McVay's Approach With Tavon Austin Could Transform His Career
by Wildflecken
There has probably been no larger critic of Tavon on this forum than myself. But the news regarding McVay's approach with Austin this offseason is brilliant. It may transform his career into the player they envisioned when moving up in the draft to select him. The injury alone is not why they are auditioning new punt returners for the 2017 season. The plan all along was to have Austin focus on the routes he would be running on game day, aka, the Desean Jackson role. The role I have been promoting for him since his inception on the roster. And it finally appears to be happening. While questions remain if this transformation will be a success, if it does fail it will not the due to the approach taken this offseason. For any chance of success Austin's sole concentration this offseason had to be on the routes he would run on game day, and since the injury is upper body, he is running these routes in every authorized session.
Reporting the injury was brilliant as well. It keeps the media at arms length and stops the daily questions on why TA is not working with the special teams or units he worked with in the past due to his multi use as a talent. He is allowed to focus solely on his new role away from the lime light. By keeping his legs fresh and limiting his responsibilities to the deep routes he will run often on game day, we may be hearing Austin's name on Sports Center and Red Zone often. He may yet live up to the lofty contract paid.
No player on the roster will benefit more by Austin's success in this new role than Todd Gurley. If Austin is established as a threat in this role during the first quarter of next season, Gurley will see the second level this season often as defenses will be forced out of the box, something our offensive line did not benefit once from last season. There is a new offensive mind this season Rams fans, and he knows what he is doing. Jump on the bandwagon casual fans, it is going to be a fun ride for the next five seasons and hopefully beyond. Go Rams!
