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U of Tennessee WR Justin Hunter (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Matt Waldman
- Start date
East Coast Bias
Footballguy
Hunter headed to the hospital with stomach pains.
cstu
Footballguy
Boone22
Footballguy
East Coast Bias
Footballguy
Likely done for the year.
amnesiac
beer is good
ouch.
Tweets read Hunter is done for the year but did not require surgery. Jene's Jason Witten post being used as reference
http://bramelsecondopinion.com/2012/08/15/jason-witten-and-splenic-injuries/
http://bramelsecondopinion.com/2012/08/15/jason-witten-and-splenic-injuries/
Faust
MVP
cstu
Footballguy
az_prof
Footballguy
I don't think so. Hill had Eli throwing him the ball. And Hunter did show at times this year what he is capable of doing. Hill never showed as much talent as Hunter has.
identikit
Footballguy
ROYALWITCHEESE
Footballguy
Careful. I compared him to Hill and a poor man's Mike Wallace in the offseason, and people went ape####.
Xue
Footballguy
Justin Hunter has a 20% drop rate over his first 2 NFL seasons per PFF. That's actually worse than his mark in college: 12.1% http://www.thesidelineview.com/columns/nfl/metrics-study-overrated-draft-prospects
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Ashley Lelie part 2
It may but I don't think he's like Hill, Bey or Lelie.
This is the Titans that set (what probably would have been if someone counted them) an NFL record for drops, then again, and again. I've had to say no way that's a drop Vince threw it so hard and it hit his feet that's like dodgeball and...Titans have been horrible over the last 5-6 years with drops. These drops didn't allow me to appreciate Britt or Cook but frustrate me instead.
They were normal this year for the first time. NFL WRs drops plenty. It's not like Calvin has a 99% catch rate.
Hunter dropped some and I totally remember thinking he should have caught them. He was the worst on the team this year, but it didn't feel like worst in the NFL. A few games he had many targets but more often it was a few in the first Q a few in the 4th and why didn't they throw the rest of the game to him. There were many games where the Titans didn't throw to WRs for long stretches. Many times where people here or the announcers were saying Wright is wide open and the QB didn't hit him. I'm not saying those stats are wrong. I was "finally!" when they threw to WRs in the fourth so I probably was just glad they started to throw to them again.
Those WRs mentioned were very one dimensional and just fast, really stiff looking when they went over the middle and altogether looked very uncomfy. He's more Ramses Barden right now. A sweet grab here and there keeps him playing but all-in-all not good stats; no question he's man among boys out there with his size or athleticism but what's it worth if he doesn't get the ball.
The one sentence about him is very wrong. He's one of the better WRs in the league at going up and getting a ball. That and deep passes was all he did as a rook. He struggles with his feet on the ground. I'd guess he's a good hoops player.
Absorbing contact...still don't like that. He looked Britt-like on some drops where no one was near and it was such an easy gimme he dropped it.
The development wasn't there like so many positions Whisenhunt spoke of. As a rook he could go deep and catch a lob and that's about all he did. Year two was supposed to be that AND building onto that with traditional routes. He was excellent in camp and during preseason and that brought all this excitement; even shed his cockiness with the JAG stuff. In season, he didn't get many of those bombs thrown to him and if he did it was like 10 yards ahead of him and totally uncatchable. He and Wright are so fast, it's disturbing how many times they were overthrown deep. I can't think of more than three times they threw a lob to him near the endzone. Soooo Whisenhunt removed what he did well, didn't build upon it.
He did run some routes over the middle and make some grabs. He did some curls and caught them. That's about it. A few sideline grabs where we'd debate his feet were in and some others where the QB could be throwing to the cameraman because it wasn't close to him at the sideline.
If I had to guess, they changed their offense to have these short cute unexciting routes to suit Nate and he had Hunter playing a role as Nate's backup doing a Nate imitation. I don't like it, but yeah he should have been able to.
This is along the lines of McCluster playing WR a lot and him being Wright's backup because only he is capable of running as fast with the quick change of direction.....didn't happen, was nothing like he said in preseason.
What gets me is he played against top talent in preseason and did real well. Even if there's the difference between regular season and preseason intensity, usually a coach sticks with it and by week 4-5 the young player starts to adjust and show that ability. It was like Whisenhunt quit on him instead.
You look at Wright's usage and he was used horribly too and that's despite Whisenhunt's praise.
I think Hunter could be traded as not one of Whisenhunt's guys. He did what was asked and blended in and became one of the guys (Shawn jefferson seems to be a hard WR coach in a good way) and...I'll be annoyed when he's traded but I think it's very possible.
They COULD have this great young group of WR, unstoppable on paper type WR corps with Cooper, Hunter, and Wright if they drafted Cooper, but it seems more likely that Cooper would replace Hunter.
There's a disconnect there. Munchak was grrr huge ego rook WR eh Shawn will get that out of him and run that rook hard whereas Whisenhunt got the new and improved attitude and still didn't seem to like him.
If he's gone I'll totally buy him in dynasty on whatever team he goes to. He looks the part and I figure he can do it.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Thankfully I only own him in one league and I can't trade him right now, because no one wants him. I guess he's a hold and wait type of player. I remember when Odell Beckham was like that early in September, but for totally differemt reasons. Funny how injuries (however minor) can make owners not want players at that given time. I was buying on Beckham during that time, but I did trade him in one league where I wish I hadn't. As far as Hunter goes, he has talent, I just hate him on that team. Are the Titans the new Raiders for WRs? Maybe Mettenberger proves to be good down the line.
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I'd limit all expectations until a solid QB runs through Tennessee. You should be praying for Cutler.
cstu
Footballguy
Louche
Footballguy
I own way too many shares of this guy. I have him in five leagues... The bad routes, not finishing routes, the mental errors, the drops, the interceptions when throwing to him, the mistimed jumps, the not competing for inaccurate balls... I'll blame some of his poor showing on the QBs and the entire situation, but he seems to have confidence or concentration issues and he sure gets out-muscled and out-hustled a lot for someone that should be able to dominate most CBs physically. He can be electric at times, particularly after the catch, but more bad than good seems to happen when throwing to him. 3 TDs and 4 INTs. 42% catch rate. 
There's not much to do since his market value is through the floor, but I sure hope he has a better season next year.
There's not much to do since his market value is through the floor, but I sure hope he has a better season next year.
ROYALWITCHEESE
Footballguy
Heh. And people said the comparison to Wallace was a bad one. I guess that's correct--unfair to Wallace!
Anyone buying right now?
I'd like to blame it all on the coach/quarterback... but you'd like to see something positive out of the kid in 2014.
Faust
MVP
Former Vols WR Justin Hunter Putting In Work In Off-Season:
http://allfortennessee.com/2015/03/26/former-vols-wr-justin-hunter-putting-in-work-in-off-season/
http://allfortennessee.com/2015/03/26/former-vols-wr-justin-hunter-putting-in-work-in-off-season/
werdnoynek
Footballguy
The Titans did not throw to the WRs for long stretches like 2nd and 3rd Q into the 4th.That dramatically affects these numbers.
Anyhow, this is great and kudos to the writer for his research.
I don't in any way agree that Hunter can't fly anymore. You watch a replay and do a mental count of yards and seconds, he has some serious wheels.
The Titans "never" did the playground tactic of throwing a couple short ones then sending him deep. It felt like he went deep everytime until oh there's a short route. Defenders were well off him and well drilled to pass him off to a Safety or get one to come double.
This is the NFL. No corner is going to be burned by the same route almost every play. Whisenhunt set him up to fail some, doing that.
He has fantastic ups. Only the best of the best are better than him at leaping and grabbing the ball.
He doesn't switch direction fast, he's more like a car making a turn relative to other WRs. If they did some quickness drills Wright would blow him away. He absolutely improved in this area and it was noticeable on those few "hey he got a short route" routes. FWIW Mike Evans is similarly slow at turns/cuts.
The depth of this WR class has me wondering, but I'll tell ya over and over...if ever I saw a player a coach wanted gone but couldn't say so. I will root for him and select him in FF on a new team.
Louche
Footballguy
Fireinside
Footballguy
Ketamine Dreams
Footballguy
ChuckLiddell
Footballguy
Wow...I didnt realize that opinions of him had slipped to this low. Guy is still a physical specimen, and is still very young. Hasnt had an above average QB to play with yet. Had to learn a new offense last year with a rookie QB and a new HC. Im not penciling him in as a starter, but it hasnt occurred to me that he could get cut. Looks to me like Hunter and DGB on the outside, and Wright in the slot. If Mariotta is decent, that could be a formidable passing game. The 2 guys out wide are pretty sick athletes, and Wright is an ideal slot type.
werdnoynek
Footballguy
The fantasy crowd is a fickle bunch... no such thing as development.
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Louche
Footballguy
I was exaggerating when saying he wouldn't see any snaps, but I guess he'll be fighting with Nicks and Douglas to play in three wide receiver sets. And behind that you have Tre McBride who has a lot of fans where some thought he'd go in the 2nd round. Worst case I could see Hunter being the 5th or 6th option at WR for them.
I want to believe in Hunter but aside from his measurables there are no signs that he will ever be more than a situational guy. He's not able to get separation versus man, he's not winning contested catches, he plays slow, he runs poor routes, and he has concentration issues as he stumbles around trying to make his breaks. I was hoping that they would give him another year but the moves they've been making in FA and in the draft tells me that they've basically given up on him - or at the very least they're taking the position that they can't expect anything from him.
Perhaps he develops chemistry with Mariota, but I find it more likely that his poor route running creates problems for Mariota where he can't trust Hunter to be at the spot he is supposed to be, and if Mariota can't trust him I don't see him throwing many balls in his direction. I love the theoretical idea of what Hunter could be, but at this point it's not very likely that he'll ever get there. My main concern is that he is not able to win at the catch point. If it was only the routes I could live with that but what's the value in an x receiver that doesn't win in contested situations?
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Coeur de Lion
Footballguy
Hunter is still far more "athlete" than "football player" at this point IMO. Still definitely not time to give up yet, but he needs to show some progress soon.
cstu
Footballguy
He played poorly but NEP was higher than Wright and the newly acquired Douglas:
He has a lot to work on but two years into his career DT was considered a bust like Hunter.
Ok, with that said...it does appear the Titans drafted DGB to replace him. DGB can win contested catches, which Hunter has failed to show he can do.
The Titans essentially said to Hunter "Develop this year or you're going to be cut".
Louche
Footballguy
Which position will he play? He was seen as an X coming out of college, beating press and threatening vertically. He started out as an X in college but was moved to Z as Patterson took over the X receiver role, but keep in mind that playing Z with the Vols is a completely different thing than playing Z in the NFL. DGB is clearly going to be the X going forward, so do we think Hunter can be an effective Z, running a wide variety of short and intermediate routes in tight quarters, creating yards after catch and being an effective blocker in the running game? I just don't see Hunter taking that role. If he is to succeed in the NFL I would think it is as an X receiver as his route running is likely never going to be good enough to be a startable option at Z in the NFL, nor does he have the physicality to play Z.
So what is he? Backup X and field-stretcher in 4WR sets? Unless DGB goes down with injury or suspensions I don't see how Hunter is even going to get the opportunity to fight for a starting position this season. But hey...maybe he takes a huge leap.
steelcityman
Footballguy
I doubt he has to "complete" with Douglas or Nicks. But if he doesnt step up, he will. Not sure why I held onto him in my dynasty league, but if he doesnt put up a solid effort in camps and preseason games, he might get cut from my squad. I wouldnt feel good about starting him for bye week fill-in.
flufhed
Footballguy
I agree Hunter is on a short leash but given that he has not played football on the field in a year, and had limited experience before that, we might want to pump the brakes on penciling in DGB as a starter.
I think DGB will be more of a situational guy at first, and unless he shocks my expectations in training camp I don't see him in the top 3 WRs to start the year.
I think DGB will be more of a situational guy at first, and unless he shocks my expectations in training camp I don't see him in the top 3 WRs to start the year.
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cstu
Footballguy
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Hunter has been playing at flanker/Z?
He does need to be better at shorter routes, but playing flanker takes away the CB's ability to jam him.
DGB will be covered by a team's #1 CB so Hunter should have easier coverage to beat this year as well as one on one matchups.
I believe Hunter has major competition at flanker from McBride, who seems ideally suited for the position.
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cstu
Footballguy
So do you think it's headed towards Hunter being a just a part-time flanker in 3WR sets?
Hunter was excellent in preseason and did all the routes.cstu said:
Once the season wore on, Whisenhunt lost faith and had him run away from the play more often than utilizing him.
When they scored a bunch real fast with Mett, he ran a few shorter routes then took guys deep. This was supposed to be the gameplan all season. We saw it for one half.
He beat Nate out, lost it, then got it back. Nate wasn't expected to have to play there it was more an on paper thing. His usefulness was knowing each position iN Whisenhunt's O. Hunter's struggles took away that usefulness and Nate had to play the X.Louche said:
It was to be super quick McCluster and veteran Nate as backups that would produce and give Kendall and Hunter two quality subs.
McCluster didn't do much as a WR and was given the rock as a RB almost every time he entered the game.
When they signed the big clutzy guy from Detroit, he was Hunter's sub for taking guys deep and not at all really being part of the O. Shameful NFL offense by Whiz especially with a QB that could certainly make those throws.
Walker is going to oWn the middle.
Wright and Douglas are glorious pains in the necks.
Hunter and DGB should be the big play break a Ds back type. I doubt either sees a #1 CB on them.
Without the short annoying game to the speedy lil buggers, Hunter/Floyd/Plaxico are so much less effective in Whiz's O.
They want the run game rolling, the short passes to Wright and the Safety stuck cheating up to help, then Hunter taking off to the races.
Throwing it to Wright leading him right into a DB and Sankey running nowhere, totally killed the short-long routine.
In Arizona, Whiz had a far more traditional offense but meh at TE.
During the offseason, and in preseason, Whiz said how Wright ran too many short routes he wanted to better utilize him and...he did some, a little, to a degree. He caught a 40 yarder or so but even then the D was totally caught off guard like wow he ran something other than a short route.
Defenses give Wright a 4-5 yard catch. That's been for at least 2 years now. Totally free and clear, go ahead and catch it, we'll hit you after. I think this is a trap. It's so easy each OC takes it and falls in love with it and it really turns the O into boring garbage. Wright needs to run routes that force CBs to cover him and not sit in a zone and wait for it.
It's far more likely that Wright earns the Ds respect and has to deal with a #1 CB than Hunter or DGB.
If they can't run, a nickel-back follows Walker around and God Bless him for catching balls forced to him, but this is totally not ideal.
If their young WRs pan out, if McCluster actually plays decent, they can roll with four WR sets and probably look most comfy, better suited to the personnel.
I really want them to get away from the SD offense and be more like Arizona's version. I think this is best for everyone.
Wright and Douglas are glorious pains in the necks.
Hunter and DGB should be the big play break a Ds back type. I doubt either sees a #1 CB on them.
Without the short annoying game to the speedy lil buggers, Hunter/Floyd/Plaxico are so much less effective in Whiz's O.
They want the run game rolling, the short passes to Wright and the Safety stuck cheating up to help, then Hunter taking off to the races.
Throwing it to Wright leading him right into a DB and Sankey running nowhere, totally killed the short-long routine.
In Arizona, Whiz had a far more traditional offense but meh at TE.
During the offseason, and in preseason, Whiz said how Wright ran too many short routes he wanted to better utilize him and...he did some, a little, to a degree. He caught a 40 yarder or so but even then the D was totally caught off guard like wow he ran something other than a short route.
Defenses give Wright a 4-5 yard catch. That's been for at least 2 years now. Totally free and clear, go ahead and catch it, we'll hit you after. I think this is a trap. It's so easy each OC takes it and falls in love with it and it really turns the O into boring garbage. Wright needs to run routes that force CBs to cover him and not sit in a zone and wait for it.
It's far more likely that Wright earns the Ds respect and has to deal with a #1 CB than Hunter or DGB.
If they can't run, a nickel-back follows Walker around and God Bless him for catching balls forced to him, but this is totally not ideal.
If their young WRs pan out, if McCluster actually plays decent, they can roll with four WR sets and probably look most comfy, better suited to the personnel.
I really want them to get away from the SD offense and be more like Arizona's version. I think this is best for everyone.
Saint
Footballguy
Personally, I don't see Mariota hitting the field right away. So for Hunter, I am more interested in if he's developed any chemistry with Mett. He dropped some easy balls last year and like many of you, I am holding on to him in dynasty, but he needs to do something this year.
lardonastick
Footballguy
via cstu, Mariota thread:
Whisenhunt from the press conference:
- Reiterated for the third time to the same reporter that the plan is for Mariota to start week 1
Saint
Footballguy
Wow. Did not see that. Listening to pat kirwan, jim mills, and others on nfl radio are saying he has not run a pro offense and the right move is to sit him a year.
If Mariota plays I don't see how that helps hunter if the qb is learning the offense.
