Someone please explain the Tavon Austin hype.

[rayzor]

he is a guy that you can line up pretty much anywhere on the field (in a non-blocking capacity, anyway) and be a real threat to defenses. he's the kind of guy you want to find ways to get the ball to and you know, just like defenses do, that he can do some serious damage. he opens up the offense to a lot of possibilities and adds an element that defenses always have to account for. they will be required to game plan against him and will have to use a spy because you don't know what's going to happen with him.

despite his size, he creates mismatches all over the field. some have him limited to just a slot guy, but there's no way he's going to be limited to that. most have recognized that he can line up everywhere as a receiver and be incredibly effective. he's every bit as dangerous as smitty. he may not be as tough, but he's going to be stressing out some DCs and defensive players trying to contain the damage he causes.

if he was taller, there's no doubt in my mind that he'd be taken in the top 5 and i think that even at his size most teams realize the real threat he can be from day one. he might slip into the second half of the first round, but i wouldn't be surprised to see him taken in the top 10. there's just no telling where he's going to fall.

[jarhead]

Just get him the ball in space and he will ball.I really do not care that he is the prototypical wr he runs the best routes, has good hands, and by far is the fastest WR available.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Everyone said the same thing about AE (including me) and Joe Adams. OVERRATED!!!!!!!

[PantherMan89]

He ran a fast 40.

Now if only we can teach him football

[jarhead]

Everyone said the same thing about AE (including me) and Joe Adams. OVERRATED!!!!!!!

AE was neither a WR ,RB or special teams player.How can you say that without comparing the stats of what he accomplished. He was much more accomplished than Joe Adams.

[jarhead]

Now if only we can teach him football

I watched several games and he looked like we can bypass the step of teaching him how to play football.I wish people that do not like him would just leave at that and quit making comments like the one above

[rayzor]

Everyone said the same thing about AE (including me) and Joe Adams. OVERRATED!!!!!!!

neither guy was nearly as polished and talented as a receiver. that's why he'll be taken much earlier. that's why he'll be more productive.

just because he's small, fast, and can return the ball doesn't make him overrated. thinking that way is pretty narrow-minded.

[PantherMan89]

I watched several games and he looked like we can bypass the step of teaching him how to play football.I wish people that do not like him would just leave at that and quit making comments like the one above

I am pretty sure you are missing my sarcasm in my post. I am definitely on the tavon bandwagon and hope we draft him. Ken was implying his hype was just because he ran fast like many others on here have suggested. As a wvu fan I know how good of a football player he is and do not need any convincing.

[DaveThePanther2008]

neither guy was nearly as polished and talented as a receiver. that's why he'll be taken much earlier. that's why he'll be more productive.

just because he's small, fast, and can return the ball doesn't make him overrated. thinking that way is pretty narrow-minded.

Narrow minded? Why cause I think he is overrated. He is coming from a wide open offense. He won't be playing against subpar players in the NFL. I watched the highlights of the Oklahoma game and saw piss poor tackling and a player that is going to get light up like a Christmas tree when comes in the big boys league.

I remember everyone ranting and raving how AE speed and open field ability was going to put us over the top. Last year I heard the same damn thing about how Joe Adams was the steal of the draft and he was going to tear this league up once he gets into the open field. Now for the 3rd time in 4 years I am hearing the same damn thing about 175lb speedster out of College with a wide open offense.

At 175lbs he is going to get pushed and bumped all over the field and never get into his route.

The only narrow mind is the fact everyone thinks he is going to be a game changer. His college stats and highlights are great but he is going to struggle in the NFL. HE IS NOT NFL READY!!!!!

He might one day be a game changer but it won't be in 2013 or 2014 and probably not until 2015 before he even sniffs 1000 yds. We don't need to waste a No. 1 pick on a 2 or 3 year project.

[Squirrel]

Prospect. lol

[TheMaulClaw]

I think Ace Sanders can bring the same dynamic, but you can draft him later.

[Jbo]

We don't need to waste a No. 1 pick on a 2 or 3 year project.

I don't have a dog in this Tavon Austin argument but I had to point out that what you said was EXACTLY what they were ALL saying in 2011 before we drafted Cam... When you draft safe, you get safe. When you draft flashy, you can potentially, get flashy.

Percy Harvin was drafted four WR's after Darius Heyward-Bay in 2009, good thing Oakland played it safe... turned out great for them.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

I think Ace Sanders can bring the same dynamic, but you can draft him later.

I love Ace Sanders and think he is better than Joe Adams or AE..but it is not close to Tavon of he would have been featured quite a bit more at SC.

Also the combine is used to confirm film speed...Tavon plaed fast and timed fast(confirmed blaze)

Ace played fast and looked to be in the 4.4 speed but really ran Joe Adamsish speeds 5.59 4.6ish ..the big difference is Ace can accelerate as he cuts while Joe Adamns slows down as he cuts.

Ace has more forward explosion and has a cooler name.

[Cary Kollins]

I think Tavon will be a very good weapon for some team, but I just don't see the fit for us. We have our return guy in Ginn. We have ATM 3 very good running backs. What I think we are missing is a big tall future #1 WR which obviously Austin is not.

For those that want to draft him, how do you see him fitting into our scheme and how would we use him? And what player would you say he most resembles? A Percy Harvin or Desean Jackson or someone else?