Is 2015 The Last Chance For Justin Hunter In TItan Blue?
By Les Bailey
At six foot four inches and around 200 pounds, Tennessee Titans wide receiver, Justin Hunter should have his three-year career in Music City in high gear. But all indications are that if the 2nd round pick out of the University of Tennessee doesn’t kick it up a notch in 2015, it may be his last year in Titan Blue.
Hunter should see consistent play from quarterbacks
With the 4.36 speed Hunter put on display at the 2013 NFL Combine, you would think that he would have more than 46 receptions and 852 on his Titans resume in two full seasons. He found the end zone seven times.
Head coach, Ken Whisenhunt wanted more this year from his receiving core, so along with Signing Harry Douglas from the Atlanta Falcons during free agency, he also drafted Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride in the NFL draft.
This should have sent a clear message to the incumbent receivers, and Hunter that he means business, and this may be the end if they don’t produce in 2015.
We all know that coach Whiz likes players who can play more than one position, and according to Paul Kuharsky at ESPN, he has given Hunter some snaps with Harry Douglas and Kendall Wright in the slot during OTA’s.
"“It’s positional,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “It’s not necessarily ‘you’re the slot,’ it’s ‘sometimes your position lines up in the slot.’ It’s a way of keeping tabs of who’s going where (on defense), but more importantly it makes defenses have to prepare for different looks.“Sometimes you do it for matchups. Let’s say for instance (Darrelle) Revis is a guy matching up on somebody. You put (that guy) outside, you put him inside, you get an idea of it’s man coverage if he’s moving with him. Sometimes it’s designed to get an idea or a read on what a defense is doing.”"
Barring the type of injuries the Titans had in 2014 at the quarterback position, Hunter should see consistent play from quarterbacks whether it will be Marcus Mariota or Zach Mettenberger under center.
Chris Doerning and the guys at 120 Sports discuss the 24 year-old wide out, and his struggles in Tennessee.
Justin Hunter tore his ACL against the Florida Gators in the third game of his sophomore season in Knoxville, but we saw him come back and have a very successful campagne in 2012 when he started all twelve games.
He caught 73 passes for 1083 yards and nine touchdowns. He was third in the SEC in total receiving yards and receiving yards per game. He caught nine passes for 181 yards against Missouri, which was his eight game with over 100 yards. He ended up on the Coaches All-SEC second team.
So we know Justin Hunter has the talent and speed to be successful, now he just needs to translate his collegiate success to the National Football League.
The wide receivers, along with the running game will be the key to a good season in Music City for the Tennessee Titans. Justin Hunter has the opportunity to be a part of the turn-around on this team with a successful 2015 season.
If he doesn’t, he will likely be playing for a different team, and a different coaching staff in a different city!
Next: Can the Titans Get To The Bye Week At 2-1?