Thanks to Austin, T.O. No Big Loss for Cowboys

Thursday, November 5, 2009

By Andy Schwartz
CSNPhilly.com

It’s turned out to be the epitome of addition by subtraction.  

The Cowboys subtracted Terrell Owens and by doing so added Miles Austin, an undrafted, fourth-year pro out of nearby Bergen County, N.J.  

Austin isn’t new to the Cowboys; they signed him in 2006 as an undrafted rookie out of Monmouth University, where he left as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (150), touchdown receptions (33) and receiving yards (2,867).

Now, in his fourth NFL season, Austin is receiving his first opportunity to start and, much to the chagrin of veteran Roy Williams, is emerging as Dallas’ top target.

After a quiet first four games, in which he caught just five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, Austin blew up Kansas City. With Williams sidelined by a rib injury, Austin recorded his first career start and had 10 receptions for a team record 250 yards – the highest single-game total in the league this season – and two touchdowns.

Suddenly, Austin became the hottest fantasy football free agent. But Austin wasn’t anonymous to real players. Eagles corner Sheldon Brown knew of him before then.

“Way before,” Brown said. “We don’t watch the game. We watch the film – the coaches’ film – and he’s always been productive, no matter what they ask him to play. Normally good special teams guys become great offensive or defensive guys.”

Austin followed up his performance against Kansas City with a 171-yard, two-touchdown performance against Atlanta. In NFL history, only Chad Johnson – now Ochocinco – had more receiving yards (190 in 2006) after reaching the 250 mark in the previous game.

So the Chiefs game was no fluke.

“It’s not a fluke what he’s been doing,” Brown said. “You don’t do that [if] you’re not a good player.”

One reason the 6-foot-3, 214-pound Austin has been so good is because of his ability to break tackles. He enters Sunday night’s game against the Eagles averaging 10.5 yards after the catch, tops in the league among wide receivers who have at least 10 receptions. He’s also tied for the league lead among wideouts with six touchdowns.

Austin beat the Chiefs with touchdown catches of 59 and 60 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, respectively. On the former, he ran 54 of the 59 yards. On the latter he ran for 52 of the 60.

“He’s a heck of an athlete,” cornerback Asante Samuel said. “The biggest challenge that Miles brings is, he has a big lower body. That’s how he breaks through those arm tackles and goes the distance. You’ve got to make sure you wrap him up when he catches the ball.”

But Austin can also beat you deep. He scored his first of two touchdowns against the Falcons by getting behind the secondary for a 59-yard score. All six of his touchdowns have come in the last three games, during which Austin has 21 receptions for 482 yards.

“He’s a big kid. He’s strong. He’s explosive,” Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said in a conference call. “If you want to sit on him, he’s got a motor now that can get over the top in a hurry, and teams don’t realize that until they play him sometimes.”

The Cowboys, however, realized what they had. A restricted free agent last offseason, Miles signed a one-year, $1.545 million tender with Dallas. Any team wishing to sign Austin would have had to give up a second-round pick as compensation if the Cowboys decided not to match the offer.

“It is remarkable,” Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. “It’s pretty amazing what he’s done, the last three games especially. Last year we put a big tender on him, so we felt like he had a lot of potential.”

E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.