RockyTop22
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Hunter's sneaky-good day
Tennessee's Justin Hunter quietly turned in one of the best overall days of the combine so far, showing off impressive athleticism to go with this long (6-4, 196), athletic frame.
Hunter is taller and leaner than current Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones (6-2¾, 220 at the combine), but Hunter's numbers show he has the same kind of explosiveness and athletic ability Jones displayed when wowing scouts in 2011.
Hunter posted a nearly identical 40 time (4.44 to 4.42 for Jones), was an inch better than Jones in the vertical jump (39.4) and had the same result in the broad jump (11-foot-9). All that translates into the ability to open up and run during routes, the explosiveness to high-point the ball in one-on-one matchups, and the flexibility and body control to make contested catches down the field.
Throw in the focus he showed in the gauntlet drill, and the ball skills Hunter flashed when snatching passes outside his frame, going down low for a ball on an out route and tracking the deep ball, and he is an intriguing prospect.
There are questions about his toughness and overall focus -- Hunter did have his share of drops in 2012 -- but he has all the physical tools and is a better overall receiver at this point than college teammate Cordarrelle Patterson. He's a more polished, fluid and savvy route-runner, and Hunter has the look of a good No. 2 receiver at the next level, and even a No. 1 if the light comes on and puts it all together.
As for Patterson (6-1⅞, 216), we knew this forum would be good for him and he didn't disappoint in terms of testing. His 4.42 in the 40, 37-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump were what we expected.
However, while he did catch the ball well down the line in the gauntlet drill, he failed to finish the drill and also had a drop when tracking the ball downfield, which is also an issue when you put on the tape.
Beyond that, there are concerns about Patterson's lack of experience. He is a former juco transfer who played only one year at Tennessee, and his instincts are a question mark. It also remains to be seen how quickly Patterson can absorb an NFL playbook and its various option routes and coverage reads.
He is great with the ball in his hands in the open field and will offer something immediately in the return game, but teams will have to dig deeper on his intangibles. Patterson still carries a first-round grade and could very well turn into a good NFL player, but he is definitely a raw, boom-or-bust prospect.
Tennessee's Justin Hunter quietly turned in one of the best overall days of the combine so far, showing off impressive athleticism to go with this long (6-4, 196), athletic frame.
Hunter is taller and leaner than current Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones (6-2¾, 220 at the combine), but Hunter's numbers show he has the same kind of explosiveness and athletic ability Jones displayed when wowing scouts in 2011.
Hunter posted a nearly identical 40 time (4.44 to 4.42 for Jones), was an inch better than Jones in the vertical jump (39.4) and had the same result in the broad jump (11-foot-9). All that translates into the ability to open up and run during routes, the explosiveness to high-point the ball in one-on-one matchups, and the flexibility and body control to make contested catches down the field.
Throw in the focus he showed in the gauntlet drill, and the ball skills Hunter flashed when snatching passes outside his frame, going down low for a ball on an out route and tracking the deep ball, and he is an intriguing prospect.
There are questions about his toughness and overall focus -- Hunter did have his share of drops in 2012 -- but he has all the physical tools and is a better overall receiver at this point than college teammate Cordarrelle Patterson. He's a more polished, fluid and savvy route-runner, and Hunter has the look of a good No. 2 receiver at the next level, and even a No. 1 if the light comes on and puts it all together.
As for Patterson (6-1⅞, 216), we knew this forum would be good for him and he didn't disappoint in terms of testing. His 4.42 in the 40, 37-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump were what we expected.
However, while he did catch the ball well down the line in the gauntlet drill, he failed to finish the drill and also had a drop when tracking the ball downfield, which is also an issue when you put on the tape.
Beyond that, there are concerns about Patterson's lack of experience. He is a former juco transfer who played only one year at Tennessee, and his instincts are a question mark. It also remains to be seen how quickly Patterson can absorb an NFL playbook and its various option routes and coverage reads.
He is great with the ball in his hands in the open field and will offer something immediately in the return game, but teams will have to dig deeper on his intangibles. Patterson still carries a first-round grade and could very well turn into a good NFL player, but he is definitely a raw, boom-or-bust prospect.
