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zeke2829
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Selecting Tavon Austin with the eighth overall pick isn’t going to change who starts on the outside in 2013.
According to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, Austin will start in the slot (as expected) as Danny Amendola’s replacement, meaning the two outside receiver spots will be filled by incumbent receivers.
As quoted by Wesseling, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has a pretty good idea which players will fill those roles:
With Pettis likely assuming the No. 2 role, Chris Givens should be Sam Bradford’s primary deep threat to start the season. With 42 catches for 698 yards (16.6 YPC) and three touchdowns last season, the 2012 fourth-round pick proved he can be a dangerous vertical weapon in St. Louis' offense.
Austin will fill the slot role, though he’s also very capable of lining up on the outside as a vertical threat, as he is adept at using his straight-line speed to stretch the field. Much like Seattle Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin, Austin is a nightmare with the ball in his hands, and the “No. 3 receiver” tag doesn’t necessarily indicate how much the Rams are going to use him in 2013.
That leaves 2012 second-rounder Brian Quick and rookie third-rounder Stedman Bailey to battle it out for the No. 4 spot on the depth chart.
According to Wesseling, Quick is likely to start the reason in that role after catching 11 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. Rams brass was extremely excited about acquiring Quick in the second round last year, but he didn’t have much of an impact in his rookie season due to an inability to master the team’s playbook, as noted by Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
But Quick has the size (6’3”, 220 pounds) and ball skills to be a terrific fourth option for Bradford. Given the surprising depth St. Louis now features in its receiving corps, Bailey may face a similar redshirt-like rookie campaign as he adjusts to the NFL level.
Still, the Rams addressed one of their biggest positional needs with two players who have the potential to see a lot of action this season. Austin is a true game-changer with all the explosiveness teams look for in a slot receiver, and Bailey, while not likely to start in the near future, is also very capable with the ball in his hands.
Projected WR Depth Chart
No. 1Chris GivensNo. 2Austin Pettis SlotTavon AustinNo. 4Brian QuickNo. 5Stedman BaileyNo. 6Nick Johnson
According to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, Austin will start in the slot (as expected) as Danny Amendola’s replacement, meaning the two outside receiver spots will be filled by incumbent receivers.
As quoted by Wesseling, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has a pretty good idea which players will fill those roles:
Quite honestly, (Pettis) is probably having the best camp of all the skill players. He's a tireless worker, very competitive, can play all the spots which helps and he's having a tremendous spring.
Pettis, of course, is 2011 third-round draft pick Austin Pettis, who tallied 30 receptions for 261 yards and four touchdowns last season. The 6’3”, 207-pound receiver is a big target with some wheels to match, though his 8.7-yards-per-catch average last season suggests he probably won’t be expected to stretch the field much in 2013.
With Pettis likely assuming the No. 2 role, Chris Givens should be Sam Bradford’s primary deep threat to start the season. With 42 catches for 698 yards (16.6 YPC) and three touchdowns last season, the 2012 fourth-round pick proved he can be a dangerous vertical weapon in St. Louis' offense.
Austin will fill the slot role, though he’s also very capable of lining up on the outside as a vertical threat, as he is adept at using his straight-line speed to stretch the field. Much like Seattle Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin, Austin is a nightmare with the ball in his hands, and the “No. 3 receiver” tag doesn’t necessarily indicate how much the Rams are going to use him in 2013.
That leaves 2012 second-rounder Brian Quick and rookie third-rounder Stedman Bailey to battle it out for the No. 4 spot on the depth chart.
According to Wesseling, Quick is likely to start the reason in that role after catching 11 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. Rams brass was extremely excited about acquiring Quick in the second round last year, but he didn’t have much of an impact in his rookie season due to an inability to master the team’s playbook, as noted by Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
But Quick has the size (6’3”, 220 pounds) and ball skills to be a terrific fourth option for Bradford. Given the surprising depth St. Louis now features in its receiving corps, Bailey may face a similar redshirt-like rookie campaign as he adjusts to the NFL level.
Still, the Rams addressed one of their biggest positional needs with two players who have the potential to see a lot of action this season. Austin is a true game-changer with all the explosiveness teams look for in a slot receiver, and Bailey, while not likely to start in the near future, is also very capable with the ball in his hands.
Projected WR Depth Chart
No. 1Chris GivensNo. 2Austin Pettis SlotTavon AustinNo. 4Brian QuickNo. 5Stedman BaileyNo. 6Nick Johnson