On Thursday, the Ramsparted ways with offensive lineman Greg Robinson, their massively sized and massively disappointing first-round pick from 2014.
The trade came one day after coach Sean McVay spoke optimistically about another suspect first-rounder who has yet to live up to his promise: Tavon Austin, the pass-catching return man still working his way back from wrist surgery.
"I think we have ideas of the way that we want to utilize him," McVay said Wednesday, per Pro Football Talk. "I think he's done a lot of great things on tape, but until you're actually able to get out on the grass with him, watch him do some of the things that we're asking him to do, it does make it a little bit more difficult. But we're certainly projecting him to be a big part of our offense. How exactly we use him is to be determined, but we have discussed those things as a staff. We'll get a chance to see that early on in training camp."
It's nothing more than June-time wishful thinking for now because Austin has yet to practice post-surgery. The hope in Los Angeles, though, is that McVay's coaching staff can do what Jeff Fisher's couldn't: develop players on offense.
Austin has shown moments of promise, but it's telling that last year's 509 yards receiving served as a career high. Still, his backfield abilities and dangerous return skills should give McVay something to work with.
Besides, the Rams coach showed in Washington that he can maximize players in the passing game, something that never happened under Fisher. While this new staff was willing to part ways with Robinson, they believe they can still redeem one of their fastest weapons on offense.
