Tavon Austin scares me

[Big Ern McCracken]

"Can't touch this" - MC Hammer

Hopkins 2013 stats:

2012 Game Log			Receiving
DATE	OPP	RESULT	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
9/1	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2/auburn-tigers"]Auburn[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322450002"]26-19[/URL]	13	119	9.2	25	1
9/8	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2050/ball-state-cardinals"]Ball State[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322520228"]52-27[/URL]	6	105	17.5	34	3
9/15	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/231/furman-paladins"]Furman[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322590228"]41-7[/URL]	7	95	13.6	27	0
9/22	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/52/florida-state-seminoles"]Florida State[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322660052"]49-37[/URL]	5	88	17.6	60	1
9/29	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/103/boston-college-eagles"]Boston College[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322730103"]45-31[/URL]	11	197	17.9	58	1
10/6	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/59/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets"]Georgia Tech[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322800228"]47-31[/URL]	7	173	24.7	58	2
10/20	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/259/virginia-tech-hokies"]Virginia Tech[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322940228"]38-17[/URL]	3	68	22.7	37	1
10/25	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/154/wake-forest-demon-deacons"]Wake Forest[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322990154"]42-13[/URL]	6	64	10.7	25	1
11/3	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/150/duke-blue-devils"]Duke[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323080150"]56-20[/URL]	4	128	32.0	58	3
11/10	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/120/maryland-terrapins"]Maryland[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323150228"]45-10[/URL]	4	59	14.8	28	1
11/17	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/152/north-carolina-state-wolfpack"]North Carolina State[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323220228"]62-48[/URL]	2	75	37.5	62	1
11/24	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2579/south-carolina-gamecocks"]South Carolina[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323290228"]27-17[/URL]	1	43	43.0	43	1
Chick-fil-A BOWL
12/31	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/99/lsu-tigers"]LSU[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323660228"]25-24[/URL]	13	191	14.7	31	2

Tavon Austin Stats:

DATE	OPP	RESULT	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
9/1	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/276/marshall-thundering-herd"]Marshall[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322450277"]69-34[/URL]	10	53	5.3	15	1
9/15	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/256/james-madison-dukes"]James Madison[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322590277"]42-12[/URL]	11	113	10.3	35	1
9/22	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/120/maryland-terrapins"]Maryland[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322660277"]31-21[/URL]	13	179	13.8	44	3
9/29	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/239/baylor-bears"]Baylor[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322730277"]70-63[/URL]	14	215	15.4	52	2
10/6	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/251/texas-longhorns"]Texas[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322800251"]48-45[/URL]	10	102	10.2	40	1
10/13	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2641/texas-tech-red-raiders"]Texas Tech[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322872641"]49-14[/URL]	10	92	9.2	38	0
10/20	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2306/kansas-state-wildcats"]Kansas State[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=322940277"]55-14[/URL]	6	34	5.7	11	1
11/3	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2628/tcu-horned-frogs"]TCU[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323080277"]39-38 (2OT)[/URL]	11	101	9.2	43	1
11/10	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/197/oklahoma-state-cowboys"]Oklahoma State[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323150197"]55-34[/URL]	11	79	7.2	17	1
11/17	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/201/oklahoma-sooners"]Oklahoma[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323220277"]50-49[/URL]	4	82	20.5	41	0
11/23	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/66/iowa-state-cyclones"]Iowa State[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323280066"]31-24[/URL]	6	99	16.5	75	1
12/1	[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2305/kansas-jayhawks"]Kansas[/URL]	W [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323360277"]59-10[/URL]	4	110	27.5	44	0
NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL
12/29	@[URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/183/syracuse-orange"]Syracuse[/URL]	L [URL="http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=323640183"]38-14[/URL]	4	30	7.5	13	0

Tavon Austin Receiving Totals:

114	1289	12	11.3	75

DeAndre Hopkins Receiving Totals:

82	1405	18	17.1	62

IMO, Hopkins played against tougher competition. Hopkins was consistent throughout the entire year. Why did Austin drop off so dramatically?

Austin's best receiving game = Baylor. Not knocking Austin here (he's a good player) but Baylor's defense is barely a cut above pee wee football.

Hopkins best game was on Clemson's biggest stage of the year... against LSU in the Chick-fil-a bowl in which he streaded LSU's defense and won the game with a critical catch on 4th down late in the 4th quarter. Not to mention against a defense that is loaded with NFL prospects.

Don't forget... Tavon had 350 YARDS RUSHING against Oklahoma this year. All the more reason I take Austin. The kid is versatile.

[steelz09]

Don't forget... Tavon had 350 YARDS RUSHING against Oklahoma this year. All the more reason I take Austin. The kid is versatile.

The kid is good but big deal regarding the 350 rushing yards. It's an impressive # but I'm not going to overdraft the guy because of that. It's one game. If we draft him, he'll be drafted to play WR as his PRIMARY position... not RB. The Steelers do not typically have their starting WRs as PR/KR either. So if history holds true, Austin won't be a long term KR/PR for the Steelers. He MIGHT see a couple of trick plays a game that involves him rushing.

Is he more dynamic than Hopkins... Probably.

I don't want a jack of all trades player that won't be utilized. I want a WR that is an outside threat. Hopkins would be an outside WR. Austin would be best leveraged in the slot. We don't need another slot receiver... we need an outside guy. Hopkins is that... Austin is not.

[Shoe]

I was going to come on here to start a Tavon Austin thread, because I think I've concluded that he is the guy I'm hoping is there when we pick. As said about the "knock" on his game already, the guy has not missed a game during his college career (his coach also said he can't remember him missing practice).

[Chadman]

If it comes down to a pass catcher at #17, Chadman would want Patterson over Austin, and not necessarily because of a 'size' thing. In Chadman's opinion, Patterson is a better 'after the catch' runner than Austin (strange, Chadman understands, as all Austin highlights show him running after the catch). Patterson consistantly seems to be breaking tackles, however, unlike Austin who is flying through open space. In the NFL, open space is rare air.

[Big Ern McCracken]

The kid is good but big deal regarding the 350 rushing yards. It's an impressive # but I'm not going to overdraft the guy because of that. It's one game. If we draft him, he'll be drafted to play WR as his PRIMARY position... not RB. The Steelers do not typically have their starting WRs as PR/KR either. So if history holds true, Austin won't be a long term KR/PR for the Steelers. He MIGHT see a couple of trick plays a game that involves him rushing.

Is he more dynamic than Hopkins... Probably.


I don't want a jack of all trades player that won't be utilized. I want a WR that is an outside threat. Hopkins would be an outside WR. Austin would be best leveraged in the slot. We don't need another slot receiver... we need an outside guy. Hopkins is that... Austin is not.

350 yards no big deal huh??? lol... How many runningbacks in the draft have a 350 yard game? the bottom line is... the more a kid can do, the more a defense has to prepare for. Of course you have to have a competent OC like the patriots to utilize a weapon like this to the best of his abilities....

It would be nice to have an outside receiver...but, if your trademark is to go with the "Best Player Available", it's Tavon Austin.

[thor75]

So if history holds true, Austin won't be a long term KR/PR for the Steelers. He MIGHT see a couple of trick plays a game that involves him rushing.

Is he more dynamic than Hopkins... Probably.

I don't want a jack of all trades player that won't be utilized. I want a WR that is an outside threat. Hopkins would be an outside WR. Austin would be best leveraged in the slot. We don't need another slot receiver... we need an outside guy. Hopkins is that... Austin is not.

Very well stated. DeSean Jackson, Randall Cobb, Percy Harvin to name a few. These guys are dynamic returners who contribute for their special teams. I think the Steelers would be hesitant to put Austin on kick return duty. He would greatly impact the field position battle IF they would use him. Last year on denver radio there was a big debate over the donkeys having Jim Leonhard return punts. The coaches didn't seem to mind if his returns were minimal, they knew they could count on him securing the ball. Just depends on the teams philosophy. I would hate to draft him and have that game changer on the bench in those situations.

[Big Ern McCracken]

Very well stated. DeSean Jackson, Randall Cobb, Percy Harvin to name a few. These guys are dynamic returners who contribute for their special teams. I think the Steelers would be hesitant to put Austin on kick return duty. He would greatly impact the field position battle IF they would use him. Last year on denver radio there was a big debate over the donkeys having Jim Leonhard return punts. The coaches didn't seem to mind if his returns were minimal, they knew they could count on him securing the ball. Just depends on the teams philosophy. I would hate to draft him and have that game changer on the bench in those situations.

Yea, you don't want a kid with those talents sitting on the bench. He's only a "reach" with the first pick if they don't utilize his versatility. I guess it's "6 in one, 1/2 dozen in the other" so to speak. You can take patterson this year... and work on drafting sander's replacement next year, or draft sander's replacement this year (Austin), and let Plex Burris play the "Big receiver" role this year...

then draft a tall receiver next year.... or, maybe draft a big receiver in the late rounds (this year) that has a big upside... let them develop for a year, and give them some reps at some point.

[steelz09]

350 yards no big deal huh??? lol... How many runningbacks in the draft have a 350 yard game? the bottom line is... the more a kid can do, the more a defense has to prepare for. Of course you have to have a competent OC like the patriots to utilize a weapon like this to the best of his abilities....

It would be nice to have an outside receiver...but, if your trademark is to go with the "Best Player Available", it's Tavon Austin.

I don't think he'll be BPA. I don't think he's the best receiver let alone BPA. The reality is the Steelers do NOT historically use their their starting WRs as KR/PR much beyond the first year. Not in the Tomlin era and not in the Cowher era. You really think that philosophy is going to change with Austin?

[DukieBoy]

Why would we need another small receiver? We have gilreath if we need that. We have bigger needs.

[Big Ern McCracken]

I don't think he'll be BPA. I don't think he's the best receiver let alone BPA. The reality is the Steelers do NOT historically use their their starting WRs as KR/PR much beyond the first year. Not in the Tomlin era and not in the Cowher era. You really think that philosophy is going to change with Austin?

I didn't say anything about using him as a kick returner.

[Big Ern McCracken]

Why would we need another small receiver? We have gilreath if we need that. We have bigger needs.

I agree that we have bigger needs in the draft. I'm hoping they draft a safety or ILB with the first pick. I was only making a "What if'" comparison of Patterson v Austin for the first pick.

[feltdizz]

Don't forget... Tavon had 350 YARDS RUSHING against Oklahoma this year. All the more reason I take Austin. The kid is versatile.

The score was 50 to 49... so you pretty much have to throw those stats out the window. This was a track meet... most Big 12 games are track meets these days and it's rare to see a low scoring affair these days.

[Big Ern McCracken]

The score was 50 to 49... so you pretty much have to throw those stats out the window. This was a track meet... most Big 12 games are track meets these days and it's rare to see a low scoring affair these days.

You are right about the Big 12, but you certainly can't take away from the kid's ability. How many times did the Sooners give up 350 yards rushing total this year, let alone to one player?