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dzrams
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Hazlet Hacksaw
Of course they should use him like in 2015 - if the passing game improves as we think it will - it will only give him more space underneath where he does his best work.
I agree wholeheartedly.
He was already dangerous in 2015 being used that way, so, in 2017, with Watkins and Woods aboard opening up space on offense, he could even be more dangerous doing the same things. But, since 2015, he also added a bit more in terms of long routes. So I would expect that to get mixed in too.
Health of course is the issue.
....
Let's imagine ourselves as the opposing DC for just a moment. Humor me.
Which scenario presents itself as most likely a favorable outcome for my hypothetical D?
1) Rams leave Watkins, Woods, and Kupp on the field and run a pass play. Tavon remains on sideline.
2) Rams remove any one of the above and insert Tavon and run a pass play.
3) Rams run a 2 TE set plus Watkins and one of Kupp or Woods. Tavon stays on sideline.
4) Rams run a 2 TE set plus Watkins and Tavon. No Kupp or Woods to defend.
Now, think about this as an opposing DC would, not as your heart might be tugging you.
As an opposing DC, any scenario that inserts Tavon and causes any one of Watkins, Woods, or Kupp to go to the sideline improves my D's chances.
Sorry.
Just my opinion, of course.
Several DCs are already on record as saying that anytime you have a guy that is a playmaker, that at any moment can take one to the house, that's a guy that you game plan for and stay up at night worrying about.
It's a nice hypothetical but it's not a mystery.
McVay has answered this question too. He has directly said that as an HC/OC you try to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers as often as possible.
The only reason you've resisted this position from McVay is because your heart is tugging at you against TA.
Kupp doesn't have the same ability to change a game in a matter of seconds as Tavon. Neither does Woods. Neither does Higbee in your 2 TE scenario.
Neither does Everett at this moment for that matter. He is a playmaker but he's also a rookie.
Explosive playmaking ability is a quality that McVay values very highly. That's actually THE reason they gave for drafting Everett.
So no.... there is NO chance that McVay is not trying his damnedest to get Tavon touches in space.
Well, 12 TD's receiving in 4 seasons for Tavon, dz.
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www.espn.com]
I'll let the catch percentage, average yards per catch stats speak for themselves.
I suspect that Tavon's reputation exceeds his accomplishments in the minds of many.
Myself, if I'm the hypothetical opposing DC in a regular season game?
I would more fear the consistent damage that a Watkins, Kupp, or Woods could do to me. Certainly as a WR.
Sorry.
I think you're missing a key point or three 43.
Snead said McVay likes various flavors to attack defenses.
Consistent damage has some value. But so does game breaking plays.
And if you listen to coaches and coordinators on both sides of the ball, they value or fear the explosive plays more than anything. That's just a fact.
A second but closely related point to this is, another type of "flavor" is having unlimited combos that he can throw at opposing D's depending on down, distance, point in the game, etc.
I believe you make an error in dismissing an explosive player by asking who is he gonna replace on the field.
At some point, all of them. I'm certain that McVay wants to throw varied looks at defenses using all of his weapons. The variety itself, makes the overall offense harder to defend and gameplan for.
Lastly, you seem narrowly focused on Tavon as a WR. (Oh and BTW, you seem very excited about Robert Woods and he has exactly 12 TDs receiving in 4 seasons too. What gives on that?)
But your hypothetical essentially asked who DCs will fear not who is the best WR.
If you really are interested in considering things from a DC perspective, you’re gonna have to open your mind to think about Tavon in more than just receiving terms. He’s an all-purpose weapon with explosive, playmaking ability.
McVay and Snead keep trying to tell us that’s how they view it. DC’s have already said that’s how they view it. Maybe it’s not “happy talk” or “coach speak” huh?
