DMN Blog: Austin on the Bubble?

[Yeagermeister]

Urban may be returning punts(faircatching punts to be more exact), but there is no way he will be doing that in a regular season game if he somehow made this or another squad.

If he is we are in trouble. He hasn't looked good at it at all.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Miles Austin is going to make this team, they love his speed and size and his kick return ability...

 

[jterrell]

Because reportedly last year he was making a jaw dropping plays in practice everyday. We don't ever get to see those practices and hardly anyone sees any of the training camp practices.

But since he just happened to have a bad day on the one day that everyone gets to watch, he's never did anything.

Meanwhile, all offseason Tyson Thompson was the offseason goat. He was reportedly "nothing special", "too stiff" and everyone was predicting that was going to get beat out by Jackie Battle. But now he's had a good preseason game on the day everyone gets to watch then he's all of a sudden we've decided we like him again, he's got a little something and he's pushing for regular season snaps as a RB.


Not that we're fickle or anything.

I'll be interested in seeing who goes from goat to hero after next week's preseason game.

That is the case to some extent but Austin's knock was that he made great catches in practice but dropped easy ones.

And we just had what 30 practices covered in play by play detail by the DMN blog? Austin isn't doing anything we don't know about.

Bottom line is he looks raw as rain as a WR. We have drafted/signed about 10 guys like that. Many of them play a few years a special teamer but never ascend to true WR status.

----------

Guys are what they are.

Tyson Thompson is still the 3rd back. He has always been the 3rd back. He has true world class track speed and is a strong player with limited vision running the ball. IF teams let him get the edge they will give up 15 yards a pop though. You aren't supposed to be able to gt the edge on NFL defenses but Thompson is really that fast. All that said, he still isn't gonna be a starting Rb for anyone, ever. He is a really nice backup and kickoff returner.

 

[jterrell]

Miles Austin is going to make this team, they love his speed and size and his kick return ability...

If by they you mean Bill Parcells I'd agree.

This team will be built by a new staff with Jerry's input obviously.
We could see some surprises for sure in the final makeup.

If you listen to WP's pressers he seems to like different guys than BP did.

I think Austin is very much on the bubble right now. A team isn't gonna keep a backup kickoff returner who can't help anywhere else and it is clear Thompson is the kickoff return starter and a lock as the 3rd RB. So Austin has lost that battle provided Thompson stays healthy and that moves him down to the final 2 or 3 rosters spots at WR/TE/FB which go to backups and special teamers. I think Anderson gets a nod over him and probably Tony Curtis. It looks like he could sneak onto the roster though and if he does hopefully he can dominate special teams and continue to develop.

 

[Rack]

I think Austin has regressed so far this year. You can just see Hurd is getting better. Crayton finally looks like (atleast) a #2 receiver in this league. But Austin, he looks lost out there and doesn't appear very instinctive. He still has that size...so he is a guy you dont want to wrongly evaluate...but I would say...he has to show something in next two games to justify keeping him.

What has he done to make you think he's regressed?

Slipped on one route and dropped one pass?

Nah, that's not a knee jerk reaction.

how could anyone be high on Austin,besides the return against the seahawks which means nothing unless hes consistent at it,and he isnt,he hasnt done much else.drop him.

He AVERAGED just as many Yards Per Return as Tyson Thompson.

Not consistent? Yeah, ok.

Because reportedly last year he was making a jaw dropping plays in practice everyday. We don't ever get to see those practices and hardly anyone sees any of the training camp practices.

But since he just happened to have a bad day on the one day that everyone gets to watch, he's never did anything.

Meanwhile, all offseason Tyson Thompson was the offseason goat. He was reportedly "nothing special", "too stiff" and everyone was predicting that was going to get beat out by Jackie Battle. But now he's had a good preseason game on the day everyone gets to watch then he's all of a sudden we've decided we like him again, he's got a little something and he's pushing for regular season snaps as a RB.


Not that we're fickle or anything.

I'll be interested in seeing who goes from goat to hero after next week's preseason game.

This is so dumb... He slips on a route and drops one pass, and suddenly he's a waste of space??

I'm not a fan of the "what have you done for me lately" outlook in the regular season. But when a guy has two mistakes in a preseason game and people are calling for your head, it's a little ridiculous IMO.

 

[eduncan22]

The Stanback crowd is desperate. When you look at this roster, there's no room for a project player.

There are two ways this kid makes the team:

- We keep 6 WRs on the active roster. Doubtful.
- We cut either Austin or Hurd. Doubtful.


After that, you are looking at one of the 8 practice squad positions.

 

[Hostile]

The Stanback crowd is desperate. When you look at this roster, there's no room for a project player.

There are two ways this kid makes the team:

- We keep 6 WRs on the active roster. Doubtful.
- We cut either Austin or Hurd. Doubtful.


After that, you are looking at one of the 8 practice squad positions.

There is no "Stanback Crowd."

We can keep 6 WRs without all 6 being active, and I think we will.

Owens, Glenn, Crayton, Hurd, Stanback, Austin.

 

[WoodysGirl]

If by they you mean Bill Parcells I'd agree.

This team will be built by a new staff with Jerry's input obviously.
We could see some surprises for sure in the final makeup.

If you listen to WP's pressers he seems to like different guys than BP did.

Who does he like that Parcells didn't like? I find that he makes some of the same observations Parcells did...just without throwing guys under the bus.

 

[joseephuss]

The Stanback crowd is desperate. When you look at this roster, there's no room for a project player.

There are two ways this kid makes the team:

- We keep 6 WRs on the active roster. Doubtful.
- We cut either Austin or Hurd. Doubtful.


After that, you are looking at one of the 8 practice squad positions.

What?

 

[eduncan22]

What?

Maybe its 5 on the practice squad?

 

[joseephuss]

Maybe its 5 on the practice squad?

No, it is 8 now. I just don't understand why you think there is no room for a project player on this team. Every team has room for projects. In essence, Hurd and Austin are still projects. Both are still learning the wide receiver position. There will be room for 1 of the 3(Hurd, Austin, Stanback) if not all 3 of them.

I also don't think there is a Stanback crowd or even an anti-Stanback crowd except maybe you.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Who does he like that Parcells didn't like? I find that he makes some of the same observations Parcells did...just without throwing guys under the bus.

Agreed...

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

If by they you mean Bill Parcells I'd agree.

This team will be built by a new staff with Jerry's input obviously.
We could see some surprises for sure in the final makeup.

If you listen to WP's pressers he seems to like different guys than BP did.

I think Austin is very much on the bubble right now. A team isn't gonna keep a backup kickoff returner who can't help anywhere else and it is clear Thompson is the kickoff return starter and a lock as the 3rd RB. So Austin has lost that battle provided Thompson stays healthy and that moves him down to the final 2 or 3 rosters spots at WR/TE/FB which go to backups and special teamers. I think Anderson gets a nod over him and probably Tony Curtis. It looks like he could sneak onto the roster though and if he does hopefully he can dominate special teams and continue to develop.

Whoa there buddy, Miles Austin is a better kick returner than Thompson, he's more elusive in the open field...

 

[zrinkill]

That Anti Stanback clown is desperate. When you look at this roster, there's plenty of room for a project player with the type of skills he possesses.

This kid makes the team:

- Either we keep 6 WRs on the active roster. Probable.
- Or we cut either Austin or Hurd. Possible.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The Stanback crowd is desperate. When you look at this roster, there's no room for a project player.

There are two ways this kid makes the team:

- We keep 6 WRs on the active roster. Doubtful.
- We cut either Austin or Hurd. Doubtful.


After that, you are looking at one of the 8 practice squad positions.

If you feel that strongly, put all that in your sig until after the final cut to 53.

I'm saying you are wrong.

 

[ZeroClub]

Watching that game vs. the Broncos, I found myself missing Terrence Copper a bit.

With the exception of Stanback, who looked promising on his couple of opportunities, none of the WRs deeper on the depth chart than Crayton looked particularly good.

But it was only one game.

 

[GlitzCowboy]

I think Austin has regressed so far this year. You can just see Hurd is getting better. Crayton finally looks like (atleast) a #2 receiver in this league. But Austin, he looks lost out there and doesn't appear very instinctive. He still has that size...so he is a guy you dont want to wrongly evaluate...but I would say...he has to show something in next two games to justify keeping him.

I've been seeing and thinking the same thing. Only that last part, I think he's regressed so far (or others are just flying by him so fast) that he doesn't even deserve consideration for a spot on this team at this time.

And as far as returners go, I'm sure we have half a team full of players who would love the opportunity to return some kicks.. Newman definately being one of the ones salavating at the mouth for that chance. Which the only concern there is injury to a primary player during special teams, but I'm sure there's at least a few roster-secure 2nd stringers we could consider throwing back there.

 

[HopeCowboyFan]

Your 5th or 6th WR damn well better play ST or its a wasted roster spot

Hurd, Glenn, TO and Crayton are on team.

It's a race behind that to make 53 or practice squad.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Austin has not impressed me. Could he be one of those players Parcells talked about that play differently under the lights? I think Rector could win a roster spot if he actually got onto the field!

 

[joseephuss]

Watching that game vs. the Broncos, I found myself missing Terrence Copper a bit.

With the exception of Stanback, who looked promising on his couple of opportunities, none of the WRs deeper on the depth chart than Crayton looked particularly good.

But it was only one game.

Copper is not a good receiver. He is good at special teams. He has had plenty of playing time in New Orleans due to various injuries to other players and really has not been that impressive. He has dropped several passes, fumbled a couple of balls and just does not look that good. He did have an impressive TD catch on a Hail Mary before half time in one game, but other than that his bright shiny moments are few and far between.

Hurd, Austin and Stanback all have something to prove and Dallas will need at least one of them to step up their game to be part of the future starters.