WVU Football: Austin and Bailey to Make Greatest Show on Turf 2
By Ken Durbin
Nov 10, 2012; Stillwater OK, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Stedman Bailey (3) and wide receiver Tavon Austin (1) wait for the punt during the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams were in desperate need of offensive weapons to reinvigorate a rather bland offense. They addressed that need in spades during the NFL draft by selecting both former West Virginia Mountaineers wide receivers: Tavon Austin at 8th overall and Stedman Bailey at 92nd overall.
The drafting of Austin and Bailey, when combined with the addition of pass-catching tight end Jared Cook, brings a ton of offensive firepower to the Rams and young quarterback Sam Bradford. The big moves on the offensive side of the football has many writers sighting a second coming of the “Greatest Show on Turf.”
Austin and Bailey are certainly not shying away from those assessments:
"We're going to help motivate each other and continue to work hard to bring a Super Bowl to St. Louis." - Stedman Bailey #RamsDraft
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 27, 2013
And they are surely excited to keep their excellent on field chemistry going:
Look like me and my main man @iamSB3 back at it congrats shorty!!!!
— Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) April 27, 2013
For the Rams, this is a tremendous move. Not only did they manage to secure the top offensive talent in the 2013 NFL Draft in Austin but they also snagged the NCAA’s leading touchdown receiver in 2013 and a Biletnikoff Award finalist in Bailey. The duo lit up opposing defenses at West Virginia not just as a result of personal talent but because they are exceptional compliments to one another.
Austin will draw defenders to the middle of the field, providing Bailey with single coverage on the outside. When defenses decide to cover the deep ball and Bailey, they will leave the short routes open for Austin to take to the house. No matter the coverage, this duo can pick it apart.
If Bradford cannot utilize these new weapons to make the Rams a top five offense this season, then he never will. Bradford has struggled at times in his early career and that has been blamed on a lack of weapons. Now that he has a cupboard stocked with young talent, there is no excuse for Bradford to struggle.
Look for the Rams to turn heads this season and for the Rams uniforms sales to spike thanks to Mountaineers fans.