The Los Angeles Rams are one of the top stories in the NFL, but one player on their squad, Tavon Austin, can't seem to live up to the collective hype in L.A.
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In fact, not living up to the hype has been a staple of Austin's NFL career so far.
Taken by the then-St. Louis Rams with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Austin is quickly nearing "bust" status as an NFL player. That's not to say he can't be a contributor because he still has the talent, but when push comes to shove, Austin is just not up to snuff — even on a Rams team that has been exceeding expecations all season.
Here's Micahel Lombardi with a bit more perspective:
I was just checking the Rams stats, do you realize Tavon Auston has 10 catches this year for 33 yards? 55 carries for 246 and 1 TD for the season. McVay is coach of the year, but even he could not get Austin to be productive
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) December 27, 2017
When Austin was drafted by the Rams he was expected to be one of the most explosive players in the league. The problem? Perhaps it's that he's never had a defined role. He's more of a "flex" wideout in the Percy Harvin mold. He's fast and athletic, but isn't consistent enough over the top as a wideout and seems to be either too small or not shifty enough to make a huge impact as a runner.
It's a tough role to play in the NFL. In college football, players like Austin succeed as a "flex" athlete. In the NFL, defenses are bigger, stronger, faster and less susceptible to being tricked.
No matter the reason, though, Austin has been disappointing.
His best season was in 2015, when he notched 509 rushing yards and three touchdowns, also adding one touchdown on the ground.
For a former No. 8 overall pick, that type of "best season ever" just doesn't add up.
