With NFL training camp underway, the big storyline at Jacksonville Jaguars‘ camp is, of course, rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter. He’s starting to practice on both sides of the ball and all eyes are on him to do something that no one else has done in recent memory.
Hunter spoke to the media yesterday about all of the scrutiny he’s faced as he tries to pull off an incredible feat.
“Just the work that you put in,” Hunter explained. “And then when they try to criticize you, it’s like, ‘I’m already doing all this extra work, you gonna keep telling me I can’t do the same thing that I’ve been doing and showing you?’ So, it’s just that. A lot of people keep doubting us, but I’m just gonna be quiet and go to work.”
Be quiet and go to work.
That’s the easy answer and it sums up his entire attitude. What other choice does he have? The obvious answer to the criticism is just to put your head down and do what needs to be done. It’s a pretty mature mindset and approach for a 22-year old.
Hunter was asked if he was bothered by all the outside negativity.
“Nah, actually, it makes me smile,” he said. “They don’t know what to say, so they’re just gonna keep hating.”
Head coach Liam Coen likes Hunter’s approach so far
If Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen thinks of the Hunter scrutiny is a distraction, it’d have to be considered a good distraction. Ask the Cincinnati Bengals if they’d like to have diversions focused on a versatile, talented player that the NFL may not have seen before. It’s that or ‘why isn’t so-and-so signed yet?’ and ‘do you think the players are sick of the team’s miserly ways?’
For his part, Coen is impressed by how Hunter handles everything.
“He’s pretty unfazed by some of this stuff,” Coen said. “So these next few days will be very important because he was on defense today, we have an off day tomorrow—making sure that he’s ready to go for the next few days. He’s been great in terms of his attitude and just kind of the way he approaches it.”
The first couple of practices Hunter worked with the offense and followed those up with a day on defense. The goal is to get him mixed in throughout the day.
“It’s probably harder — I mentioned this before — logistically for us as coaches to navigate it and make sure that we’re making use of all his time,” Coen said. “I think it doesn’t bother him as much. He’s pretty unfazed by some of this stuff. … He’s been great in terms of his attitude and just kind of the way he approaches it.”
For Hunter it’s about reading and reacting
The goal for any NFL rookie is to get in shape mentally so that they can let their physical skills take over. How many times have we heard young players talk about the speed of the game and having everything slow down for them so they can rely more on their natural instincts?
“I need to be able to process everything fast, quick,” Hunter said. “When I’m on the defensive side, if the offense changes their strength, I’ve got to know what I’m doing right away. And if the offense changes the play, I got to know what I’m doing right away. So I like that we’re starting off slow, getting me adjusted, making sure I know where I need to be on one side of the ball each day and then it [will] all come together. … I just have to get to that point to where I understand both sides immediately.”
I’m not exactly sure who all the “haters” are that we’ve heard about. They probably exist, but from where I sit it seems like everyone is pulling for Hunter to be a great one on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Sums Up Everything in One Sentence