DMN: Jets Courting Miles Austin

[jterrell]

Interesting analysis.

Lets see if we can figure out what is missing from austin and what was missing from crayton.


anyway.

in 2004 Patrick crayton was active and played in 8 games. Just 8. He had 12 catches for 162 yards and 1 td. ON one play alone he had 39 yards and the td against washington. IN 2005 Patrick crayton was only active and played 11 games. So far out of a possible 33 games, crayton had only played in 19. INteresting. IN 2005 Austin had 22 catches for 341 yards and 2 td.

IN 2006 as the number 3 wr crayton had 36 catches for 516 yards and 4 td's.

in 07 he played in 15 games and had 50 catches for 697 yards and 7 TD's.

It took him 4 years to become a really proficient wr and the most important element of craytons development was opportunity. As the opportunity went up so did his ability and his numbers.

IN 06 and 07 out of a possible 34 games austin was active and played in 25. He only missed 9 games. Not bad for an undrafted kid from monmouth trying to play wr behind T.O., Terry Glenn, Patrick crayton. That is better than craytons first two years.

IN 2008 austin played in 12 games and had 13 catches for 278 yards and 3 td's. He avg'd 21 yards a catch had two 40 + yards and 5 plays of 20 yards or more.

That is up from 07 where he had 5 catches and 78 yards and drew a couple of huge penalties for huge plays against GB.

Now, see what is missing in austins resume? Opportunity. It was really hampered last year when williams showed up. There were just too many guys.

Austin is a guy we have spent 3 years developing. IN that time he has been an excellent kick returner and a good special teams player. He has improved each year. If the progress continues, this will be the year Austins numbers jump up like craytons did and the year he puts it all together.


so anyway, comparing austins wr numbers to craytons do not tell the story. and when you look closer they are similar. IN 2005 crayton playing behind Terry glenn and Keyshawn johnson and suffering an ankle injury that cost him 5 games he put up, 22 catches for 341 yards and 2 TD.

In 2008 Miles austin behind owens, roy williams and patrick crayton put up 13 for 278 and 3. Seems very similar to me. Its just a matter of opportunity. Bledsoe really liked crayton and in 06 he trusted him and threw him the ball alot more, in 08 romo trusted austin more starting in mini camps and he did and will throw him the ball more.


People keep talking about austin being injured, well he has been active/healthy more than crayton over the first couple of years of his career.

Which would be fine theebs except I wish like heck we had gotten a 2nd rounder for Crayton a couple years ago and I'd gladly take one right now.

Do you have a point here?

All you are doing is proving my point. A guy who takes 4 years to develop may help you but he isn't worth pick 52.

 

[jterrell]

LOL.

We played without owens for the second half of the carolina game where we were dominating and against washington in a freezing downpour in a meaningless game. So 1 game and 1 half of a game means austin cant play and did nothing.

Austin actually showed alot in that skins game but he didnt catch the ball, he spent the offseason working on it and came back in 08 and immediately showed how hard he worked on it and caught the ball when he was wide open, when he was in traffic and he showed how explosive he can be over the middle.

lol at him not filling in 07!!! Romo played a half and one series!! lol.

my bad dude, you are right.

austin showed us so much with his 13 catches... however could I have been so errant?

good lord.

with t.o. out he didnt have a t.o. started over me excuse but now he has the games were meaningless one right?

when did you lose grasp of basic logic and reasoning?

in that Carolina game where t.o. got hurt Sam Hurd had 3 catches for 50 yards... Austin has 2 for 11.

the next week? Austin had 1 catch for 35 yards... Hurd had 3 for 64 with a long of 36 yards.

So just to be clear, austin didn't outperform Sam Hurd in 2007. In 2008 Sam Hurd was out all year.

Supposedly Austin came back in 2008 as the magically improved player... except he showed us with 0 starts, and 13 catches. That was less yardage than Martellus Bennett and only 5 more catches than Tony Curtis whom we didn't even tender an offer to at all.

It humors me to no end that in a guy's 3rd pro season we are talking about how good he looked in pre-season for cripessake.

 

[DallasKnight]

UDFA, with 18 catches in 3 years... for a 2nd rounder.

Has he shown flashes? Yes. Has Jerry talked him up? Yes. I wonder why?

J E T S have taken the bait that Jerry has handed them and I think Jerry takes the 2nd round pick and runs with it, laughing the whole time.

If Jerry really wanted to keep Austin, he'd have put the 1st round tender on him. As it is, I think Jerry fully intended to trade him for a 2nd if someone bit. Thank you Jets.

 

[Bach]

Agreed! Not a bad haul for a WR w/ less than 20 CAREER receptions!

My only reservation is what Jerry may do with two 2nd round picks. Reminds me too much of QC and Tony Dixon.

 

[theebs]

Which would be fine theebs except I wish like heck we had gotten a 2nd rounder for Crayton a couple years ago and I'd gladly take one right now.

Do you have a point here?

All you are doing is proving my point. A guy who takes 4 years to develop may help you but he isn't worth pick 52.

my bad dude, you are right.

austin showed us so much with his 13 catches... however could I have been so errant?

good lord.

with t.o. out he didnt have a t.o. started over me excuse but now he has the games were meaningless one right?

when did you lose grasp of basic logic and reasoning?

in that Carolina game where t.o. got hurt Sam Hurd had 3 catches for 50 yards... Austin has 2 for 11.

the next week? Austin had 1 catch for 35 yards... Hurd had 3 for 64 with a long of 36 yards.

So just to be clear, austin didn't outperform Sam Hurd in 2007. In 2008 Sam Hurd was out all year.

Supposedly Austin came back in 2008 as the magically improved player... except he showed us with 0 starts, and 13 catches. That was less yardage than Martellus Bennett and only 5 more catches than Tony Curtis whom we didn't even tender an offer to at all.

It humors me to no end that in a guy's 3rd pro season we are talking about how good he looked in pre-season for cripessake.

Okay. Your right. He has no career since he dropped a couple of balls in his one start against the skins in 07, a game the starters played the first half in.

what was I thinking. Opportunity means nothing and I have no basic reasoning abilities or the ability to use logic.

thanks for straightening me out, your wisdom is fascinating. Your comparisons are spot on, no flaws at all. Thanks again.

 

[jterrell]

UDFA, with 18 catches in 3 years... for a 2nd rounder.

Has he shown flashes? Yes. Has Jerry talked him up? Yes. I wonder why?

J E T S have taken the bait that Jerry has handed them and I think Jerry takes the 2nd round pick and runs with it, laughing the whole time.

If Jerry really wanted to keep Austin, he'd have put the 1st round tender on him. As it is, I think Jerry fully intended to trade him for a 2nd if someone bit. Thank you Jets.

Exactly!

And FWIW if we were in love with Miles Austin in mid 2008 then why in bejeebus did we trade away a 1st and 3rd for Roy E. Williams?

Not sure why it is so hard to figure out where the team stands after all these off-season moves. We cut T.O. and signal we are moving to a more run-oriented gameplan, we tender Austin as a 2nd but talk about him like he is the reason we cut T.O. for goodness sakes. And when some people actually bought that nonsense we get a 2nd round pick and can just replace Austin with Hurd. We still trot out RW11, Crayton, Witten as the starters with more 2 TE set and run the ball more.

 

[Texan_Eph89]

Miles Austin + Tashard Choice for the 17th pick.

Take it or leave it Jetsons...otherwise we match!



How do you like them apples?

And Choice?
HAHAHAHA.

No way we're giving them a starting caliber RB and a WR that has a lot of potential.

How about Austin and a pick for the 1st.

 

[jterrell]

Okay. Your right. He has no career since he dropped a couple of balls in his one start against the skins in 07, a game the starters played the first half in.

what was I thinking. Opportunity means nothing and I have no basic reasoning abilities or the ability to use logic.

thanks for straightening me out, your wisdom is fascinating. Your comparisons are spot on, no flaws at all. Thanks again.

You are most welcome.

I'd say having no career is pretty harsh tho. Austin has been a good kick returner and Special Teamer. Sounds a lot like Chad Morton back when Washington signed him away from the Jets.

Ever stop to ask yourself why no other RFA has changed teams this off-season or why there aren't 10 clubs fighting to bid on Austin?

I guess those questions are meaningless....

I do not think Austin is complete junk but a r2 pick is a very good return for any NFL player. I'd cry tears of joy if we could get that for about 85% of our roster much less a guy who has 20 career catches.

I'd take a 2nd right now for Flo Adams, Greg Ellis, Crayton, and any number of other guys with actual NFL stats.

Do you still have to draft well? Sure but if you can't draft you have zero shot anyways.

 

[theebs]

and just to add to Jterrell.

I just went and did a search with your name and the name tony romo...and well those threads back in 05 and 06 are pretty reassuring to me how I feel.

You bullied people in nearly every post of yours I read about how romo will never win and is just here to push henson and is a career backup with a small build.

Its almost identical to how you are talking about austin and to other posters who have a different opinion.

so have fun bullying people on this austin isnt any good crusade you are on. I now know there is no point in conversing about it with you.

 

[Stash]

Stash it all boils down to this... has Austin ever beaten out Crayton?

The RW and T.O. argument is meaningless because he hasn't beaten out much lesser players. Hurd has started just as many games... in fact so has Stanback and both are just great players.. I mean I have no proof but my say so it just as strong and the nonsense suggesting Austin is.

I'm not suggesting Austin is great. Merely that he's obviously shown the physical ability, he has the size, and the Cowboys have invested 3 years in him and the team needs receivers.

Crayton was definitely further along as a receiver in years past but he'll never have Austin's package of physical skills.

That's why many of us think that Austin would beat him out for the #2 role.

If nothing else, the Cowboys lose their ability to stretch the field when they lose Austin.

 

[Stash]

Exactly!

And FWIW if we were in love with Miles Austin in mid 2008 then why in bejeebus did we trade away a 1st and 3rd for Roy E. Williams?

It seems to me that was so that the team could have the option to get rid of Owens, which they have.

Not sure why it is so hard to figure out where the team stands after all these off-season moves. We cut T.O. and signal we are moving to a more run-oriented gameplan, we tender Austin as a 2nd but talk about him like he is the reason we cut T.O. for goodness sakes. And when some people actually bought that nonsense we get a 2nd round pick and can just replace Austin with Hurd. We still trot out RW11, Crayton, Witten as the starters with more 2 TE set and run the ball more.

"just replace Austin with Hurd"?

Maybe you could replace Crayton with Hurd, not Austin.

Hurd can't begin to approach the speed element that Austin brings.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Maybe it's just me, but I've never had the fascination with Austin that many here have. I'd let him go for a second round pick in a heartbeat

 

[Bluefin]

Miles Austin.

How did a completely raw, undrafted player make a Bill Parcells team as an inactive sixth receiver when he wasn't even projected to return kicks on special teams?

Monster upside.

And after two years of development, Sky Miles was finally ready to contribute and started making a push for playing time during training camp and pre-season. Austin led the team in receiving yards for the pre-season despite only playing parts of two games before injuring his knee.

When Austin came back, 8 of his 13 total receptions, 186 of his 278 yards and all 3 of his career touchdowns came from week two through seven.

Then someone named Tony Romo went down with an injury. Austin caught 2 passes the following week from Brad Johnson before getting blanked the next two games.

Romo then returned and Austin plucked 2 passes for 26 yards, including converting a third and seven the play before Tellus' go ahead touchdown grab in a potential season saving road victory.

But Austin again injured his knee and would catch only one more pass the rest of the season.

Injuries (Austin & Romo) played a big role in Austin's stat line last season, but I don't see why anyone can't see the upside and potential.

Three touchdowns in four weeks isn't an accident.

Truth be told, the accident was not having five scores during that time span.

Austin took a bad ankle on his first reception in Green Bay that allowed the safety to make the tackle on what should have been a touchdown. Two weeks later, Austin had a touchdown sail right through his hands only to be caught in the back of the end zone by Patrick Crayton against the Bengals.

 

[Hoofbite]

2nd round pick for a unproven, undrafted free agent? give it to me! i would allow this to happen if we picked up someone like a t. holt and used that second on a solid receiver. either way i would be happy to have austin or the 2nd round pick.

So you're essentially trading a "unproven, undrafted free agent" for an unproven drafted player.

Seems like a wash.

 

[Bluefin]

Miles Austin: 'You want to be somewhere they want you'

9:18 PM Wed, Apr 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips


Miles Austin, who leaves for his New Jersey to visit the Jets in the morning, is hanging out with Marion Barber at the Jazz-Mavericks game.

Austin stopped to chat for a few minutes, deftly dancing around questions about his free agency.

"I'm not even familiar with the process," said Austin, a New Jersey native who was sporting a Yankees cap. "I'm just taking it for what it is and trying to be as professional as I can."

Austin, whom the Cowboys gave the second-round tender, is well aware that he's worked his way into a good situation in Dallas. He has excellent rapport with Tony Romo and would get a shot to challenge Patrick Crayton for the starting job during training camp if the Jets don't steal him.

"This is where I started," Austin said. "There's a connection to Dallas obviously. You also want to be somewhere they want you, and I think [the Cowboys] do."

The Jets might force the Cowboys to show exactly how much they want Austin. He declined to say whether the Cowboys had started the negotiating process on a long-term deal before the Jets showed interest earlier this week.

"I leave all that to my agent," he said with a smile.

 

[Stash]

So you're essentially trading a "unproven, undrafted free agent" for an unproven drafted player.

Seems like a wash.

Except for the 3 years Austin's been in Dallas and the NFL learning the pro game and this offense and quarterback.

 

[landryscorner]

I say he leaves us if they offer him more....geez letting TO does not look like a very wise choice for JJ and CO. If Roy gets hurt what then?????? oh man.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Was this posted? Good find, Fin.


Examining The Jets' Interest In Miles Austin
Posted by jellis at 4/8/2009 5:19 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

Couldn't help but be a little surprised to find out the New York Jets will entertain Cowboys restricted free agent receiver Miles Austin late this week. After Austin and three other Cowboys RFAs received the second-round level tender, I just assumed they would all be back.

Some don't believe the Cowboys would let Austin get away, but they'll definitely consider it, knowing what would be coming to them in return. Before the Cowboys made their tender offers in February, two front office sources agreed they would take a second round pick for Austin.

But Terrell Owens was still on the team back then. Jerry Jones has pointed to Austin as one of the reasons Owens was expendable, so the thinking may have changed.

The Jets apparently feel they need a receiver, and Austin might be better than anyone they could draft with that second round pick, No. 52 overall, especially for this season. While this draft appears to have some good receivers, it's a complete gamble to pick someone like Juaquin Iglesias or Derrick Williams. Who knows what they could become?

New York lost Laveranues Coles to Cincinnati through free agency last month, leaving Jerricho Cotchery as their only accomplished receiver. They've also got former Missouri quarterback Brad Smith and two-year veteran Chansi Stuckey.

Those guys might not be making any defensive coordinators lose sleep, but Stuckey did catch 32 balls for 359 yards and three scores last year. Smith had just 12 catches last year, but 32 in 2007. It doesn't sound like much, but both have been bigger contributors offensively than Austin, who's coming off a career year with all of 13 catches.

Austin does seem to have potential on his side, and he did average 21.4 yards per catch on those few opportunities last year. The big-play threat is something the Jets don't have, and if Jones decides not to match New York's pending offer sheet, then the Cowboys would have that same problem.

The knee trouble that limited Austin to 12 games last year should give New York pause, as well, but their doctors will surely investigate him from top to bottom. Would they really want to risk a second-rounder on his potential? Would the Cowboys want to risk his potential on a second-rounder?

What to do, what to do?

-Josh Ellis

 

[jterrell]

and just to add to Jterrell.

I just went and did a search with your name and the name tony romo...and well those threads back in 05 and 06 are pretty reassuring to me how I feel.

You bullied people in nearly every post of yours I read about how romo will never win and is just here to push henson and is a career backup with a small build.

Its almost identical to how you are talking about austin and to other posters who have a different opinion.

so have fun bullying people on this austin isnt any good crusade you are on. I now know there is no point in conversing about it with you.

Funny but I just searched using jterrell tony romo and got all of 2 threads to pop up.

In one I was arguing vehemently that we werent cutting Tony Romo and that he was a backup who was CLEARLY outplaying Drew Henson.

Did I recognize that Romo as an undrafted free agent who played more golf then football early on would be a franchise QB? Nope. I certainly didn't.

But if you are gonna go stalker on me and read 3 year old threads at least link the posts you are so up in arms about.

Just because the facts fall on my side and I point them out here doesn't make it bullying.

Forget Austin altogether and tell me what player we should trade our pick 51 for that has 3 years service in the league and proven no more than Austin. It can be any player in the league.


Bottom line is it is illogical as can be to suggest you don't accept a 2nd round pick for a guy who is a 4th year pro and going to compete for a starting job.

 

[jterrell]

Miles Austin.

How did a completely raw, undrafted player make a Bill Parcells team as an inactive sixth receiver when he wasn't even projected to return kicks on special teams?

Monster upside.

And after two years of development, Sky Miles was finally ready to contribute and started making a push for playing time during training camp and pre-season. Austin led the team in receiving yards for the pre-season despite only playing parts of two games before injuring his knee.

When Austin came back, 8 of his 13 total receptions, 186 of his 278 yards and all 3 of his career touchdowns came from week two through seven.

Then someone named Tony Romo went down with an injury. Austin caught 2 passes the following week from Brad Johnson before getting blanked the next two games.

Romo then returned and Austin plucked 2 passes for 26 yards, including converting a third and seven the play before Tellus' go ahead touchdown grab in a potential season saving road victory.

But Austin again injured his knee and would catch only one more pass the rest of the season.

Injuries (Austin & Romo) played a big role in Austin's stat line last season, but I don't see why anyone can't see the upside and potential.

Three touchdowns in four weeks isn't an accident.

Truth be told, the accident was not having five scores during that time span.

Austin took a bad ankle on his first reception in Green Bay that allowed the safety to make the tackle on what should have been a touchdown. Two weeks later, Austin had a touchdown sail right through his hands only to be caught in the back of the end zone by Patrick Crayton against the Bengals.

At the first line of this love story you are erroneous. Austin was a special teamer day 1. He was a gunner and kick off return guy, who even if he wasn't the main guy held a job as a returner. He ended up returning 29 kicks which is still tied for his career high in any one year.

I am also sure it didn't hurt that a Jersey guy brought him in as a fellow Jersey guy.

But who care really? Bobby Carpenter keeps making he team too, does that make him any good? Would you take a r2 for him?