Austin Davis wows Brett Favre & other media takes on that new guy in St. Louis

Brett Favre’s comments on Austin Davis unrealistic

By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12898/brett-favres-comments-on-austin-davis-unrealistic

EARTH CITY, Mo. — It was almost one year ago today that the St. Louis Rams contacted Brett Favre to see if he’d be interested in returning to replace injured quarterback Sam Bradford.

When Favre declined via his representatives, the Rams turned back to a familiar face in the form of Austin Davis. Davis, who spent a season and a training camp with the Rams before being released in the final round of 2013 cuts, re-signed with the Rams on Oct. 23 of last year.

Just before the anniversary of Davis’ return to the Rams, his name is again tied to Favre, but for quite different reasons.

“Austin can definitely play at this level,” Favre, the only Southern Miss quarterback other than Davis to start more than one NFL game, told Werder. “Not to sound off my rocker, but [Davis] — in my mind — can be the next Tom Brady or Kurt Warner. [Brian] Hoyer, as well.

“Austin, like those mentioned, just needed a legit opportunity.”

Since the shooting star that was Warner’s three-year run in St. Louis ended in 2003, any time a little-known quarterback has stepped into the Rams’ starting job, the hope has existed that the player will somehow morph into the next Warner.

Late-round or undrafted quarterbacks such as Keith Null, Scott Covington, Brock Berlin and a few others have tried their hand and failed only to retreat back into anonymity. Others, such as Marc Bulger and Ryan Fitzpatrick, have developed into starters in the league to varying degrees of success, but none developed into potential Hall of Famers like Warner.

As recently as this preseason, some even went so far as to equate Shaun Hill to Warner after Hill became the starter under circumstances similar to Warner’s. That lasted all of one half before a calf injury to Hill gave Davis an opportunity.

But, to the surprise of many, Davis has done enough in his first five starts to give observers pause and consider the possibility that he might have more of a future than the usual third-stringer-turned-starter.

My first reaction to Favre’s comments was to answer his rhetorical supposition with a resounding yes: He is indeed off his rocker. To compare Davis to Warner or Brady, two quarterbacks who will end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is simply not realistic. Brady and Warner are legendary aberrations at a position where the failure rate far outpaces the success stories. Brady and Warner aren’t just success stories — they’re full-blown outliers.

But before we go too far and offer that Favre has truly lost it, it’s important to note that he threw Hoyer’s name into the conversation. Hoyer has stepped in and done some good things for the Cleveland Browns this season, but in no way has he flashed anything resembling Brady or Warner. Brady won a Super Bowl after stepping into the starting lineup. Warner did the same and did it while posting video game numbers.

It’s also important to note that Favre probably wouldn’t mind seeing Davis, who broke most of Favre’s passing records at Southern Miss, carry the flag for his alma mater.

As for Davis, he’s 2-3 as the Rams’ starter, and though he’s posted big numbers in some games, his influence hasn’t turned his team into an instant winner as Warner and Brady once did.

In five starts plus one half, Davis is completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,517 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions for a passer rating of 94.3 (14th in the NFL) and a QBR of 60.9 (19th). He’s alternately flashed promise (leading a comeback win against Tampa Bay and a clutch late drive to seal the victory against Seattle) and struggled with backbreaking mistakes (three of his four interceptions have been returned for touchdowns).

That isn’t to say Davis doesn’t have some upside. He brings a fiery and enthusiastic approach that his teammates appreciate, and he has an honest way about him that allows him to openly acknowledge his faults and then set about correcting them the following week.

If nothing else, Davis has proved in his handful of starts that he’s deserving of at least a No. 2 job in the NFL. Beyond that, there is still plenty for Davis to prove. The opportunity to make the starting job his on a permanent basis lies in front of him. Becoming the next Hoyer is certainly possible, and you could argue he’s already outplaying Hoyer. But setting the bar at Warner and Brady is simply asking too much.

Herzog wrote:

I don’t remember anyone ever saying Shaun Hill as the next Warner……I call bullshit

Davis played well against Seattle, particularly on the final scoring drive.

But…Favre knows him, and touts him a bit.

In 99, we knew who Warner was by game 2 against Atlanta. Davis could grow and become much more than what we expect even now, but…Warner was visible as Warner in game 2 in 99.

HS coach says Rams QB Austin Davis went a year without throwing a pick until the last practice

Jason Jordan

October 23, 2014

http://usatodayhss.com/2014/hs-coach-says-rams-qb-austin-davis-went-a-year-without-throwing-a-pick-until-the-last-practice

Before Michael Jordan was making Bryon Russell fall with a killer crossover and draining the go ahead jumper to win his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan was a skinny, determined athlete dominating the competition at Laney High (Wilmington, N.C.).

Before Adrian Peterson was trucking opposing defenses and racking up 2,097 yards in a single season for the Minnesota Vikings he was shining bright under the Friday night lights at Palestine High (Palestine, Texas), averaging 12 yards a carry and scoring 32 touchdowns.

Before any athlete can become legendary they have to lay their foundation in the high school ranks.

Each week I’ll chat with a high-profile athlete’s former coach, mentor, family member, etc., and reminisce about their high school playing days; everything from the greatest moment to the wackiest story.

This week I caught up with St. Louis Rams quarterback Austin Davis’ high school coach at West Lauderdale (Collinsville, Miss.) Stan McCain.

Jason Jordan: I know Austin was the most accomplished player in West Lauderdale history so this will be hard; what’s your best memory of him on the field?

Stan McCain: You know there were so many; he really came into his own by the end of his sophomore year. He was our starter and played OK, but wasn’t doing what I thought he could do. Then he turned it on in the playoffs and took us all the way to the state title game. He could really throw the ball man! We were a Wing-T team so we didn’t throw the ball as much as some other schools. We used his legs and his arm.

JJ: What’s your best memory of Austin off the field?

SM: He had a group of about eight or nine friends that all came up together and they were always together fishing and hanging out and all that stuff. For the most part he was all about ball; if he wasn’t in the batting cage he was throwing the football.

JJ: What’s the craziest story you can recall from his recruitment?

SM: He didn’t get all the loads of offers because, like I said, we had a Wing-T offense so that hurt his stats a little. The thing I remember is that he made the Mississippi-Alabama All Star game and Southeastern Louisiana really wanted him bad. They saw his value before any other school saw it and wanted him to come in and start as a freshman, but he decided to sign a baseball scholarship with Southern Mississippi and walk-on to the football team. The best thing that happened to him was when Coach Fedora came in and gave him a legitimate shot at starting. When he did that they couldn’t get him off the field.

JJ: What was his personality on the team?

SM: He was the leader. He was the guy that the guys on the team looked up to. They knew he could get them wins and they did what he said. He’s a great leader and he knows how to get his teammates to play for him as hard as they can. You’ll start seeing it more and more.

JJ: What’s something about Austin that people would be shocked to know?

SM: Well, he was one of our slower quarterbacks; he ran about a 5.2 40 and that didn’t set well with him. At the end of the football season he was starting baseball and after baseball practice you’d see him stretching a running sprints. By the time he finished baseball season four months later he was down to a 4.7. Another thing is that he went his whole senior year without throwing one interception; I’m talking in games and in practice.

Think about that. I mean he never threw one pick. Then the week of our playoff game he threw one in practice. We literally just stopped and all looked at each other because we’d never seen that all year. We pass a lot in practice too; plenty of opportunities to throw interceptions and he never threw one. Not one. Then he threw it on that last practice. He ended up throwing one in the game too!

JJ: Do the Rams have their quarterback of the future in Austin Davis?

SM: You better believe it. I knew that all he needed was a chance. I knew if he were to get a chance it’d be hard to get that joker out of there. He got his chance and he’s not letting go! I know there are great quarterbacks in the NFL, but none of them will outwork him or study harder than him. Somebody’s gonna have to beat his tail back out to put him on the bench. I think he can will them to wins too. He’s just that type of player. I’ll tell you what; if they don’t make the playoffs it won’t be because of him. He’ll more than do his part.

Peter King

PLAYER YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/10/24/nfl-week-8-preview-london-morning-game/2/

Austin Davis, quarterback, St. Louis (number 9). As Davis leads the Rams into Arrowhead Stadium for a rare cross-state game with the cross-conference Chiefs, I don’t think the road will intimidate or affect him much. In two road starts in his young and stunningly good NFL career, he’s been a revelation: 65 percent completions, three touchdowns, no interceptions, 7.78 yards per attempt.

Davis is getting more confident as the weeks go by. He was in total control against the Seahawks last week, completing 17 of 20 and taking no sacks in St. Louis’ upset win. To beat the Chiefs, though, I think he’s going to have take a few chances downfield against a secondary that’s had a few plays made against it. Kansas City’s defense has only three interceptions and surrendered a passer rating of 94.8 to opposing quarterbacks.