Tavon Austin Growing Into His Role

Through the first two seasons of his career, Tavon Austin appeared to be a man without a position in St. Louis. The former eighth overall pick looked like he was destined to be a player that was used on mostly trick plays and punt returns. That has all changed through the first four weeks of 2015.

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Through the opening quarter of the 2015 season, Austin has been the top offensive threat. He has 14 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns, 10 rushes for 77 yards and a touchdown and a punt return touchdown. Austin is tied for the team lead in receptions with the second most targets and the most receiving touchdowns, he is second on the team in rushing yards and is one of just six players to return a punt for a touchdown.

If Austin were to continue his current pace, he would set career-highs in targets with 76, receptions with 56, receiving yards with 552, receiving touchdowns with eight, rushing attempts with 40, rushing yards with 308, rushing touchdowns with four and total offensive touchdowns with 12.

Oct 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) celebrates after scoring a 12 yard touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Austin’s emergence as a more complete player has not gone unnoticed from the Rams organization.

“We’ve said it all off season and (training) camp, Tavon Austin’s a complete player,” offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti said about Austin’s play. “He’s a great route runner, whether it’s taking the top off or running intermediate routes, short routes. He has a unique skill set where we can get him touches on the perimeter. He’s doing a great job. I’m very impressed with his play and his preparation.”

Austin’s true breakout game as a more complete player may have happened in the Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Austin ran the ball twice for 20 yards while also hauling six receptions on seven targets for 96 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-clinching touchdown late in the 4th quarter.

Not only was Austin a major contributor on the stat sheet, he was used multiple times to create misdirection in the running game, allowing rookie Todd Gurley to rush for over 100 yards in the 2nd half on the win.

Head coach Jeff Fisher noted that Austin was a key part to the success of the Rams rushing attack following the win.

“We did. We were playing a very good defense,” Fisher said. “There’s going to be some tackles for losses here and there because of their penetration. But, we made a couple of minor adjustments and they had respect for Tavon and where Tavon was and that just kind of opened some things, created some creases for us.”

With Austin on pace to have a career year, it appears that the former top-10 pick is finally realizing his true potential. The Rams are in need of a play-maker to expand their offense as they make a run at the top of the NFC West, and Austin could be that playmaker.

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