sources say the Rams are now intent on keeping Tavon Austin

because they lost watkins?

InvaderRam wrote:

because they lost watkins?

Probably because nobody would trade for him, and they crunched numbers, and figured this was a better value than cutting him altogether.

I’m surprised a little, but whatever. So far they have been righter than me.

I aint a fan anymore. Too many muffs, too many drops, too many fumbles.
I think they will always outweigh the big plays.

I aint a fan of Phar.Cooper either, btw.

w
v

Rams House@RamsHouse
So what is the cap savings on Austin restructure?

Vincent Bonsignore@DailyNewsVinny
Nominal. But that wasn’t really the motivation.

Alden Gonzalez@Alden_Gonzalez
Rams’ cap space is projected at just a shade under $30M now if you account for what they must allocate for the draft (the incentives have to be factored in on the front end). Tavon Austin will compete with Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas and Pharoh Cooper for snaps at WR.

Pharoh Cooper will continue to return punts (and kickoffs).

Austin restructuring clearly a response to Watkins pricing himself out of LA & other options drying out on FA market. There’s hope, albeit measured, that Austin can benefit from an entire healthy offseason with McVay (wrist surgery and hamstring issues held him back last year).

The rest of Tavon Austin’s contract will be eliminated. So now, basically, he’s on a 1-year, $5M contract worth up to $8M in incentives. He will compete for a role as a wide receiver, with no promises.

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
I do think losing Sammy Watkins influenced the Rams, re: Tavon — they were prepared to move on — but I absolutely don’t think they see him as a Sammy replacement. We’ll see if McVay can work magic and find a role for him.

Rams’ perspective would be…they’re paying the $5m no matter what, so it’s worth a shot to bring Tavon back at [unknown smaller cap hit] rather than the $8m they were staring down. Low risk at that point. No different than signing a low-cost free agent.

Trying to figure out what the Rams might do with Tavon Austin is like deciphering the plotline from “Lost.”

Ryan Kartje@Ryan_Kartje
Maybe they’ll try to reignite the “Tavon can be a deep threat!” conversation. Maybe he’ll be a $5m decoy. Still seems like an odd move.

RamBill

Austin Articles

Tavon Austin reworks Rams deal, can be free agent at end of season/ESPN

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22783586/tavon-austin-returns-los-angeles-rams-restructured-contract

Rams surprisingly retain veteran receiver Tavon Austin with new deal/OC Register

link: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/15/rams-surprisingly-retain-veteran-receiver-tavon-austin-with-new-deal/

Tavon Austin agrees to restructure contract; Ram can be free agent after season/LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-tavon-austin-20180315-story.html

Tavon Austin restructures deal to stay with Rams

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921670/article/tavon-austin-restructures-deal-to-stay-with-rams

zn wrote:

You know when I thought Tavon was leaving, I talked about how McVay just didn’t seem interested in using him in all the ways he can be used. I am doing a 180 on that. I think Tavon staying means that McVay is now willing to use him in all the ways he can be used (and not just some of the ways, like last year).

It’s a little tricky because there’s only so much you can expect from Tavon as a pure receiver. I don’t know how much he can refine his game, or run crisp routes, etc. (Though to be fair we have seen him break free on some outside deep plays before).

So it really is (IMO) a matter of McVay using Tavon the way Tavon can be used. (Though along with that Tavon getting better at the things he can do, too.)

He’s not a receiver. He’s not a running back. Not only does he have some limitations as a receiver, also no receiver has 184 rushes accounting for 48.7% of their touches. And you can tell he’s not a pure back either just by watching him run. He’s an offensive playmaker you can use on many kinds of runs and on some passing plays plus some gadgets.

Since Tavon doesn’t have some of the skills you associate with pure receivers you have to accommodate him and use him in the passing game the ways you CAN use him. You do that because you’re trying to set up explosive plays (and the threat of them). The trick there is adjusting the offense to incorporate the things he CAN do.

So now I am saying, Tavon staying probably means that McVay is now willing to incorporate a lot of the things Tavon can do into his offense. Stuff he left out last year but which we saw in 2015, Tavon’s best year.

===========================

Well i agree with the McV aspect of that, and I expect to see a better marriage of McV’s skills and Tavons this year — i still doubt Tavon will improve his ball-security skills. And that drives me nutz.

So far I am not liking the Rams offense. No more Watkins. No deal at Center. An aging LT who kinda wore down last year. No free agent signing at WR.

w
v

zn wrote:

wv wrote:

Well i agree with the McV aspect of that, and I expect to see a better marriage of McV’s skills and Tavons this year — i still doubt Tavon will improve his ball-security skills. And that drives me nutz.

So far I am not liking the Rams offense. No more Watkins. No deal at Center. An aging LT who kinda wore down last year. No free agent signing at WR.

w
v

On the offense. Last year about this time we didn’t expect all of the things you say they’re losing through age and/or free agency attrition (and they gained a lot more than just that last year). So I think this eager group has a surprise or 2 in store. They do need OL though. For the future.

In terms of Tavon as a fumbler—He fumbled as a returner. Not as a rusher/receiver (ie. “OW” for “offensive weapon.”)

Tavon has 17 fumbles on 158 punt returns. 10.8%. Not good.

As a combined rusher/receiver, he has 5 fumbles on 378 rushes/receptions. 1.3%. That’s 5 in 5 years.

So, he’s just not the kind of dangerous, every play fumbler Bruce and Faulk were.

——————–

There’s dropped passes too. I dont like his hands.

I think good, ball-hawking defenses WANT him on the field at this point.

But we shall see what happens. At least he didnt go and get himself all bulgerized or shot in the head.

w
v

i don’t know if he’s so much willing to as much as he’s having to use tavon in this offense.

i still wouldn’t be surprised to see tavon not get many touches. especially if josh reynolds develops and if the rams get another tight end. which i think they’re certain to do via free agency or the draft.

maybe he still gets cut or can the rams not do this at this point given they restructured his contract?