Jason Hunter

[Waldo]

Studying our roster, looking at the players that we project at OLB, this young man has really stood out. Might he be putting it together and a candidate for a breakout 2009?

His measurables (draft day):
Ht: 6'4 1/8"
Wt: 232
40: 4.54
SS: 4.23
3C: 6.93
VJ: 35"
BJ: 10'2"
Reps: 22

Since then he has gained 40lbs in an effort to be an every down contributer, though it has robbed him slightly of his greatest asset, his speed. The closest draft day player comparison via measurables is Robert Mathis, another guy that was very undersized and very quick, that lacked an impressive vert. KGB is another comparison, though Hunter has a little bit better footspeed than KGB had. Other than that their measurables are quite similar. With his bulking up to a more NFL friendly size, he definitely has the physical ability to succeed, losing 10-15 lbs would only help to regain his excellent speed, and would suit him well at the OLB position.

Hunter was productive at 1AA Appalachian State, with 24 sacks, 9 pd's, 5 FF's, 5 FR's, 1 int, 186 tckl, and 38.5 TFL's, including 13 sacks and 24.5 TFL's his senior season.

Thus far in GB Jason has primarily been a ST player, having a banner 2007 year with more ST tackles than has been recorded in GB since the 80's. However in 2008 he found his way onto the field on defense, and finished the year with two strong games.

In 2008 he played less than 100 total defensive snaps, and was 3rd on the team in pressures per snap among defensive lineman, with one every 29.7 snaps. Jenkins led with 1 every 11.6 snaps, Kamp had one every 20.1 snaps. Thompson was 4th with one every 38.7 snaps. KGB averaged one every 9 snaps in 2007.

Jason had a sack in each of the last two games of the year. His success came late in the season. Generally players like him will lose weight over the course of a long season, so it is not a stretch to say that he was playing lighter and faster at the end of the season when his successes occurred. He also had a sack in the first preseason game. It is a very good omen for the future to finish the season strong as he did.

His first, against Chi, occurred on 3rd and long with Chicago right on the edge of field goal range. His sack probably prevented a field goal.

His second, against Det, also occurred on 3rd and long, forcing a punt.

Lost in the doldrums of the end of a bad season, his final two games went quite unnoticed. He might be putting it together as a pass rusher.

Often with sacks, a guy can struggle for a while, then a light bulb comes on and the floodgates open. That is exactly what happened with KGB, who had 1.5 sacks his rookie year, including one his final game, the next season he had more than 10.

James Harrison is a player that began on a very similar trajectory as Jason, starting as a ST player for several years, finding his way into the lineup with the departure of a veteran, then exploding the next season.

With each player an the team new to the system and all starting spots up for grabs, for both rookies and veterans, it is not a stretch to picture Jason as our opening day starter across the field from Kampman at OLB. Incidentally he wears #57, the only one of our defensive ends to wear a linebacker number. Jason could very well be a young man that the light bulb came on for last season, which has gone somewhat unnoticed.

[bobblehead]

Although I wasn't as in depth as you I think I was the first one on the Hunter as a blitz LB bandwagon. BEFORE the switch to the 3-4 I was saying it was a possibility he could become a KGB late blooming rush specialist.

If the coaches are thinking like me they have already told him to trim down to around 255. With any luck he could add depth or more to the LB corps and be a nice substitution for passing downs. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got 7-9 sacks this year.

[Waldo]

Although I wasn't as in depth as you I think I was the first one on the Hunter as a blitz LB bandwagon. BEFORE the switch to the 3-4 I was saying it was a possibility he could become a KGB late blooming rush specialist.

If the coaches are thinking like me they have already told him to trim down to around 255. With any luck he could add depth or more to the LB corps and be a nice substitution for passing downs. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got 7-9 sacks this year.

That's the thing with using a 3-4 base, your situational pass rusher is always on the field, by having big DE's he doesn't take as much abuse in the run game and isn't responsible for holding the POA (the wearing down and run weakness that plagues situational rushers in a 4-3), they flare upfield and contain the edges, peeling off to make tackles underneath.

[bobblehead]

Although I wasn't as in depth as you I think I was the first one on the Hunter as a blitz LB bandwagon. BEFORE the switch to the 3-4 I was saying it was a possibility he could become a KGB late blooming rush specialist.

If the coaches are thinking like me they have already told him to trim down to around 255. With any luck he could add depth or more to the LB corps and be a nice substitution for passing downs. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got 7-9 sacks this year.

That's the thing with using a 3-4 base, your situational pass rusher is always on the field, by having big DE's he doesn't take as much abuse in the run game and isn't responsible for holding the POA (the wearing down and run weakness that plagues situational rushers in a 4-3), they flare upfield and contain the edges, peeling off to make tackles underneath.

He could excel enough to be an every down LB, but I think for this season he will be part of a rotation. Just a hunch more than anything. I think the coaches go with Popp and Kampman as the OLB most of the time, but I could see Popp getting a rest on passing downs or even Hawk coming out and Hunter getting a chance to come from different angles. I could even imagine a scenario where DE's Jolly or whoever take the bench for Hunter in obvious passing situations. If you are right and he manages to win a starting job he is already exceeding what I thought were my lofty expectations.

[3irty1]

I think Harvey too has had a Jason Hunter boner ever since we switched to a 3-4. Between him and Thompson it'd be nice if we found some gold.

[SkinBasket]

I think he's going to suck just as much as he did before. He's been slow to develop past his one outside move he used get himself easily blocked 20 yards behind the LOS, and switching to a 3-4 isn't going to magically grant him new skills he didn't have before. You can get a boner over measuring his various body parts, but he's just got very little skill to animate those parts into being a productive rusher.

I've got much more hope for Thompson, who seems to be much more of a complete player than Hunter was after a year.

[Fritz]

I think he's going to suck just as much as he did before. He's been slow to develop past his one outside move he used get himself easily blocked 20 yards behind the LOS, and switching to a 3-4 isn't going to magically grant him new skills he didn't have before. You can get a boner over measuring his various body parts, but he's just got very little skill to animate those parts into being a productive rusher.

I've got much more hope for Thompson, who seems to be much more of a complete player than Hunter was after a year.

It's March, Skin. Let Jason Hunter and optimism reign supreme to get us through this cold, wet month.

Now you want to rip on Kenny Pettway, you go right ahead. But give my my Jason Hunter fantasy. And JEremy Thompson, too. Ya never know, Skinny!

[3irty1]

I think he's going to suck just as much as he did before. He's been slow to develop past his one outside move he used get himself easily blocked 20 yards behind the LOS, and switching to a 3-4 isn't going to magically grant him new skills he didn't have before. You can get a boner over measuring his various body parts, but he's just got very little skill to animate those parts into being a productive rusher.

I've got much more hope for Thompson, who seems to be much more of a complete player than Hunter was after a year.

The guy does seem like a hard worker for what its worth. He's a special teams monster, weighs whatever he's told, and he took advantage of his opportunities last year with a couple impact plays. It wouldn't surprise me if he shut you up next year by getting easily blocked on a different move.

[Partial]

The guy does seem like a hard worker for what its worth. He's a special teams monster, weighs whatever he's told, and he took advantage of his opportunities last year with a couple impact plays. It wouldn't surprise me if he shut you up next year by getting easily blocked on a different move.

[SkinBasket]

I think he's going to suck just as much as he did before. He's been slow to develop past his one outside move he used get himself easily blocked 20 yards behind the LOS, and switching to a 3-4 isn't going to magically grant him new skills he didn't have before. You can get a boner over measuring his various body parts, but he's just got very little skill to animate those parts into being a productive rusher.

I've got much more hope for Thompson, who seems to be much more of a complete player than Hunter was after a year.

The guy does seem like a hard worker for what its worth. He's a special teams monster, weighs whatever he's told, and he took advantage of his opportunities last year with a couple impact plays. It wouldn't surprise me if he shut you up next year by getting easily blocked on a different move.

One of my greatest fears is that he's given that opportunity to develop for another year. Maybe at the end of 4 years he'll have figured out a 3rd move to go with attempting to outrun the OL by running wide outside and his newly developed stumbling inside technique. Maybe he'll run across the line after the snap and attempt a sneak attack from the other side of the field. It might get him to the QB quicker than that outside move he's got.

I wish we had Bernardo Harris again.

[HarveyWallbangers]

One of my greatest fears is that he's given that opportunity to develop for another year.

Do you think there's any chance he was a bad fit for the 4-3 and is a better fit for the 3-4?

[SkinBasket]

One of my greatest fears is that he's given that opportunity to develop for another year.

Do you think there's any chance he was a bad fit for the 4-3 and is a better fit for the 3-4?

I really don't. I simply think he lacks any kind of redeeming skill, especially in regards to his pass rush - no matter what his measurables say. I hated him in his first preseason because he was so absolutely terrible - and we were sending him after the QB every play. I understand they've kept him on as a project and sure, he's improved a little since then, but I just don't think he's developed much technique or skill in the extended time he's had to improve. I guess you could make the argument that we've committed so much time to him already, what's another year? Or you can look at it as he's about as good as he's going to get and we've got to find someone who something more than the perpetual project. 3-4 or 4-3 doesn't matter much when you've got two moves and they both suck.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm not sure you need a bunch of moves as a 3-4 OLB though. You need speed and tenacity. You'll get many of your sacks from the element of surprise. James Harrison doesn't have many pass rush moves. He gets there quick when he decides to go though, and he can make a TE or RB trying to block him look silly. As a 4-3 DE, you can't be a one or two trick pony as a pass rusher.

Is it likely Hunter does well? No, but you never know. Harrison had 4 sacks and 0 forced fumbles in his first 5 years (the first two he didn't play at all during the regular season). He's had 24 sacks and 13 forced fumbles the last 2 years.

[Brando19]

A Jason Hunter thread? How is this any different then when I said I thought Michael Montgomery would do good this coming year? I guess I need to start a Montgomery thread.

[Brohm]

At minimum, he's a very good ST player.