Austin Pettis Shows Why He IS The Number Two Guy

Every week Brian Quick gets listed as the 4th wide receiver, and every week fans wonder why in the world he is listed behind Austin Pettis, and demand that the coaches are making a horrible mistake doing so. Well let me tell you this Rams fans. Brian Quick may not be as good as you think, and Austin Pettis may not be as bad as you think.

Against the Jaguars Austin Pettis had his first multiple touchdown game as a pro as well as leading the team in receiving yards with 49. Pettis also lead the team in receiving yards last week and leads the team in touchdowns with four matching his last season total which was tied for most on the team.

Pettis is also the Rams’ most consistent and most dependable wide receiver While Tavon Austin is consistently dropping balls, he has five on the season which is the 4th most in the NFL, Pettis has only dropped one pass all year. Not only that, but Of Pettis’ 22 catches, 14 have gone for first downs and four more have gone for touchdowns. That means 81 percent of Pettis’ catches are either moving the chains or putting points on the board. Austin Pettis sure has a nose for the end zone and to get across the chains and that’s really all you could ask for from a wide receiver.

That stat isnt just a one time occurrence either. Over the past two seasons, Pettis has 52 catches with 38 of them going for a first down or touchdown. Pettis has found a role and he is striving in that role. Pettis has become Bradford’s favorite and most dependable target. Pettis is the longest tenured wide receiver on the Rams, and him and Bradford have been through everything good and bad on the offense. Both players know what the other is expecting on every play. Pettis may just be in his third season, but he plays like a veteran.

Not only does Pettis do all of that, but he is arguably the most clutch wide receiver on the roster catching first down passes and touchdowns when they matter the most. Last season Pettis caught a very important touchdown pass against the 49ers and then again against the Bills, he caught a very difficult and important pass, one that none of the other wide receivers likely would have made. Again this season Pettis caught the touchdown pass that basically put the game away against the Jaguars. How do you bench a guy that is making plays?

In the offseason Brian Quick was thought to maybe take the number two spot away from Austin Pettis. Pettis responded by being called the most impressive guy in camp. Pettis won his job by making plays. Brian Quick didnt lose the number two job, Austin Pettis won it.

Brian Quick is still learning how to play the game and is discovering who he is as a player. He has made plays, but he is still learning. Last season Brian Quick made a nice play against the 49ers and then another one against the Vikings. We havent seen much of that this season, but he really hasnt gotten the opportunity. This season Quick has 6 catches for 95 yards and had his best game last week against the Jaguars with 45 yards receiving. Believe it or  not Quick is ahead of where he was at this point last season. Through five weeks last year Quick only had  two receptions for 20 yards.

Many fans wonder how and why Austin Pettis continues to start ahead of Brian Quick every week, and every week fans just become more and more disappointed in Brian Quick. I was one of them. Until I took a more in depth look at it and really looked at the situation from a different angle, I see Pettis is the right guy. You dont just bench a guy that makes plays and has great chemistry with the quarterback. I ask you to do the same and give Austin Pettin a chance.