Are the Jaguars making a mistake using Travis Hunter on both sides?

[CGI_Ram]

Are the Jaguars making a mistake using Travis Hunter on both sides?

It seems to be a lot to ask for a rookie. He can only play so many snaps, so exactly what is gained by using him on both sides?

Travis Hunter won't practice on both sides on same day during OTAs

Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke to reporters on Tuesday and that provided a chance to check in on how the process of getting second overall pick Travis Hunter ready to play on both sides of the ball is going.

www.nbcsports.com

Travis Hunter won’t practice on both sides on same day during OTAs​

Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke to reporters on Tuesday and that provided a chance to check in on how the process of getting second overall pick Travis Hunter ready to play on both sides of the ball is going.

Hunter was working as a wide receiver on Tuesday and Coen said that the rookie is “about where we would expect” when it comes to learning the team’s scheme. Hunter did not see any time at cornerback during the session, which is by design and Coen said that switching sides from day to day is something that will continue for the rest of the offseason program.

“We won’t put him in that situation to have him do that, although I’m sure he’d probably want to,” Coen said, via the team’s website. “He still meets defensively every day that he’s on offense, so he’s getting the mental part of it and is able to catch up on some of the communication, some of the corrections off the film from the defensive side of the ball. He’s getting a lot of the mental and it would probably be unfair to put him out on the grass and do both and ask him to go do that and see success.”

The plans don’t seem like they’ll change much in training camp either. Coen said that in-season practices will be a different story for Hunter because of how they’re structured, but “from the teaching and the initial stages of it, don’t really see that being something we’ll do anytime soon.”


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[kent.nelson]

I think for the jags it will be a stupid idea, for anyone playing them it should be good. He will be exhausted if he plays both sides in any game.

Verse played both sides of the game. Has asked mcvay several times but just been brushed off.

Rams love mixing up roles but not playing both sides to my memory.

 

[RamDino]

They could just use him in certain situations. For example.. the 2-minute offense needs a TD in the 4th quarter (or halftime). Or the defense needs to hold the other team to one last stoppage to win the game/half. In other words.. he plays one position until they desperately need him.

 

[JonRam99]

They could just use him in certain situations. For example.. the 2-minute offense needs a TD in the 4th quarter (or halftime). Or the defense needs to hold the other team to one last stoppage to win the game/half. In other words.. he plays one position until they desperately need him.

Unless he's mediocre / a liability at both positions.
Reports on him from Jags camp isn't good....

 

[den-the-coach]

They could just use him in certain situations. For example.. the 2-minute offense needs a TD in the 4th quarter (or halftime). Or the defense needs to hold the other team to one last stoppage to win the game/half. In other words.. he plays one position until they desperately need him.

This^ I believe he is a CB first, but they will use him on defense and situationally on offense as @RamDino so eloquently communicates. As to being exhausted? He is young and in incredible shape, so I expect the rook to be fine and will prove he is just an exceptional player IMHO.

 

[Loyal]

Jags are gonna JAG.

 

[Selassie I]

They need help everywhere. He can play on obvious passing downs on defense and make a difference... probably a very big difference.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

They won’t be able to give him enough practice on either side of the ball. The only way I see it working is if he mostly plays one side of the ball. The pro game is more complex and everyone is better. How’s it possible for Hunter to fully invest in the offense and defense if he cannot practice both sides daily?

However, I like what Gladstone did. The Jags are one of the most irrelevant franchises in the league. They need something to draw interest. Hunter can do that, especially if he plays both sides of the ball.

 

[den-the-coach]

Jags are gonna JAG.

Not with a fellow paesano as their DC in Anthony Campanile @den-the-coach. There saved you the trouble.

 

[Psycho_X]

I think he'll be better at CB than WR in the NFL.. at least at first. But offense is the name of the game so I'm sure they'll force him at WR. As others have already stated, if I was them I'd have him starting at CB and playing WR in only certain packages/situations that highlight his current strengths.

 

[blackbart]

I think it will burn him out within 5 years. Guess it depends on what they want out of him but, I think it is a bad idea for him. He’s still young and dumb and thinks he’s invincible, this ain’t the 1950’s.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think he'd provide more value as a #1 WR who could be worked in to some nickel packages down the road to take advantage of his CB skills.
Only problem with that is that I have always thought he was a much better pro prospect at CB than WR
He wont be a bust but I dont see the Roy Green potential either

 

[TSFH Fan]

That team needs to be focused on making Trevor Lawrence the man or finding out that he isn't that guy.
It's the NFL, QBs are the key, and Lawrence has that big contract. Take the focus off Hunter, put it on the team.
The more weapons around TLaw, the faster he can improve and/or the faster they can determine he isn't the guy.
So, focus Hunter at WR and see what TLaw can do with him.
Travis Hunter - Diagnostic device and weapon.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Not to hijack the thread, but I follow college recruiting as well as the NFL draft.

The Travis Hunter effect has been a negative in recruiting this year. Too many kids are trying to get coaches to commit to them playing offense and defense in college. They cross teams off of their list that say no to the idea. The reality is that even in college it’s incredibly difficult to do. Plus it can create some chemistry problems when a kid who only takes half the practice snaps is starting over teammates that play one side of the ball. It’s not ideal.

It worked for Hunter because he was exceptional but also because the Buffaloes roster wasn’t great. Plus he came with Deion and was a staple to start with.

 

[Merlin]

I think the wear and tear on his legs will shorten his career. So if it was me, I'd tell him to choose a side and let's make you a Hall of Fame level player there first. Then down the road we work up packages to include you on the other side of the ball.

Also I would favor him at corner. But if he prefers wideout then play him where he chooses because you should get the most from him that way.

 

[OldSchool]

I think the playing both sides comes down to two things.
How much time he gets meeting on each side of the ball.is he going to get the full install on both sides and get enough time with all the coaches? I don't know that they'll make him more than a nickle back most likely a dime back.

Also he is kind of slight of frame. He's physically gifted just not the stoutest player. Playing as much as some think he will might be too much for him to handle.

 

[JonRam99]

I think the wear and tear on his legs will shorten his career. So if it was me, I'd tell him to choose a side and let's make you a Hall of Fame level player there first. Then down the road we work up packages to include you on the other side of the ball.

Also I would favor him at corner. But if he prefers wideout then play him where he chooses because you should get the most from him that way.

I agree about corner, because at WR he's very raw. Rounds off routes, has too many tells. He was good in college against lackluster big 12 competition but raw talent won't cut it in the NFL. Kupp won the triple WR crown on the strength of his technique alone. NFL CB's do nothing but watch tape of you for weeks in advance & see every tell you have. IIRC one of the reasons I read that we lost the SB vs the Pats in 2018 is that one of our WR's had a tell that told the D if it was a run play or not.
Hunter has a long way to go at WR, but not that far at CB. He oughtta just focus on CB this season, & then see about WR in 2026.

 

[Flint]

He hardly left the field in college, I don’t see him doing that. He’s also not very big so they’ll probably try not to have him on bigger outside guys but he appears to be a willing tackler, it’s hard to predict how he’ll handle it.

 

[FrantikRam]

What percentage of snaps do some elite NFL players play? It ranges but weve seen guys play 60-70% of the snaps and be thought of as elite. If he plays 50% on both sides of the ball, that's enough to make a big impact on both sides. And other guys will need to be rotated in and out anyways, particularly at WR.

 

[rdlkgliders]

No