It is always a tough decision whether or not to buy into preseason hype. It is even tougher when it is not even the preseason yet, and there is nothing but training camp hype to fawn over. However, Justin Hunter has been the talk of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp so far this preseason, and that hype very well could be worth it.
Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp: Is the Justin Hunter Hype Real?
Hunter showed up to Steelers training camp knowing this was his last real chance to earn a role in the NFL. The 6’4” second round pick spent his first three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The team that drafted him let him go before his rookie contract ran out, showing that he had major bust potential given his draft standing. Hunter spent training camp of his fourth season with the Miami Dolphins before being waived and signed by the Buffalo Bills. Hunter did not play much but caught ten passes and turned four of them into touchdowns last season.
Entering year five it was clear that no one had any interest in Hunter as more than anything but a training camp body at this point in his career. The Steelers, with major off of the field questions from their star wide receiver Martavis Bryant, signed Hunter to fill in as an emergency replacement. The Steelers are a franchise known to take some cast offs and turn them into real NFL talents, so it felt like a good fit. Bryant has missed practices so far as he deals with league issues, and Sammie Coates has been injured which has given Hunter exclusive work with the first team offense. Hunter has been nothing but excellent in his limited time.
Training camp touchdown catches.
Justin Hunter: 4
Rest of Team: 6— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) August 2, 2017
Roethlisberger: "I don't want to get too excited too early, but I really like the presence that (Justin Hunter) brings."
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 2, 2017
Beautiful sideline pass from Ben to Justin Hunter. Hunter looked very impressive. pic.twitter.com/EcHQB0eLBr
— Ken S (@KenSterner) August 3, 2017
On the one hand, his success should raise an eyebrow. Hunter is only getting these chances because two players are out. If Bryant and Coates were participating or do come back, is Hunter even getting any chances? The other question obviously is that this is the first week of training camp. He has gained some of his hype without putting any pads on, and nothing he is doing now will be close to the speed of a preseason game, let alone an NFL game.
On the other hand, it is not like Hunter has ever produced reports such as this. Most of Hunter’s time in Tennessee, the reports surrounding him were about a lack of effort, or a failure to comprehend. In fact, one of the most noted training camp stories that followed Hunter was being called “just a guy” and having “JAG” taped onto his jersey after he failed to convert a route in the preseason. The Titans were hard on him, but deservedly so as they saw their second round talent fall to waste due to practice concerns.
This is why it is so important to hear these glowing reports early into camp. From a physical standpoint, he can do a lot of what Bryant can do. Check out their combine measurements side by side for example.
If Hunter is starting to put it together in practice, something he has struggled to do in the past, he may be able to put it together on the field as well now. This very well could be the season that Hunter goes from just a guy to a guy with upside who makes the roster. It is time to start getting excited about Justin Hunter again.
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