If you need a reason to get more excited about the direction the Dallas Cowboys offense is going, then look no further than the inevitable return of Tavon Austin. He has supposedly rejoined practice on a limited basis, which means we could see him back in action sooner rather than later.
We unfortunately haven’t seen Tavon Austin on the field since Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he sustained a pretty serious groin injury. He opted for rest instead of surgery for the chance to suit up once again with the Cowboys this season and it’s looking like he could do just that as early as this week against the Indianapolis Colts.
I don’t know where you stand, but I truly believe Austin can make the Cowboys offense even better. What his offensive role be upon his return is unknown at this point, but he brings an entirely different element to the table than any other playmaker Quarterback Dak Prescott has at his disposal.
Tavon Austin’s game is all about speed. The Dallas Cowboys don’t currently have a player with his kind of game changing ability, although Wide Receiver Amari Cooper’s current play makes that a rather weak statement. But regardless, even Cooper can’t do some of the things Austin can bring to the Cowboys offense.
Tavon Austin isn’t a prototypical wide receiver or running back, although he is dangerous playing either position. He is best described as a “gimmicky” playmaker, who is at his most dangerous when he can get the ball in the open field. Any time that happens he’s not only going to pick up some chunk yards, but threaten the end zone just about every time as well.
Offensively, the Cowboys were using Austin as their deep threat in the passing game and as their motion player on jet sweeps and reverses as well. Before his injury he was averaging 18.6 yards per reception and 9.2 yards per rushing attempt. It was a small sample size, but something the Cowboys would gladly welcome back into their game plan.
You see, it’s his ability to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally that would benefit the Cowboys offense the most. It forces opposing defenses to cover the entire field because of his ability to go deep in the passing game and capture the corner on those jets sweeps and end around’s. It’s tough for defenses to guard against.
Just having Tavon Austin back on the field is threat enough to help the Cowboys offensively. Opposing defenses have to play more disciplined so that they don’t get burned deep or around the edge. That’s a huge advantage for Dallas and their playmakers.
No longer will defensive ends crash down in the hopes of containing Ezekiel Elliott in the running game. That could be all the difference Zeke needs to break a long run. The same can be said in the passing game as well. Austin’s ability to get deep means extra attention devoted his way, creating an opportunity for someone else.
I’m personally really excited about Tavon Austin’s return and how it should impact the Cowboys offense moving forward. What do you think?
