McShay has the Browns adding to their trenches in latest mock draft
March 30, 2015D’Angelo Russell named first-team All-American
March 30, 2015Miles Austin had a good season with the Browns in 2014 and many fans hoped to see him back with an encore performance. As the off-season has unfolded the Browns signed Brian Hartline and then Dwayne Bowe and it raised questions about the real chances of the Browns also asking back Austin. As recently as this weekend, Terry Pluto still expected the Browns to try and bring Austin back. Now, it appears his departure is imminent with Ian Rapoport saying Austin will sign with Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles.
The #Eagles will sign WR Miles Austin when he visits this week, source said, assuming all goes well with the physical.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 30, 2015
It’s too bad for the Browns, because Miles Austin’s value was really high according to any Browns fans who really watched the games as opposed to just reading the box scores. Miles Austin caught a lot of first downs for the team and really seemed to have that keen sensibility to get to the yardage markers.
Miles Austin only had 47 catches for 568 yards for the Browns, which isn’t a gaudy number. He also only received two touchdowns and his “long” on the year was 31 yards, but that doesn’t really tell the tale for me. Based on a deeper look at the numbers, of the 47 catches, 34 of them went for first downs over the 12 games he played. He also caught the most balls on third down. Of those 34 first downs, 17 of them were three yards or less past the sticks. I think after watching him play that it shows his awareness as a veteran receiver to get “just enough.” Also, of the 34 first down catches for the Browns, 14 of them were on third down. Third down conversions are such a big deal to a football team in terms of keeping drives alive and giving an offense momentum.
Obviously the Browns thought Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe could add to their overall passing attack with Andrew Hawkins, who led the team in receiving in 2014. Hopefully one of those guys can become the savvy veteran who has a knack for converting third downs like Miles Austin seemed to be able to do in 2014.
10 Comments
I’ll miss Miles, but wish him good luck with Pat Shurmur and his routes that stop 1-2 yards shy of the sticks.
I liked Austin. I held my breath any time he went over the middle or was in traffic but he was solid. Good luck to him in Philly.
Too bad, he was solid last year.
The Browns are awesome in free agency.
that’s kinda why i figured he belonged with the Browns. That’s what they’ve been doing for years!
I don’t see how he would have fit here now with Bowe and Hartline as well as Hawkins and the others
And Bernie’s number is re-retired. Unless Haslam assigns it to the guy who cleans up after the wiener dogs or something.
Comment of the day ^
Yep. Would have been the 4th or 5th WR on this team. Usually you’d like a guy who can double up on special teams in one or both of those spots.
“But Pat, I’m not really a guy who gets a lot of yards-after-catch…”
“2 YARDS BEHIND THE STICKS!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!”