Rams rookie Tavon Austin was expected to burst onto the scene as an all-purpose threat who would make big plays all over the field. But it hasn’t worked out that way.
Although Austin does lead the Rams with 31 catches, he has just 207 receiving yards — a shockingly low average of 6.7 yards a catch. Austin is also averaging just 2.5 yards running the ball and 3.9 yards returning punts. Austin admits that the adjustment from college to the pros has been a bigger challenge than he was expecting.
“This isn’t supposed to be easy,” Austin said. “Maybe it was a little harder than I thought at first. But all I can do is keep working.”
Austin does, however, think things will get better with time.
“It’s all about patience and I’m sure my time will come,” Austin said. “I’m learning what it takes to be successful and I’m doing the things the coaches tell me.”
So far, the Rams’ coaches haven’t been able to find a way to take the Austin who was a West Virginia superstar and turn him into a playmaker in the NFL.