In praise of Calvin Austin

[Northern_Blitz]

I've been pretty hard on Austin most of last year and this offseason.

I've said that I think he's a good WR3, but too small to be a WR2.

I think he played really well today. Made a couple really important catches. And had a great contested catch "Mossing" a DB. If he can get 70 yards a game, we're in good shape. And did a nice job catching the ball on the TD when he was wide open (sometimes I feel like guys loose concentration and drop these easy ones).

Hoping to be wrong about Austin.

Aside: Apparently R Wilson did dress. Don't know if PFR is correct / up to day, but they say he got 5 offensive snaps and 0 ST.

[hawaiiansteel]

Calvin Austin III on silencing critics with HUGE day

[NorthCoast]

As I've said repeatedly this preseason, there's been far too much hand-wringing about WR2. Austin is capable and if he stays healthy he could crack 800 yds and 5 TDs this season.

[hackjam]

That catch where he took it away from the DB was awesome. I remember everyone saying he plays much bigger than he is after he was drafted and that to me was one of the first times we've seen that in the league.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

That catch where he took it away from the DB was awesome. I remember everyone saying he plays much bigger than he is after he was drafted and that to me was one of the first times we've seen that in the league.

Exactly. First 50-50 ball I can remember.

[NorthCoast]

Exactly. First 50-50 ball I can remember.

He actually made a very similar one last season.

[Oviedo]

I've said since we drafted Austin...he has big talent even though he doesn't have big size

[LPMAN]

Very good game for Austin. My issue with him is still the same though. Love when the play schemes him wide open in a zone defense, but how will he fair vs man to man defenses? Super nice to see him haul in the contested sideline pass because that's how i percieve most of his outer routes to go with tighter coverage & a smaller window to throw because of his height.

[Northern_Blitz]

I had 2 main issues with Austin being a WR2

1. Small with small catch radius. I think he's improved a lot in this area. Year 1 was bad. Year 2 was at least OK. Yesterday looked good.
2. Hard to have him out there all the time because he is bad at blocking (despite trying) and gets rag dolled frequently. Will be interesting to see if he can improve in this area too.

[Northern_Blitz]

Well...game 1 was good anyway.