Packers Sign WR Tavon Austin & DL Anthony Rush

[Freak Out]

Nice Harv and Zool.

[Upnorth]

I'm trying as BEST I CAN to crack the code. And if I HOPE I figured it out.

I do think signing the dl will stop our rush d from being left in LIMBO by the head office. We have some solid pass d, but same old story.

[run pMc]

LOL at the 'code'.
Rush is (in this context) a very large man, at worst he's a big body who can gum up a rushing lane.

Austin is interesting. I haven't followed his pro career much, but coming out of WVa he was a monster for their offense -- IIRC dude even filled in at RB when injuries hit and averaged over 10ypc.
RG's probably right about Sheppard being cut/signed to the PS. Sheppard basically gives you nothing right now, and they can at least use Austin to return punts/kicks and be a threat on jet sweeps. Austin is a little dude and won't give you much as a blocker, and probably can't beat press coverage so he's limited by what he can do, but if MLF is smart he won't ask him to do anything he's poor at. The other question is what he has left as a relatively small man in a violent game, but I'm assuming they figured that out by bringing him in for a workout.

[Upnorth]

Under achiever with a fumbling prbkem. He is ok but lookks loke a bust atvthe 8th spot

[Spaulding]

I'm guessing Rush is JAG but who knows, we've found DL diamonds off waivers (Brown and Green come immediately to mind) before. More than likely though he's just a practice squad player who can sub in a game if needed but won't be more than a body on the field trying to fill the A gaps. Then again Lawrence Guy was JAG for us and he's played on multiple SB's with the Patriots and is still on their roster (making $5mil/year) and a great role player so who knows.

For some reason, I'm really excited about Austin though. Loved his versatility at West Virginia (have a co-worker whose an alum and he watched all their games and raved about him although much of it was likely homerism).

Given how LaFleur has utilized Ervin so far, I'm hopeful that Austin can be that type of impact player for us and more. He's more gifted than Ervin and has show it on multiple levels. Between his ability in the return game, as an occasional running back and speed receiver he could create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. Guessing he just needs to be healthy and motivated and being given what appears to be a 4th chance and on a winning team can do wonders for that.

Conversely, his diminishing stat line and higher than expected number of fumbles likely explains why he was an FA.

His stats from Pro Football Focus suggest a multi-dimensional oft injured player and one well worth kicking the tires on if low cost:


[CODE] Games Receiving Rushing Total Yds
Year Age Tm Pos No. G Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng Ctch% Y/Tgt Rush Yds TD Lng Y/A RRTD Fmb
2013 23 STL 11 13 69 40 418 10.5 4 81 58.0% 6.1 9 151 1 65 16.8 569 5
2014 24 STL WR 11 15 44 31 242 7.8 0 28 70.5% 5.5 36 224 2 19 6.2 466 2
2015 25 STL WR 11 16 87 52 473 9.1 5 66 59.8% 5.4 52 434 4 60 8.3 907 4
2016 26 LAR WR 11 15 106 58 509 8.8 3 43 54.7% 4.8 28 159 1 30 5.7 668 4
2017 27 LAR WR 11 16 22 13 47 3.6 0 13 59.1% 2.1 59 270 1 27 4.6 317 1
2018 28 DAL 10 7 13 8 140 17.5 2 64 61.5% 10.8 6 55 0 18 9.2 195 2
2019 29 DAL 10 14 24 13 177 13.6 1 59 54.2% 7.4 6 47 1 20 7.8 224 2[/CODE

[Bossman641]

Always had hope for Austin but he's just never done it. This far into his career he seems to be your everyday WORKING MAN. Maybe we'll catch lightning in a bottle though.

[Joemailman]

I'm guessing Rush is JAG but who knows, we've found DL diamonds off waivers (Brown and Green come immediately to mind) before. More than likely though he's just a practice squad player who can sub in a game if needed but won't be more than a body on the field trying to fill the A gaps. Then again Lawrence Guy was JAG for us and he's played on multiple SB's with the Patriots and is still on their roster (making $5mil/year) and a great role player so who knows.

For some reason, I'm really excited about Austin though. Loved his versatility at West Virginia (have a co-worker whose an alum and he watched all their games and raved about him although much of it was likely homerism).

Given how LaFleur has utilized Ervin so far, I'm hopeful that Austin can be that type of impact player for us and more. He's more gifted than Ervin and has show it on multiple levels. Between his ability in the return game, as an occasional running back and speed receiver he could create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. Guessing he just needs to be healthy and motivated and being given what appears to be a 4th chance and on a winning team can do wonders for that.

Conversely, his diminishing stat line and higher than expected number of fumbles likely explains why he was an FA.

His stats from Pro Football Focus suggest a multi-dimensional oft injured player and one well worth kicking the tires on if low cost:

                        Games	                Receiving	                                        Rushing	                  Total Yds			
Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	Lng	Ctch%	Y/Tgt	Rush	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/A	RRTD	Fmb	
2013	23	STL		11	13	69	40	418	10.5	4	81	58.0%	6.1	9	151	1	65	16.8	569	5	
2014	24	STL	WR	11	15	44	31	242	7.8	0	28	70.5%	5.5	36	224	2	19	6.2	466	2	
2015	25	STL	WR	11	16	87	52	473	9.1	5	66	59.8%	5.4	52	434	4	60	8.3	907     4	
2016	26	LAR	WR	11	15	106	58	509	8.8	3	43	54.7%	4.8	28	159	1	30	5.7	668     4	
2017	27	LAR	WR	11	16	22	13	47	3.6	0	13	59.1%	2.1	59	270	1	27	4.6	317     1	
2018	28	DAL		10	7	13	8	140	17.5	2	64	61.5%	10.8	6	55	0	18	9.2	195	2	
2019	29	DAL		10	14	24	13	177	13.6	1	59	54.2%	7.4	6	47	1	20	7.8	224	2

Fixed (Sort of)

His real value to the Packers, if an, will probably be as a returner.

[RashanGary]

Always had hope for Austin but he's just never done it. This far into his career he seems to be your everyday WORKING MAN. Maybe we'll catch lightning in a bottle though.

What the hell is going on here

WORKING MAN!!!!!! What is this capitalized chaos!?

[Joemailman]

What the hell is going on here

WORKING MAN!!!!!! What is this capitalized chaos!?

You'll figure it out eventually. Don't be in a Rush.

[Upnorth]

It feels like we are getting into the DOG YEARS of Austin's career. His career is a FAR CRY from the potential he showed in college and leading up to thw draft. Rush on the other had seems to have some very passionate fans.

And Spaulding your use of the JAG terminology just doesn't seems to fit in with this thread.

[sharpe1027]

What the hell is going on here

WORKING MAN!!!!!! What is this capitalized chaos!?

Once you figure it out, you can claim ONE LITTLE VICTORY.

[Spaulding]

It feels like we are getting into the DOG YEARS of Austin's career. His career is a FAR CRY from the potential he showed in college and leading up to thw draft. Rush on the other had seems to have some very passionate fans.

And Spaulding your use of the JAG terminology just doesn't seems to fit in with this thread.

JAG being just another guy which is what most late season FA signings are. I didn't reference JAG for Austin as I have higher hopes for his potential to play an Ervin type role in the offense.

So I'm not clear on what you mean by the terminology not fitting the thread as it's about the signing of Rush and Austin which is what my post was about.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

What the hell is going on here

WORKING MAN!!!!!! What is this capitalized chaos!?

You, partial, myself, we millennials are getting old, but we’re still younger than them Gen X-ers.

We millennials don’t know who or what Rush was, nor do we give a fuck. We’re all about Coldplay, Beyoncé, N Sync and 50 Cent. Especially Coldplay, the greatest band of all time.

[RashanGary]

You, partial, myself, we millennials are getting old, but we’re still younger than them Gen X-ers.

We millennials don’t know who or what Rush was, nor do we give a fuck. We’re all about Coldplay, Beyoncé, N Sync and 50 Cent. Especially Coldplay, the greatest band of all time.

Yeah, I kind of figured it was music but it's nice to see the generation before us bond in common ground as the world changes so fast. It's funny cuz for year's you pushed early millennial stuff here on the established generation and now the new generation thinks you’re a stupid neanderthal with your capitalist obsession and dated racial ideas

Full circle, man!

[wist43]

What the hell is going on here

WORKING MAN!!!!!! What is this capitalized chaos!?

Was at a Rush concert in '83-84 or there abouts... 2 guys got in a fight right in front of us, we were about 20 feet from the stage. One guy pulled a knife and stabbed the other guy several times. When we saw the knife we pushed back on the crowd and were able to make a bit of hole in the crowd. He was pretty out of control with the knife, you could tell he was fucked up. Well, we were at a concert - we all were, lol...

We read in the paper that the guy he stabbed later died at the hospital. I had blood all over me, but didn't realize it until later. They caught the guy though... he stabbed a few more people as he was running thru the crowd. The article said he admitted to taking acid that night, and didn't know what he was doing.

Don't know how his case turned out.