Tavon Austin signs with Packers

[PackerDNA]

Not me, I'd rather have Stills. I didn't even know Austin was still in the league. I'm not upset that they signed him but I'm not particularly excited about it either.

That's fine, and I'm fine with your disagree. I just feel Austin potentially has more to offer offensively, and definitely in the return game. I would think we should start to see how this works out in the next couple of weeks.

 

[PikeBadger]

Good to see another important role filled hopefully. Would like to see one more DE brought in for the stretch run.

 

[tynimiller]

Good to see another important role filled hopefully. Would like to see one more DE brought in for the stretch run.

DE or DL. Rush is just a massive son of a gun but I think is a project target for future not this year with his addition of late.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

why are so many of you saying "Packers dodged a bullet"? there never was a bullet to dodge JFC!

There were reports of the Pack being interested in a trade with the Texans for Fuller, but that the sides could not come together on compensation. Now, it's possible that those reports were not accurate, but neither you nor I can say with certainty whether there was real interest or not. What you don't know, you don't know.

So "may have dodged a bullet", which is what I actually posted, seems entirely correct.

 

[El Guapo]

Austin's only role will likely be on returns this week. I assume that he has to pass the covid protocol, which means that he won't be practicing live with the team until the end of the week. At best they might teach him one play and stick him in there for a few snaps. I wouldn't expect much this week.

 

[GreenNGold_81]

I think Austin's the type of player that will be useful to a creative coaching staff. Has the speed and can house it on returns. I like the signing, kinda like when they got Ervin last year, but maybe better.

 

[longtimefan]

Austin's only role will likely be on returns this week. I assume that he has to pass the covid protocol, which means that he won't be practicing live with the team until the end of the week. At best they might teach him one play and stick him in there for a few snaps. I wouldn't expect much this week.

I think he has to miss a week

Edit

Nm saw he was eligible for tomorrow

 

[Dantés]

Austin has never taken off in the NFL because he never grew into a position.

He does not have the body or pass pro acumen to be a running back on a consistent basis.

And he has never grown into the technical proficiencies of a wide receiver.

So a gadget guy he has remained.

But he's really, really fast, and could find a role in the offense like Ervin did, as a motion weapon who keeps defenses imbalanced.

 

[gopkrs]

Austin has never taken off in the NFL because he never grew into a position.

He does not have the body or pass pro acumen to be a running back on a consistent basis.

And he has never grown into the technical proficiencies of a wide receiver.

So a gadget guy he has remained.

But he's really, really fast, and could find a role in the offense like Ervin did, as a motion weapon who keeps defenses imbalanced.

I believe the Rams drafted him in the first round and definitely gave him a chance. I think they tried just about everything. And not just a series here and there.

 

[Krabs]

why are so many of you saying "Packers dodged a bullet"? there never was a bullet to dodge JFC!

The Packers were a draft pick away from what the Texans wanted for Fuller. They wanted a 2nd and the Packers were willing to go a 3rd. If the Packers would have gone for that 2nd then we would be sitting here glum because of the move. I would say it falls in the "dodged a bullet" category.

 

[Krabs]

I believe the Rams drafted him in the first round and definitely gave him a chance. I think they tried just about everything. And not just a series here and there.

He was definitely given some time with the Rams. Like most 1st rounders, they were trying to let him get to the full potential they thought he had. It just never materialized.

 

[gbgary]

wasn't the Packers they signed a bear DL

the same guy. the picture i saw he was in a raiders uni. 360 lbs...massive.

 

[gbgary]

I like the move. Even more than I would have liked getting Stills.

yup. they don't have anyone who can do what Swerve does on O and he can take over the return duties. a huge body to take up space on running downs is good too. both low risk deals with upside. just what the doctor ordered. as far as i know stills is still out there. so if the price is right why not? like i said earlier don't expect much from him though for all the obvious reasons. i doubt they go there.

 

[Krabs]

I like this signing to replace Ervin. Ervin helped a little last year and had a few sweeps that worked for him. Much like Austin, he is a small guy and really only a return man. I do see this as an upgrade, especially if Ervin is out for awhile. I even see it as a slight upgrade to Ervin. Let's not go crazy though. This guy has greatly underperformed for his draft status and isn't the extra piece needed to win a Super Bowl. If Stills makes it through waivers I would still bring him in for sure. He would be much better in the slot than Ervin or Austin.

If we are really being honest, it shows the state of our WR corp when we are excited about bringing in recycled players in that of Austin and Stills. We all know we had better opportunities to upgrade both WR and return positions in the offseason.

 

[red4tribe]

What's going on with Ervin? Any word on when he will be back?

 

[El Guapo]

What's going on with Ervin? Any word on when he will be back?

I think you can think of the Tavon Austin move as "word" on Ervin's return. He definitely won't be back this week. This was a good move, if anything, to see if Austin is an upgrade over Sheppard but if he can also fill in or improve on Ervin's position....all the better.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The cost of replacing Darrius Shepherd with Tavon Austin for 5 games: $110,295

 

[gbgary]

The cost of replacing Darrius Shepherd with Tavon Austin for 5 games: $110,295

just what the doctor ordered. cheap.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

just what the doctor ordered. cheap.

They might get away with a similar scenario replacing Taylor with Stills. Stills is going to get paid by the Texans the remaining $2M on his contract. I could be wrong but whatever another team pays him just gets taken away from what the Texans owe him.

 

[Do7]

And we released Sheppard. Hallelujah!

 

[jhawk008]

I'm gonna laugh if Austin somehow turns into a reliable weapon in towards the playoff push. We now have 2 guys who can run, and each of them do only that.

 

[Snoops]

Every single person paying attention knows this offense is deadly, it is however much deadlier when Ervin is in there providing a true threat on the motion and jet sweep part of our playcalling.
Austin is better than Ervin
Tavon is a solid cheap pick up while Ervin is out and possibly even moving forward IMO.

 

[PikeBadger]

I expect it to take a few weeks before he gets timing issues with motioning figured out. See this more as a play for the last two games and playoffs.
The special teams return game needs better blocking for anyone to do much on returns. That’s been a bugaboo for years now.

 

[gopkrs]

Well it's probably now or never for Tavon. Maybe he'll become a Desmond Howard story.

 

[gbgary]

Well it's probably now or never for Tavon. Maybe he'll become a Desmond Howard story.

i don't know. anyone with speed has a longer shelf life in the nfl. i'll bet he's around another year or two. the howard scenario would be awesome.