T. Hunt Released? Philly Homers! (1 Viewer)

[prymetyme25]

(Rotoworld) Eagles released FB Tony Hunt.

Analysis: Perhaps a sign that Brian Westbrook will be ready to play following the Week 7 bye, as Hunt had recently taken some practice reps at running back. Hunt looked promising coming out of Penn State, but has turned into a bust, much like Eagles pick Ryan Moats.

http://football14.myfantasyleague.com/2008...00Rotoworld8704

Is this a guy that might be picked up by another team or is he done? Just wondering if he was worth rostering. I dont really watch alot of Big 10 football and never really had a chance to see him play. I was intrigued by his size at the combine and I believe he ran about a 4.5. Was he just caught up in the numbers game or has Philly givin up on him? This is for Dynasty purposes obviously.

TIA

 

[sdsjr3]

yeah, this move shocked me as well. I'm sure he'll get picked up. I saw every game he played at PSU and I have no doubt he's got NFL level talent. The fact that the Eagles were very deep and they tried to convert him to FB makes me wonder if his heart just wasn't in it. I dunno. last year in pre-season he looked really good, then this year he got hurt IIRC.

 

[Jason Wood]

He really struggled to grasp the playbook, but the move to FB appeared to save his bacon. He was moved to FB late in the preseason and proceeded to beat out the other FBs on the roster, all of whom had experience and a legit shot at the job. But he's been a non factor and hasn't made an impact in short yardage either as a lead blocker or a runner. Just not a good fit for this offense.

 

[prymetyme25]

He really struggled to grasp the playbook, but the move to FB appeared to save his bacon. He was moved to FB late in the preseason and proceeded to beat out the other FBs on the roster, all of whom had experience and a legit shot at the job. But he's been a non factor and hasn't made an impact in short yardage either as a lead blocker or a runner. Just not a good fit for this offense.

So is he a running back or Full back? And the way you said "this offense" does that mean he might fit in another offense.... Maybe ZBS or Power run. One more question.... Can he block from the RB position?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Hunt ran a 4.66 at the combine. Too slow even at his size.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I never understood the fascination with Hunt. He looked like TJ Duckett without the burst to me. Of course, the RB I did like at the 07 Senior Bowl, Lorenzo Booker, looks like the reincarnation of Ryan Moats out there.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

I never understood the fascination with Hunt. He looked like TJ Duckett without the burst to me. Of course, the RB I did like at the 07 Senior Bowl, Lorenzo Booker, looks like the reincarnation of Ryan Moats out there.

I think the fascination was because he was a tough runner and a bit of a warrior if you will at PSU. He ran hard and didn't complain. A player you WANTED to do well in the NFL. The issue is that he has no burst and not much lateral agility and he just cannot run hard against NFL defenders. Too bad. Might fit a bit in a different offense.

 

[EBF]

Simply not an NFL caliber athlete. No pop in his legs whatsoever.

 

[JuniorNB]

yeah, this move shocked me as well. I'm sure he'll get picked up. I saw every game he played at PSU and I have no doubt he's got NFL level talent. The fact that the Eagles were very deep and they tried to convert him to FB makes me wonder if his heart just wasn't in it. I dunno. last year in pre-season he looked really good, then this year he got hurt IIRC.

I don't know, Nittany. As a Penn State fan myself, I never thought he'd make a good pro. He wasn't fast, powerful, or shifty enough in my mind. He was basically a straight ahead runner who had a bit of burst going through the hole, but lacked breakaway speed beyond that. That works in college, but in the NFL, you need to either have that extra gear once you get through the first wave of players, or you have to have some elusiveness. I'm not sure Hunt had either.

 

[sdsjr3]

yeah, this move shocked me as well. I'm sure he'll get picked up. I saw every game he played at PSU and I have no doubt he's got NFL level talent. The fact that the Eagles were very deep and they tried to convert him to FB makes me wonder if his heart just wasn't in it. I dunno. last year in pre-season he looked really good, then this year he got hurt IIRC.

I don't know, Nittany. As a Penn State fan myself, I never thought he'd make a good pro. He wasn't fast, powerful, or shifty enough in my mind. He was basically a straight ahead runner who had a bit of burst going through the hole, but lacked breakaway speed beyond that. That works in college, but in the NFL, you need to either have that extra gear once you get through the first wave of players, or you have to have some elusiveness. I'm not sure Hunt had either.

I think my opinion was based on the fact that he did all the little things really well. Took care of the ball, blocked, decent hands, got low and was hard to tackle. I agree his speed was off from an NFL perspective, but other backs have been effective while not being lightening quick. I really thought his strength would be his discipline. I still think he could play a role in a different offense, but I guess we'll have to wait and see if he gets picked up.

 

[westbrook36]

He was great at Penn State, but some guys just can't be great at the NFL.

In my opinion he is not good enough for the NFL. I remember seeing him in the preseason as a rookie and I thought... Tony Hunt is ridiculously slow. There was a play where he got into the open field from great blocking, and then just looked like he was running in slow motion.

As far as his position goes, he is a RB, not a FB. He failed miserably at FB, and should stick to RB. Only a very desperate team would sign Hunt. I doubt that any teams are even interested.

 

[Flea Flicker]

I think Hunt was a horrible fit for the Eagles. In a somewhat unrelated story, the Texans are giving Moats a chance... you'd think if they saw something (anything?) in Moats, then they or some other team would think there might be something worth trying with Hunt.

 

[Chunky Soup]

Had a great BMI however

 

[Wu-banger]

below average RB..... worse FB .... and Klecko moving to FB was his death as an Eagle.

 

[thriftyrocker]

The Eagles have kept worse RBs around longer, like Bruce Perry. Hunt's main problem was he started off terrible at pass protection and never got much better. I think he is a better pure runner than Booker, but he's just not right for the Eagles system and they made a mistake for both him and them by drafting him. Same thing with Moats, who I think is a better pure runner than both Hunt and Booker, but he was always a liability on passing downs, which for the Eagles is every down.

The FB experiment was reward for a good preseason where he actually looked decent against 3rd stringers. Ultimately with a "real" FB, Hunt's only strength was special teams, and they'd rather add a backup LB to play special teams than an emergency RB. If both Buck and Westbrook go down, I hear Reno's rested and ready to help them lose out the season.

 

[delusional]

Never really given a shot. Had trouble his rookie year with Reid's playbook. Which is apparently really complex ( odd since he is a horrible playcaller ). Eagles FO failed on booker so far. The guy is possible the worse blocker on the team, cant run inside and dropped nearly half the passes thrown to him. Yet they cut hunt cause Booker was traded for. Eagles don't want to look entirely too stupid by cutting a guy they traded for so quickly. So hunt got the axe. It came at bad timing too because if Buck gets nicked up, booker is in the game and the guy just can't hit the hole at all. Supposed to be this mini westbrook ( he was hyped to death by the eagles in the offseason ). Whats funny is instead of bringing in a FB..they bring in a LB cause he is a ST ace, something which Hunt was doing well at too. So no FB, only 2 real RBs ( west and buck ) and a decent DT for us this year being moved to FB, which failed in training camp to begin with. Was cutting him the right move? Who knows but with the track record lately with the Eagles, it probably isn't.Eagles FO = full of failAs for moats, he was supposed to be what booker is. Was actually drafted in case Westbrook held out for contract reasons. He couldn't learn the playbook and couldn't block either then got hurt near each season he was here. Its a shame. I liked hunt. All these years after Duce left we needed that big change of pace back. Just sucked when we get one, we don't use him. Hell Reid is just realizing now that Buckhalter needs to get more touches in games...../facepalm

Hunt ran a 4.66 at the combine. Too slow even at his size.

Don't go into 40 times, we all know they are really a crock of shet. Westbrook ran a 4.57The little time Hunt had this preseason he ran pretty damn well. He IS a RB. Eagles just thought they were slick in trying to convert him to a FB because they failed to address that position in the offseason. They have a little knock for trying to be slick in converting players to a position they never played. For what its worth, i think 3/4 of eagles fans would have prefered Booker to be cut rather then hunt.

 

[thecardiackid]

Had a great BMI however

maybe he can sell/donate some to LBJ on the way out...

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Hunt can play if he gets the right chance. The problem in Philly was he was behind two good backs.

 

[acme]

I never understood the fascination with Hunt. He looked like TJ Duckett without the burst to me. Of course, the RB I did like at the 07 Senior Bowl, Lorenzo Booker, looks like the reincarnation of Ryan Moats out there.

Does this mean he seems to perform well when he gets the ball, but when expected to perform other duties (ie. pass block) his liabilities are immediately exposed?

 

[YoUnG GuNz]

I can't believe anyone questioned that Buckhalter was going to lose his gig to either Booker or Hunt. Buck has proven time and time again that he can perform as a feature RB any given Sunday.

 

[gonzobill5]

For what its worth, i think 3/4 of eagles fans would have prefered Booker to be cut rather then hunt.

Good post - I hadn't heard Westy's time before but that is telling. I'm a birds fan who doesn't fit your claim however. I've seen Hunt play in practice and in games, and he doesn't do anything well. No speed, no quickness, goes down fast, doesn't fight for extra yards (see bears game, goal line), and his blocking is so so.

Booker, meanwhile, has been a big disappointment so far. In camp he looked like the fastest player on the field, but in the games, when he's had opportunities he's come up small. Whiffed on a few blocks, dropped some passes which was supposed to be his strength, and doesn't hit the hole fast enough. BUT, its only been a few games and at least the guy has talent. You cant be critical of the Eagles because they are patient with him.