enough to stretch the field and help open things up for Kupp and company underneath.

Wow. Shades of Rams Talk in the golden days of 1999-2001 before it became Ram Stalk.

It’s nice to once again have a contending, talented team to talk about—one that’s a hot destination for free agents.

[Haden]

We don't want older WRs. This is a young and rising team. Let McVay develop Reynolds and Thomas. he seems high on them. No retreads.

[HAL 9000]

I suppose, other than taking up a roster spot, this is the best way to go about it if it essentially cost's the Rams the same to keep him as it would have to cut him. At least he can be used as a bargaining chip for a trade.

He is what he is at this point, a good decoy and he blocks well down field. He can't run routes and that is not going to change, ever. While my heart may skip a beat or two every time he lines up for a punt, I suppose he could be a back up to Cooper if he goes down.

So there is some value considering he costs nothing. Smart move.

[moklerman]

He is what he is at this point,

I think we're all hoping that's not the case and it seems plausible that it isn't. Four years under Fisher and then missed training camp under McVay and we don't know how bad his wrist was last year.

It's possible that McVay can actually focus on him more this year and get him producing as a WR.