DMN Blog: Bigg breaks thumb/More work for Austin

[theebs]

Not to bring Owens into this thread... but I'd like to see us get the ball in Austin's hands in the open field more often; like drag routes we used to run with T.O.

Austin's big, athletic, and has some speed....

Any and every way possible. I am all for it.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

Roy Williams = possession receiver
Miles Austin = deep threat

Let Williams run the short routes underneath and work for first downs. Have Austin run the intermediate and long routes to capitalize on the safeties creeping up. Seems like a plan. Jason? Jason Garrett???

exactly...

 

[alancdc]

Add Brandon Jacobs to the list of clubees.

The list of Giants to club is a long one indeed!

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Actually no, I havent.

Have never proclaimed him a superstar or anything, but have always been intrigued by his skill.

Ah okay.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Roy Williams is a playmaker too but I just think the combo of Williams and Austin will produce much better...

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm pretty sure you've called Miles Austin a JAG multiple times. I don't have the time or energy to really look that up but I'm pretty sure you have. lol

You've called him a JAG just recently....

 

[CATCH17]

Roy Williams = possession receiver
Miles Austin = deep threat

Let Williams run the short routes underneath and work for first downs. Have Austin run the intermediate and long routes to capitalize on the safeties creeping up. Seems like a plan. Jason? Jason Garrett???

I think Austin showed yesterday he is not just a deep threat.

A lot of the plays he was making were off posession routes and just breaking tackles.


I think Garrett just needs to get the ball in our WR's hands and let them make plays.

Roy, Bennett, and Austin are all going to be hard guys for defensive backs to tackle.

 

[Alexander]

So why hasn't he been getting playing time?

Patrick Crayton's feelings?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Hey I'll admit it. I was one of the folks on the bandwagon for having the Jets sign him and give us a second rounder for him. I'll admit that. I figured, at that point, he hadn't really shown anything that would make keeping him instead of a 2nd rounder.

Now if yesterday was any indication of what he can do with plenty of reps then I'm here to fully admit that I'm glad we didn't wind up losing him and I was wrong about it.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I'm not real sure Wade has much of a say on who plays on offense. The person who really needs to be thinking about getting Austin plenty of opportunities is Jason Garrett and I don't have much faith in him.

 

[Alexander]

Roy Williams is a playmaker too but I just think the combo of Williams and Austin will produce much better...

Even if it doesn't, we need to give it a shot, the sooner the better.

We need to make a decision about Austin by the end of this season as he's operating on his tender contract. Crayton is locked up already and I am sure what we've seen is the best he can do.

 

[Alexander]

I'm not real sure Wade has much of a say on who plays on offense.

You have a point.

Unless Jerry Jones says so, what Wade has to say really isn't relevant.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Just make Miles Austin the starter already. Why sugercoat or tapdance. The writing's on the wall. He's our most complete receiver.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I'm pretty sure you've called Miles Austin a JAG multiple times. I don't have the time or energy to really look that up but I'm pretty sure you have. lol

I'll fess up.. I've called Austin and Hurd JAGS... I'll gladly eat crow.. When Miles is consistant week to week..

 

[TD-33]

Roy Williams = possession receiver
Miles Austin = deep threat

Let Williams run the short routes underneath and work for first downs. Have Austin run the intermediate and long routes to capitalize on the safeties creeping up. Seems like a plan. Jason? Jason Garrett???

And Felix The Cat = To make them pay

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

6'3, 220 lbs, 25 years old.... Speed, good quickness and strong hands. Hmm sounds like a player that needs to start to me.

 

[DallasEast]

I think Austin showed yesterday he is not just a deep threat.

A lot of the plays he was making were off posession routes and just breaking tackles.


I think Garrett just needs to get the ball in our WR's hands and let them make plays.

Roy, Bennett, and Austin are all going to be hard guys for defensive backs to tackle.

You're not going to get an argument from me. I even included 'intermediate' routes earlier.

I'm attempting to see the whole picture. Let's use your receiving group: Williams, Bennett and Austin. You can't omit Witten either (I know that wasn't your intention).

That's four, but for discussion sake, let's break it back down to three: Williams, Witten and Austin. We all want Bennett more involved with the passing offense, but Garrett hasn't implemented him very well within that scheme yet.

On average, Witten will get his touches. Most of his catches will be workmanlike underneath the coverage in the middle of the field in front of the linebackers.

Additionally, for the sake of argument, let's say Garrett utilizes Williams moreso on crossing routes, slants and outs, which are more typical routes ran by a possession receiver. You have to subtract those from the total number of touches in the passing offense.

A large hunk of the passing pie dedicated for the receivers is now gone. What hasn't been addressed are routes ran behind and in front of the safties and beyond the coverage. Typically, receivers with very good and/or elite speed dominate in this segment of the offense. In my opinion, Austin has earned the right to take that last slice of the pie.

My argument would always hinge on distribution. There are only so many footballs to go around. If Austin receives a larger share of the passes which Witten and/or Williams would receive, it would decrease the number of opportunities by capitalizing over the coverage. Austin made some fantastic runs after the catch yesterday, but I believe he would be a deadlier weapon by having to primarily deal with beating safeties only.

 

[gbrittain]

He's been open all year. Everyone wants to call him a JAG, but he isnt. I suspect its because he wasnt drafted high, but you watch DB's and they cant cover him.

I remember the Tampa Bay game Tony overthrew him on a pass in which he was wide open. The Denver game he was open twice on the ill fated Romo to Hurd back to back throws.

This guy is a play maker all the way back to the Seattle playoff game. So many here were ready to run this guy off...unbelievable!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Receiver makes big splash in first start
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By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Coach Wade Phillips made it clear that Miles Austin wouldn't spend much time on the sideline when the Dallas Cowboys' offense was on the field.

Phillips would not declare Monday that Austin has earned a starting job with his franchise-record 250-yard performance against the Chiefs. However, Phillips said that Austin would play more than 50 snaps per game.



"We're going to get him on the field," Phillips said. "His run after the catch is so strong that if you get him the football, he's liable to make a big play. He obviously showed he could do that. We've got to get him in the game. He's got to get his touches.

"That's just the bottom line. Give him a chance to do it again."

Phillips declined to say whether Austin's increased playing time would come at the expense of Roy Williams or Patrick Crayton. Austin got his first career start Sunday in place of Williams, who stayed in Dallas to nurse three injured ribs, but he's capable of playing all the receiver positions in the Cowboys' offense.

Austin avoided questions about becoming a starter, saying that it wasn't his decision to make.

"I just wanted to show people that I'm ready to play," said Austin, who broke Hall of Famer Bob Hayes' 43-year-old team record for receiving yardage in a game.

The Cowboys have long believed that Austin, a fourth-year undrafted player from Monmouth University, had the size (6 feet 3, 214 pounds) and speed to be a dynamic threat. They're optimistic that Sunday's show was a breakout performance for a receiver who entered the game with 23 catches for 435 yards in his career.

Austin had more yards in Sunday's overtime win -- capped by his second long touchdown catch of the game -- than either Crayton (243) and Williams (214) have this season.

"You can tell he's an explosive player," quarterback Tony Romo said Sunday. "He did a phenomenal job. Obviously, we've got to find a way to utilize some of his skills."

Tim MacMahon covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com. Email him at tim.macmahon@espn3.com.