at no fault of his own? So your point of him struggling with dropped passes for much of his rookie year is "no fault of his own"?
Was it much of his rookie year or the first few games? You need to double check that. I said early-not much of the season, because that isn't true.
And him muffing two punts on Sunday are "no fault of his own"?
I never mentioned muffed punts as they're not relevant to my overall point-his usage w/in the offense.
I read all these posts of how he needs to be "more creative", and the description of examples always include some sort of trick play or gimmick to get Austin the ball. I feel like this is just so "Maddenesque", that people really don't have much of an idea how these sort of things have to be incorporated into an actual gameplan.
I don't play Madden, so your feeling is off. I am, however, a current football coach at the high school level for 12 years, so I do, in fact, have bit of an idea how these things are incorporated into actual game plans.
I know for a fact they have them in the playbook, and they have them in the game plan. But they have to have the opportunity to actually be able to use them. You don't call a double reverse deep in your own territory, or when the down and distance doesn't warrant it. The game situation will always dictate what you can and cannot call, within reason. We all like to think that every trick play is going to work, because it has the element of surprise. But as a play caller, you really need to assume it won't work and weigh the consequences of what happens if it doesn't.
I don't think I said anything to the contrary. I agree w/ all of this.
If "being creative" is the only way to get Austin the ball, then what does that say about him as a player?
I never said anything about "creativity." I said, "get him the ball and let him make plays." Brandin Cooks, a similar player for the Saints, had 8 targets & a rush. He had 7 catches for 77 yds & a TD in his first game as rookie. I watched them both in college and Tavon is every bit as capable as Cooks to have stat lines equal to that on a weekly basis.
At some point, he needs to make himself a part of the offense and find a way to contribute within the confines of the offense.
Fitting a square peg into a round hole...not exactly an effective strategy.
For now, I would just like to see him catch a punt, and run up field with it. Then maybe we can start "getting creative" in finding reasons to get him the ball on offense.
You're way too concerned w/ "getting creative" & punt returns...things I never mentioned.