DC.COM Blog: WRs Coach Sherman Brags on Miles Austin

[newlander]

EPL is right guys. Hurd never gets seperation. Solid number four....but that's it. If Austin continues like this he's our number three for sure-with room to grow into number two if Crayton pulls his occasional boneheaded misplays.

 

[Dallas4ever]

Austin was #2 of the guys who impressed me last night. Felix was #1.

Hard to disagree with this. Felix showed flash, great speed and balance when he touched the football. Miles Austin appears to have taken a step forward in his development. I don't want to get too excited over a few plays in preseason but both guys were impressive.

 

[sago1]

I'm going to hold off my judgement until I see more catches by Austin in the next several preseason games. I particularly don't recall that any of his catches the other night were deep balls but rather the short or slightly longer. He made 3-5 of those catches in the regular season last year. His problem last year was catching the longer/deeper passes where he was fairly open. Don't know if he had trouble seeing the ball or just got too excited and thought about scoring a TD, whatever. It's those deep catches I want to see from him. Realize it entirely possible the Cowboys might not want to showcase that ability in preseason; OTOH, Austin needs get on the same page with Romo whose the only QB we got who can regularly make those throws. If Romo doesn't make those throws to Austin in the Broncos game, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 connect against the Texans. Heck since that's a national game why not show the rest of the NFL we may have a home grown deep threat already on the team. Time will tell.

 

[Bizwah]

I'm going to hold off my judgement until I see more catches by Austin in the next several preseason games. I particularly don't recall that any of his catches the other night were deep balls but rather the short or slightly longer. He made 3-5 of those catches in the regular season last year. His problem last year was catching the longer/deeper passes where he was fairly open. Don't know if he had trouble seeing the ball or just got too excited and thought about scoring a TD, whatever. It's those deep catches I want to see from him. Realize it entirely possible the Cowboys might not want to showcase that ability in preseason; OTOH, Austin needs get on the same page with Romo whose the only QB we got who can regularly make those throws. If Romo doesn't make those throws to Austin in the Broncos game, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 connect against the Texans. Heck since that's a national game why not show the rest of the NFL we may have a home grown deep threat already on the team. Time will tell.

Here's something that's puzzled me.

How many times did Austin drop deep passes?

I counted one.

Against Washington, he dropped a probable TD pass on a crossing route. The other pass he "dropped" in that game was actually a nice play by the Washington DB. The DB came in at the last instant and knocked the pass away.

Other than that, Austin didn't have any drops.

His first real action at WR came at Thanksgiving. He caught two passes that day I believe. No drops.

He struggled against the Vikings in the preseason. He dropped two passes. But caught two longer ones as well.

In fact, it was a couple of long passes that kept us from stashing Austin on the PS in the first place. He blew past the NO DBs and was WIDE OPEN for the TD.

Fans were on Austin for messing up against Washington. Like Crayton, he was our scapegoat for losing to a rival. Most of us forgot how good Crayton was last year, and most of us forgot that Austin really didn't get much of an opportunity last year.

So, to say that he drops too many passes (as so many have) is a little unfair.

To say that he needed to develop...to say that he was raw...that's a better assessment.

 

[Angus]

Miles Austin makes a move

We have talked about young receiver Miles Austin having a good camp. He took another step showing something in the preseason opener Saturday against the Chargers.
Austin led all receivers with five catches for 64 yards. He longest reception went for 21 yards. In the locker room after the game, Jerry Jones pulled Austin aside and talked to him about his performance. Jerry was impressed.
"I think I liked his authority the way he grabbed the ball and the way he caught the ball," Jerry said. "He did some of the things that we might have thought he didn't do his few times last year. I thought he stepped out."
- Rick Herrin

 

[JonJon]

EPL is right guys. Hurd never gets seperation. Solid number four....but that's it. If Austin continues like this he's our number three for sure-with room to grow into number two if Crayton pulls his occasional boneheaded misplays.

Plus Austin is more of a threat to score and can make more plays after the catch. I never understood the connection fans have with Hurd. He always seemed like a Crayton clone. I still want him on the team, because he has amazing hands and can be a threat in the redzone and pick up those tough 3rd downs, but I don't ever see him being anything more than a #3.

 

[newlander]

The exciting part to me is, Austin has the SPEED and athletic ability to tap into: his ceiling is.......way high. As for Crayton, what you see is what you get. He's a decent number three in my mind. Best utilized in the slot. I already gave my opinion on Hurd: solid number four, good at special teams. But Sam and Pat don't have the speed or route running ability to get seperation. Meaning, they'll never be a good number two WR in this league IMO.

 

[Bizwah]

Our best hope for a "deep threat" at number two is Austin. He's our best hope to have a legitimate deep threat across from Owens.

I love Crayton and Hurd. Both have worked their tails off. It appeared that Hurd was running away with this....but Austin is improving. Crayton is a good player. He's really consistent and catches nearly everything. But he'll never be able to stretch the field like Austin can if he improves.

Now, it's a stretch to believe Austin can be the number two this season. But, you never know. If he continues to improve....if he starts to "get it", then, he may pass Crayton sometime this year.

 

[dmq]

Hurd tries hard but he just can't get separation - he is a ST player and 4th WR. He better be working hard on STs if he wants to make the team this year because he just doesn't appear to have much upside as a WR.

Hurd is just too slow IMHO.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm been telling people to watch out for Austin for awhile now, glad to see he's showing signs

 

[theogt]

I'm been telling people to watch out for Austin for awhile now, glad to see he's showing signs

You're positive about every player, so you're bound to hit on one every now and then.

 

[Redball Express]

i would love to see them playing a whole game with Romo trowing the ball, our back up QBs suck big time....

This is possibly the biggest blunder on the roster this year.

All the off-season signings are great and the FA signings have been exceptional..

..but the QB situation behind Romo is deploreable.

I don't care if all the other teams are in the same boat. They aren't. We are supposed to be contending for a World Championship and we just don't have any Steve Bereleins or Bernie Kosars or Rodney Peete's on this team that can win some games if Romo goes down for any length of time.

This defense isn't dominant enough to elevate their performance high enough or long enough if Romo goes out and the whole offense is going to implode with Brad Johnson at the controls.

Garrett can't possibly beleive that Johnson is the answer at QB backup, can he..?

If he is, then I'm going to have to reconsider how much he must really know about the position and Brad Johnson as a viable answer. Johnson's ball just has no zip on it. He reminds me last night of Neil O'Donnell from the Steelers back in our SB Days when he coughed up those two INTs to Larry Brown.

Poor throws, late throws and not reading what the WR was reading and boom !!

INT !! I guarrantee that Crayton on that interception was reacting to what Romo would have done in the same situation where the CB was sitting in a shallow zone area..turn it up field and go over the top.

As soon as the WR made the adjustment and went deep, Johnson was still thinking the play was an out route. It was awful.

Vinnie T I rate higher than Brad.

And I think they are about the same age and have the same geritol dealer they buy from.



just unacceptable and a needless risk to stay with Brad Johnson as the #2.

Haunt us this will as Yoda might say.

 

[AtlCB]

I'm going to hold off my judgement until I see more catches by Austin in the next several preseason games. I particularly don't recall that any of his catches the other night were deep balls but rather the short or slightly longer. He made 3-5 of those catches in the regular season last year. His problem last year was catching the longer/deeper passes where he was fairly open. Don't know if he had trouble seeing the ball or just got too excited and thought about scoring a TD, whatever. It's those deep catches I want to see from him. Realize it entirely possible the Cowboys might not want to showcase that ability in preseason; OTOH, Austin needs get on the same page with Romo whose the only QB we got who can regularly make those throws. If Romo doesn't make those throws to Austin in the Broncos game, I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 connect against the Texans. Heck since that's a national game why not show the rest of the NFL we may have a home grown deep threat already on the team. Time will tell.

I disagree. Austin's biggest problems were route running and getting into postion to make the catch. Austin was always able to run the deep routes, but he rarely saw the field, because he couldn't run any other routes. His route running and his ability to shield defenders and use his size was promising today. I'm glad to see him make that step, because his potential is sky-high.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You're positive about every player, so you're bound to hit on one every now and then.

yeah, I've been praising the heck out of Danny Amendola and Martellus Bennett

scout

 

[Walker]

He is likely #3 on my list. He will make us forget Ayodele. I just wish he were 10 years younger.

If he was 10 years younger he would still be a Dolphin. He played great yesterday for the short time he was on the field. Akin is probably already forgotten to most fans. It's funny how Zach Thomas got just about as many tackles as Akin in 5 games then what Akin did in 16.

 

[aikemirv]

Austin played really well. I was as impressed as I ever have been by him. he saved at least 2 INts by his aggressive plays on the ball. (by the way Bartel really stinks)

That said, he does not get great seperation either - ex was the 3rd and 4 that Cason broke up. He just did not put on any kind of move at all and Cason broke on the ball and broke up the pass. He needs to be quicker on that pattern if he is going to be a legit threat for #2.

That is where a guy like Amendola has a chance to make to make this team. Pacman said he was the toughest to cover and when you have a guy that can get open quickly to convert the 3rd and 5 and unders it is really important.

 

[DFWJC]

"Mike Jefferson held the crucial block on Tashard Choice's 19-yard touchdown."

It's stuff like this, IMO, that will determine the 5th or 6th WR spot.

Yeah. I would say potential, special teams contribution, and those "little things" that are so important are the 3 main factors in choosing WR5 and WR6.

 

[burmafrd]

Gotta be honest- I can see down the road regretting that contract we gave Crayton as Austin becomes the #2 and Hurd shows he is just as good as Crayton.

 

[Angus]

Gotta be honest- I can see down the road regretting that contract we gave Crayton as Austin becomes the #2 and Hurd shows he is just as good as Crayton.

There's always a trade possibility.

 

[theogt]

Gotta be honest- I can see down the road regretting that contract we gave Crayton as Austin becomes the #2 and Hurd shows he is just as good as Crayton.

When's that gonna happen? It's year 3 and doesn't look even close to Crayton.