How can the Rams Best Utilize Tavon Austin?

With the St. Louis Rams improving the offensive roster in the offseason, how can the Rams optimize Tavon Austin?

In the 2013 NFL Draft, the St Louis Rams selected Austin, a wider receiver from West Virginia University as the 8^th overall pick. He had proved his worth not only at WVU but also at the 2013 combine, completing the 20 yd. shuttle at 4.01 sec. and the 40 yard dash at an impressive 4.34 seconds.

More from Rams News

• Is the LA Rams offensive line already better off than it was a year ago?
• What is the most important key to LA Rams 2023 NFL season?
• LA Rams Bobby Wagner’s swag helped hold team together in 2023
• Raheem Morris met with Indianapolis Colts well into evening
• LA Rams beat the odds in their Matthew Stafford trade

Austin became pivotal to the offense during his last season with WVU in 2012, contributing 114 receptions and 1,289 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Looking to the NFL, in the 2014 regular season, he was a target receiver 44 times, producing 31 receptions and 242 receiving yards, contributing two passing touchdowns. Although collegiate football is not as fast, hard and competitive as the NFL, the statistical comparison between Austin’s college stats and the NFL leave unquestionable talent that has not been used thus far.

There is no doubt, that the Rams’ passing game will improve with Nick Foles, however, coach Fisher has not utilized Austin in ways that are effective on the football field. Statistics from the 2013 combine alone gives evidence to the speed that Austin can produce, making this essential for St. Louis to develop in the right ways. Slant routes and drag routes stand out as viable options for improved productivity, for it is unlikely that Austin will win battles in deep field passes that need height contests.

Developing Austin into a reliable wide receiver will compliment the heavy run game for St. Louis, possessing lightening quick speed on the break, ideally exploiting man defense schemes, which in turn may help with a more consistent third down conversion rate that is much-needed for this offense.

“Developing Austin into a reliable wide receiver will compliment the heavy run game for St. Louis”

Some fans that believe Austin is, and always will be, a bust pick that never delivered what Fisher had promised in 2013. However, looking at this roster with a newly acquired Foles starting behind center, the dynamic of this offense will change, and Austin has the potential to step-up and act as one of the Rams primary receivers, along with Kenny Britt and Jared Cook.