A lot of people like Tavon Austin. I happen to think that those people's liking of him is based on his being chosen very high in the draft, and on the desire, the wish, to see him succeed.
But are these feelings justifiable?
They may not be.
Tavon Austin has flashed playmaking ability, but the majority of the time he is an average player at best. I think folks got enamored with how he performed in college and were seduced by the thought of that success continuing at the professional level. But, the warning signs were there even before the Rams made him the 8th overall pick in the 2013 draft; and, now, almost halfway through his 4th season, and with a pocket full of cash on the heels of signing a lucrative 2nd contract, he is performing at a considerably underwhelming level.
It was readily evident to me that the types of plays that he succeeded on in college may not be possible at the professional level. Defensive players are faster and more disciplined in the NFL than they are in college. The difference could probably be measured in parsecs.
Tavon Austin can't catch. That was one of the things that stood out to me from watching his college highlights; he didn't catch many balls in his hands. Instead, he made a lot of "basket" catches.
Combined with his brick hands, he is so small that I thought it likely that he would struggle to beat cornerbacks off the LOS. I was convinced that he would need to be schemed and screened open; a high percentage of his touches would have to be manufactured The result is clear now: the two yard bubble screen that the Rams run about 65% of the time with him is not fooling anyone anymore.
Another negative about his size, is that he can't win contested balls against human sized defensive backs. The interception that Keenum threw on the log ball attempt yesterday is a good example of a play where Austin had no chance to get to the ball because he was simply dwarfed by the defenders around him.
And so I ask: what if this is it?
What if this is as good as it gets with Austin - an occasional TD on a reverse, a punt return TD to clinch a game here or there? Sprinkle in a rushing TD every 7 or 8 games and you have what we have: a player who is good for maybe 4 - 7 TD's per year.
Not horrible; in fact, at the high end it's relatively close to half decent.
But now, looking back, was it worth what the Rams gave up to get him?
Knowing what we know now, would anyone draft Tavon Austin? That is an interesting question, and the answer is the verdict that we reach when evaluating past draft choices.
What say ye?
