The Jacksonville Jaguars are formally two video games into the Travis Hunter experiment with loads to contemplate heading into the younger star’s third sport this coming weekend.
Sunday’s 31-27 slopfest loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was Hunter’s greatest displaying, taking part in 85 complete snaps. His offense to protection cut up was nearly lifeless even, with 43 snaps at nook and 42 as a large receiver.
Sadly for Hunter, whereas he performed largely advantageous protection, his day will endlessly be remembered by the pivotal go interference name he was flagged for on fourth down. Hunter’s flag prolonged Cincy’s ultimate drive which resulted in a landing and a stunning loss for the Jags. Whereas that one play wasn’t the only motive for the defeat, it was actually Hunter’s ‘Welcome to the NFL’ second early in his younger profession.
“I can’t go away it as much as the refs,” Hunter stated postgame Sunday of his play on the ball. “I’ve to do my job and put myself in a greater place.”
Defensively, Hunter was thrust right into a place doubtlessly the Jags teaching workers didn’t precisely need. Jarrian Jones received dinged up early and Hunter crammed in for him. Hunter additionally performed his regular rising allotment of snaps, leading to 31 complete protection snaps. Head coach Liam Coen stated after the Panthers win he wished Hunter on protection extra, however there isn’t a telling if he wished him on the market this a lot. To Hunter’s credit score, he performed properly.
The perfect play of Hunter’s defensive day got here with him swiping a ball out of Andrei Iosivas’ arms for his first profession go breakup. It was later Iosivas who drew the PI flag however that’s the ups and downs of the league.
“I used to be ready for the second. I simply must do my job,” Hunter stated, “make a pair extra performs. They informed me I might play much more protection, so I used to be ready and prepared.”
Clearly the marquee offensive gamers for the Bengals exterior of future Corridor of Fame quarterback Jake Browning are Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Simply two performs after Hunter’s flag, Chase received the very best of Hunter for a 16-yard reception furthering the ultimate scoring drive. That catch was the one one given up by Hunter in protection.
Whereas Chase and Higgins made barbecue rooster of veteran Tyson Campbell, the rookie embraced the expertise and stated he plans to make use of it to get higher shifting ahead.
“It was nice for me early in my profession to go in opposition to these two guys,” Hunter stated. “They did their job. They did what their staff wanted them to do.”
The offensive facet of the ball is the place Hunter’s numbers are disappointing for what his anticipated manufacturing might have, or ought to have, been.
Hunter caught three of his six targets for 22 yards. Up to now this 12 months, Hunter has 9 catches for 55 yards, together with two drops. Coincidentally, two would-be landing passes to Hunter from quarterback Trevor Lawrence have been picked off this season.
For comparability, by two video games final 12 months Brian Thomas Jr. had nearly 150 yards receiving and a landing. Chase had properly over 200 yards in his first two video games, however gamers like Justin Jefferon had simply 70.
The largest challenge with Hunter’s up-and-down day wasn’t him not eclipsing 100 receiving yards although, however somewhat his incapability to get set all afternoon.
By Hunter’s personal admission he was the only motive for upwards of three unlawful shift penalties which frequently helped derail any momentum the Jags have been capable of cobble collectively all through Sunday’s sport.
“We weren’t lining up proper, we weren’t locked in,” Hunter stated. “I had a pair errors with that so I’ve to do higher. I’ve to do my job and the opposite guys must do their job.”
On either side of the ball it hasn’t been image good for Hunter. Going way back to the preseason, nobody sport from Hunter has been solely memorable. To this point Hunter has been primarily used as a gimmick display go catcher and an additional physique on protection.
Like final week, Hunter wasn’t outraged over his so-so efficiency. He is aware of there’s much more within the tank for him to provide. Nevertheless it seemingly has taken a bit longer for him to showcase that reality because the Jacksonville teaching workers tries to suit a 40-sided peg right into a gap that doesn’t even exist but.
“I’ve to play inside the system,” Hunter stated. “I’ve to verify I’m on my Ps and Qs. That is what I wish to do. There are lots of people that may proceed to doubt me. I simply must proceed to do my job.”