Austin Should Start
by beautifultyrant on Oct 12, 2009 4:35 PM CDT
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PrintAfter two (or was it three?) catchable and dropped passes in the end zone, admit it, you started yelling at the parlor wall phrases such as “bench him!” and “his hands suck!” Meanwhile, Austin simply turned his fortune around and had the most productive day of any Cowboys receiver in history.
Obviously, Austin proved something yesterday; he should start. The knee-jerk reaction would be “make him the number one receiver.” Not yet my friend. He deservers the number two spot. This should have happened months ago. It’s astonishing that coaches, especially Ray Sherman, would not give Austin the opportunity. During training camp, Sherman stated that Patrick Crayton was the unquestioned number two receiver. From all the articles and blogs I read, it was clear that Austin and Sam Hurd were having better camps than Crayton. Why not give them a shot? After all, this is Austin’s fourth year; he is not a green rookie, he has the speed, give him the opportunity. As Austin proved yesterday, players need chances.
Also, it’s not as if Crayton has been lighting it up. He has not even been average this year. Move him to the slot where his craftiness makes him a threat. Austin’s size, speed, and potential are just too intriguing. Don’t get me wrong. Austin will not have another 10 catch, 250 yard game any time soon, but if he can get 5-6 catches and 60 to 70 yards a game, he deserves to be the number two. If he can get 7-8 catches and 80-90 yards a game, he should supplant Roy Williams.
A few months ago amid the Terrell Owens release, I wrote a post titled “Many Miles Asunder.” Well, asunder no more, Miles Austin has arrived.
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you cant
take away a starter’s position because of training camp. There was a kid in my high school who somehow was awesome during practice but was terrible in games. Austin had to prove he can perform in real games, which he did. He did have those drops, but he had a few big grabs, such as that jump ball on the sideline and the first down he caught coming across the middle. People are also not giving him that much credit in the Broncos game when he got WIDE open on both the 3rd and 4th down plays.
It also seems that Romo can throw to an Austin type receiver better than he can to Roy Williams. Roy’s strengths are quick slants and jump balls, two throws that are not Romo’s strongpoints. Romo likes having the fast receiver that he can throw it up for and let him run and get it. I think more time for Austin on the outside and you’ll see more deep connections as well. This could be a good combo in the coming future.
It's not cocky if it's a lie.
yeah, the jump ball
on the sideline was awesome! It reminded me of the Alvin Harper play in the ’92 NFC championship.
by beautifultyrant on Oct 12, 2009 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions
That was a thing of beauty
He totally bailed Romo out on that one. Kind of makes up for the pick that was 100% his fault against Denver.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Oct 13, 2009 1:35 AM CDT up reply actions
A new single game record of 250 yards
should get Austin a starting spot. This is a place for Wade/Red Head to kick it up a notch. There can be no doubt that Austin is a playmaker after Sundays performance. It would be stupid if the Red Head did not make him a big part of the Atlanta game plan. If nothing else he should now draw alot of that fear factor that TO drew. Maybe he can run off coverage and help Witten, Roy and the running game. If he draws single coverage he can take it to the house each time he touches the ball.
Austin had a great game, but he needs to repeat it again and again
This game showed both the good and bad of Miles Austin.
He had several drops, including potentially 2-3 more TDs. But he also shook off tacklers and showed his nose and speed for the end zone. The deep sideline pass where he outfought the defender was also a nice play, as was a pass where he had to reach back and get it for a key first down.
I think the key here will be that Romo will look for Austin a lot more now, like he looks for Witten. And he will trust him to win the contest if the defender is close.
But Austin also ran the wrong route in the Denver game, allowing Champ Bailey to intercept at the Denver 3. Had we even gotten the FG there, we probably win that game.
I think Austin gives us a chance to have a good wide receiving corps. But he’s going to have to become much more consistent than he’s been for that to bear out.
I didn't see these drops everyone is talking about
The endzone pass was knocked out of his hands, he didn’t drop it and the two others he barely got one hand on were slightly overthrown, you can’t call those drops.
The only real drops I saw were by Crayton and Hurd.
In Romo we Trust
I didn't think the endzone one was really knocked out...
I’m not saying crucify him, but I guarantee you that he knows that should have been caught. It was thrown really well.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 12, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions
from the angle I saw it clearly was
as Austin was bringing it in, the CB got his hand inside and slapped it out.
And I agree, it was a perfect pass.
In Romo we Trust
yeah
still he should have secured it, not saying that it doesn’t happen but if he had possesion for a millisecond, it wasn’t like it was slapped before Austin had his hands around it.
One way or another, that game should provide convidence, with him and gain the trust of his QB.
That catch he made with the defender on him was beautiful, even Owens wasn’t a guy who ever fought for the ball.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 12, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I personally thought Austin showed great hands in that game
Like Fitzy, he showed the ability to go up and out fight the defender for the ball, thats what great WRs do.
I think Austin just might be a future star in the league, he has all the tools.
In Romo we Trust
The catch he made on the short pass was huge.
That was a Michael Irving type play. So were the other 2 catch and run for a touchdown plays.
he should've caught that ball
just like roy should’ve caught the jump ball in the endzone two weeks ago.
I can't fault a WR
for having the ball slapped out of their hands, anyone who has played the game can understand that.
Not every receiver has Sasquatch hands like Fitzy.
In Romo we Trust
Austin has a bit of Tony Romo in him.
Both are capable of a very big play or a mistake. You play them because that big play can put 6 points on the score board. You get a few more of those and you get a few more wins. As someone mentioned earlier, Romo needs a big play guy like Austin.
our whole freakin offense has some tony romo in them
i was thinking about that today.
Romo can be fabulous…or mistake prone. And I’m not convinced yes over his accuracy issues that have come up over the last 10 games.
The oline can be dominant..or debilitating to the rest of the offense.
Felix is great…when healthy. ditto barber.
Austin shows serious potential…but disappears for stretches.
The only consistant guy right now is witten, who is being kept in to block lol.
Austin absolutely should start
Crayton’s been almost completely worthless. He’s an okay #3. If we had a guy like T.O., he’d be an okay #2. As it stands, we don’t, so he isn’t. Austin is that guy who can make something happen. I’d love to see him and Roy starting. It’s a much more dynamic receiving duo than ANYBODY plus Crayton. Austin could be a good deep threat to compliment a possession guy like Roy. Crayton can be a steady 3rd down guy, but that’s all he’s good for now.
Epic Fail since 1985
Austin showed me 3 sides to him this game, 1 was new, 2 were old
side 1: He had 3 TD drops in the end zone. Any time a ball hits an NFL WR in the hands, it should be a catch, period.
side 2: He had 2 catches for 119 yards and 2 TDs. This is where he paid the team back for the end zone drops. It is the big play side of him we saw in Tampa Bay and in GB last year.
side 3: He had 8 catches for 132 yards. This impressed me the most. This is #1 WR numbers. It keeps chains moving the offense on the field, and drives alive. It bails out Romo when covered, or gets open or just gets his hands around the ball and pulls it in. This is Reliable Miles Austin. This side I’ve truly never seen of him before.
All told, side 3 would be great. Sides 2 and 3 without side 1 would make him a superstar. He certainly is playing like he deserves the #2 spot, with RW remaing #1 as a possession and end zone WR.
I called him Stone Hands Miles Austin, for side 1, but I love me some Superstar Miles Austin for sides 2 and 3.
Not even the Hall of Fame wrs caught every ball that ever hit them in the hands
…….that is expecting perfection, and nobody is perfect. They should catch the great majority of those passes, but not every, single one of them.
Plus one of those passes was stripped from him by the defender in the end zone. I wouldn’t count that as a “drop.”
he had a clear shot at catching it before defender ever got into the picture.
NFL caliber WRs are expected to catch any ball that hits their hands unless a defender has his hand in, Miles just flat out dropped them. I’m not expecting perfection, I just expect him to catch the catch-able balls. I also said he made up for it.
My main focus was not even on the drops, but on the 8 for 132. That was what stood out to me most about his game yesterday. THAT was what we need from a WR on this team.
loved seeing the smile
on his face on that last TD reception/run – he had that same giddy look on his KO return TD from a few years ago…
Continual Problem With the Coaching Staff
They play veterans with big contracts over young guys who are showing more talent. Bench Crayton and start Miles. Choice is also way more effective at the moment than Barber (not saying Barber is toast, just that he looks a little tentative).
Oh yeah, and last time Dallas put Octavien in the game he recorded a two sacks right away. So what do the coaches do with him against KC? Strictly special teams duties.
You either operate on merit or on entitlement
This is a golden chance to highlight the culture of the team.
On what basis does Austin not deserve another start?
On what basis is Crayton/RW immune from reduced playing time based on their performance?
by I_miss_Switzer on Oct 13, 2009 12:28 PM CDT reply actions
Austin = 1B
Number 1, number 2…all those labels shouldn’t really matter. Roy and Austin should both be the number 1 receiver, in different situations. Reality is, if we are in a 2 WR set, they both should be on the field. If we are in a single WR set, if the situation calls for blocking for a short route, Williams should be in. If the situation calls for a deep pattern to clear out the defense, Austin is the one the defense will really respect on that route. The label that does matter is Crayton as number 3. His skillset is better suited for the role of a 3rd WR. He’ll still play and have a big part in moving the chains, but he’s not the deep threat we need to create more space.
I actually wonder if Crayton might be trade bait. We’re signing Rossum to take over Crayton’s role as PR, and Austin is taking his role as #2 WR. Hurd can be the #3 and if we can get some depth elsewhere (OL, NT, S) in exchange for Crayton, why not?
I agree...
Crayton could be some trade bait. I was looking for Miles to unseat him during training camp but it seemed he wasn’t ready. Crayton IMO seems a little to full of himself these days but doesn’t put it on the field. I could see Hurd doing exactly what he’s doing now. At best he’d be my #3 reciever and I’d give Miles the spot.
God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!
Austin needs
to be consistent now. I have been a fan of his since last year and I think he will be a very good #1 WR in the future. The only knocks on him right now are staying healthy and consistency. Once he does that, he will truly be a valuable weapon.
+1
Couldn’t agree more. The only thing that I would add is focus. There will be days when you can’t get open or the ball doesn’t come your way…. Austin has to remain as focused in those 1 catch for 12 yards days as he did on Sunday. It may seem like a simple task, but it’s a big jump for a young receiver that is asked to now play 40+ snaps in different sets and not just come in on passing downs.
Cowboy Up!
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