Saints WR Kevin Austin Jr deserves more snaps (3 catches/3 first downs vs Rams) (2 Viewers)

[Jive Saint]

Yes. Kevin Austin is making plays and hope to see him on the field as much as possible the rest of the season.

We still have to make WR1 & WR2 a priority this off-season but I like the "sneaky" production we're getting from Kevin Austin & Dante Pettis. Like Snead, Lance Moore, Kenny Stills, etc... we really need that sneaky production if we're going to get better

I agree, when Sean Payton scouted Taysom Hill… all his scouts kept telling SP what Taysom couldn’t do. Never asking what can TH do?

Sean Payton asked what can Taysom do & it changed our offense & special teams. And possibly asking what can a player do (what role can a player succeed in)? Changed our scouting.

Finding role players to get that sneaky production is where we are at now. It is what it is. WR Kevin Austin is finding his role & showing what he can do… just like Snead when he’d get them sneaky stats.

 

[Jive Saint]

I like what I’ve seen out of him. I’ve seen numerous mock drafts showing us taking Luther Burden in the first round. I don’t have a direct line to that college program anymore but have personally known many of Mizzou’s assistants over the years. I’m kind of hearing he has a bad attitude that gets worse when things don’t go his way. Not really high on more drama queen prima Donna WR’s. I agree the full effort guys are fun to watch and root for.

I agree. I don’t know much about the Missoula kid, but I know it’s hard to please a spoiled child.

I prefer full efforts men who can succeed in situational football.

 

[Jive Saint]

We should use him on screens like the Rams did w/ Nacua. Unlike most on the board I think we have receiving talent on this roster even w/ out Olave and Shaheed.

Our biggest issue as a team this year has been an inability to win the LOS on both sides of the ball consistently.

On offense it’s been due to health of interior Oline, on D it’s been due to lack of talent on the interior outside of Bresee (who is mediocre against the run in his own right)

I agree. The ball snaps from the middle of the Line. Time to throw is paramount to offensive grooves.

WR KA looked smooth on that wide run. WR Screens could be a winning role for him.

 

[Jive Saint]

I agree that the biggest need on this team is on the DL, both DT and DE, and that we have some playmakers at WR especially if you add in Olave and Shaheed. But, I do think we lack a WR that can move the chains and be counted on in contested catch situations. I don't necessarily think we need the next Mike Thomas, but someone who can run slants and make contested catches in the red zone while we let Shaheed and Olave work in space and run deep would really take the offense to the next level. The 4th down play yesterday is the perfect example to me. There really were no good options as a go to in that situation.

That of course, assumes the OL has better health next year and that they add a LG that can consistently play well either by drafting a LG or drafting an OT and moving an OT to LG.

I have some hope that Means can do some of the things we need, but I'm not sure he can do that so I'd include WR in the list of desirable positions in round 1 along with DE and DT.

But honestly, there aren't many positions I would be against taking in the first depending on the value. I'd consider QB, WR, DT, DE, OT, CB, and Safety if the right guy is there.

I agree. WR is a priority position in the next draft or Free Agency. But finding role players is our best available option right now.

 

[Jive Saint]

I agree, we do have some talent at WR outside of Olave and Shaheed. I like Means and was impressed with his development. He can be an X in the mold of Adams. I like Kevin Austin Jr., he has the size/speed, etc and can be a nice slot WR and once with some size. MVS is a near perfect Z, especially if he can continue to catch the ball.

I'd like to see the final snap counts, but the commentators kept talking about Juwan switching back to WR and playing both WR and TE. I've been saying this for awhile that he should switch back to WR and play the X. He might be doing just that as he does look a little "smaller", like he lost some weight around his torso which he seems to be a little more dynamic now.

I agree, WR Means is a solid developmental option. TE Juwan Johnson needs to win his role on this offense, because without a role… he will not have a place on gameday.

 

[Noble Saint]

I agree. I don’t know much about the Missoula kid, but I know it’s hard to please a spoiled child.

I prefer full efforts men who can succeed in situational football.

He’s talented and hopefully just had a one off bad situation when he threw a punch last weekend. By the end of rivalry week, there were so many fights and altercations it doesn’t seem as big of a deal as it did at the time.

 

[Lustmord]

The 2025 wr room should be solid:
Olave
Shaheed
Means
Mvs
Austin
Pettis (if we keep 6)

 

[NatureBoy]

Of the Austin, MVS and Pettis trio, I find Austin interesting. I think we know who MVS and Pettis are. They are 30(ish) year old guys who are bottom of the roster types. Austin is only 25 and could further develop. I like what I see when he's on the field. I don't think he's anything better than a WR 3/4 though. The WR room needs a LOT of work.

 

[The Unrest Cure]

Austin looks the part of the big strong WR, but if you watch his routes he lacks "suddenness". His cuts are more of rounding the route and less abrupt than you would like, so his ability to redirect/misdirect CBs and drive them off the passing line is minimal. There can certainly be a role for a wideout like this (#1 member of the Brandon Coleman Stans Club here!) but I don't think his utility on many pass patterns is really there. Yet. Perhaps with time, snaps, and coaching he will progress, but I think his limits are why he was available.

 

[St. Widge]

I agree. WR is a priority position in the next draft or Free Agency. But finding role players is our best available option right now.

Sure. I like what I see in KAJ and I would like to see how he develops next year. He has good size and speed but he needs to run better routes. Some guys just take time to develop so he could end up being good. He's already at a point where I would be fine with him as the #5 of #6 WR next year and he could move up. This will annoy many, but I think he's already a better all around WR than A.T. Perry. He doesn't have Perry's size or knack for getting open in zone, but I think he runs better routes.

As far as right now, I think he is getting a lot of snaps. He appears to already be ahead of Wilson and Tipton. At this point he might be the #2 WR.

 

[kennydfresh]

Really? All of your garbage takes on here you expect people to take serious with this kind of response to Austin Jr?

My takes aren't garbage first and foremost and I'm right more than I'm wrong. Record speaks for itself my guy. Anyways it was joke, quit being so serious.