Quote
AlbaNY_Ram
Interesting that he is not just used as a deep threat this year. I had assumed, based on his usage last year, that he wasn't suited to running short or intermediate routes. Now I'm left wondering why McVay didn't expand Watkins' role last year.

I've posted this several times but here goes again...

McVay stated himself several times, in interviews immediately prior to free agency, why he didn't expand Watkins' role last year. He didn't have time.

He said Watkins arrived late, after the offense had already been installed, and the only thing he absolutely NEEDED for the offense was a deep threat. McVay expressly stated that he knew Watkins had a larger skill set than what he utilized.

I haven't dug up a link, and this was interview stuff so there may not be one but McVay explained it pretty clearly...more than once.

As for his capabilities, when larams was still posting on the board, I believe it was him who pointed out that Watkins did mostly short and intermediate stuff in Buffalo.

And we saw that with the Rams last year too. They used him on short stuff and slants in the RZ. That's how he got 8 TDs.