Holt: Tavon Austin's Biggest Impact Will be on Special Teams
By Brendan Marks
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...-Biggest-Impact-Will-be-on-Special-Teams.aspx
When the St. Louis Rams traded up to select Tavon Austin in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, many thought the franchise had finally gotten an elite playmaking receiver that’s long alluded them.
And while Austin supplied his fair share of highlights in his rookie campaign - including this special return TD against the Colts in Week 10 - he still has yet to consistently provide the spark the offense needs.
And according to former Rams receiver Torry Holt, he hasn’t had a great training camp thus far.
“Tavon Austin has been very quiet this camp, and I thought he was quiet the other night,” Holt said on The Edmonds and McKernan Show on Tuesday. “And for a guy who was picked 8th overall, it’s bothering me he’s been so quiet up to this point.”
Holt acknowledges Austin’s natural ability, but doesn’t think his biggest contributions this year will be at the receiver position.
“What it looks like, what is sound like, he’ll make his biggest impact on special teams,” Holt said. I know fans don’t necessarily wanna hear that, I really don't wanna hear that, particularly with a guy being picked 8th overall at the receiver position.”
With the Rams now completely back to a run-first team following their spread offense experiment early last season, and the fact some think he’s the fourth best receiver on the team right now insert Thomas link, it begs the question on if Austin is a good fit in this offense.
“That’s a legitimate question,” Holt said. “They want to run it more than they passed it, so that means there will be less opportunities for (the receivers). Where can (Austin) help the ball club if he’s not getting a lot of opportunities on the offense?”
Holt talked much more about the current state of the Rams with Edmonds and McKernan. You can listen to their whole conversation here.