Sean McVay’s offensive scheme was a boom to Jamison Crowder in 2017.
For the Los Angeles Rams to get their money’s worth, his scheme has to do even more with Tavon Austin.
Covers32.com compared Austin, the Rams wide receiver who receives No. 1 wideout pay to Crowder, perhaps the No. 4 receiver for the Washington Redskins last season—behind DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed.
As Covers32.com suggests, the two are similar in size and stature. Pro Football Reference lists Austin at 5-foot-9, 174 pounds; Crowder is 5-8, 174. The numbers Crowder put up for the Redskins were impressive, especially in the improvement compared to his 2015 stats.
Crowder had 67 receptions for 846 yards with seven touchdowns in 2016 for a 12.6-yard average playing under McVay, who was Washington’s offensive coordinator last season. The previous season, Crowder had 59 receptions for 604 yards with two TDs.
Even those numbers in catches and yards would be career highs for Austin, who is in the second year of a four-year, $42 million contract, with $28.5 million guaranteed, according to Sportrac.
He had career highs of 58 receptions for 509 yards and three scores. Austin also rushed the ball 28 times for 159 yards and another TD. The former Baylor wideout had his best season in 2015 when he had 52 receptions for 473 yards and five TDs to go along with 434 yards and four scores on 52 rushing attempts.
But in terms of explosiveness, Austin’s best year was his rookie year when he averaged 10.5 yards per catch (40 receptions, 418 yards, four TDs) and an impressive 16.8 rushing yards per attempt (nine carries for 151 yards and one TD).
Doubling those numbers would start to push Austin toward No. 1 wide receiver status. That’s easier said than done, as Covers32.com reports:
The shifty receiver has had difficulty creating production over the course of a season. Tavon has never averaged over 35 yards per game through 16 games. Rams’ fans can assign blame to constant offensive coordinator turnover and a revolving door of quarterbacks, but unfortunately as the 8th pick in the draft, you are expected to produce. In St. Louis and LA, rightfully so, the Rams made every effort to give Austin short touches so he could find space and create the big play, and in some cases, his yards per catch suffered.
Los Angeles need Austin to put up explosive numbers if it is to seriously improve its anemic offense from 2016. Austin shouldn’t worry about who will be throwing him passes in 2017 as the coaching staff has a vested interest in making Jared Goff its franchise quarterback after struggling in 2016.
Crowder had some explosive moments in Washington last season, made more impressive by the cast around him. Austin right now has free-agent acquisition Robert Woods and—to a lesser extent—running back Todd Gurley.
Austin may have as much to prove as Goff. He certainly has to surpass Crowder’s numbers of 2016.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
