Philadelphia Eagles
Tony Hunt just might have found his way onto a few fantasy football draft boards after his performance Friday night.
Hunt ran for just seven yards on six carries Friday night against Carolina, but the rookie scored both of the Eagles' offensive touchdowns in goal line scenarios during the Eagles 27-10 victory. Hailed as a much needed power-rushing complement to Brian Westbrook, Hunt has quickly found a niche as the Eagles top short-yardage and goal line running option.
"Short-yardage, I take that pretty personally I think," said the third-round draft pick. "Those are usually the differences in the ball game: making third down conversions and fourth down conversions. Those are back-breakers."
Hunt had two back-breaking scores on Friday. The first of which was a 3-yard run in the first quarter immediately following a 58-yard pass play from quarterback Donovan McNabb to tight end Matt Schobel. Hunt took the ball over right tackle, just barely fought his way over the goal line as a Panthers defender attempted to wrap him up.
The touchdown came with the first-team offense on the field and gave the Eagles an early 10-0 lead.
"It was a play we ran before in practice and I was pretty comfortable with it," Hunt said. "I knew (fullback) Thomas (Tapeh) would get up in there and pick the right hole and I'd just run in behind him. It ended up working out pretty good, just how we practiced."
Hunt's second score came on a 1-yard plunge over the right guard in the second quarter.
It was during the practices in training camp that Hunt earned the opportunity to get the ball in key short-yardage situations. After adjusting to the Eagles offense through the mini-camps and the start of training camp, Hunt picked his game up when the pads went on, running with good power and determination.
"During training camp we put him in that situation – goal line and short yardage," head coach Andy Reid said. "We thought he did a pretty good job there so we're giving him an opportunity now during the preseason games to do it. I was impressed by how he got his pad level down. He's naturally a high runner. He was able to drop his pads down and run with power."
That high-running style has been a work in progress for Hunt since arrived in Philadelphia. For power-runners, a low center of gravity is important to drive through defenders and gain extra-yardage. At Penn State, Hunt could get away with simply being faster or stronger than his opponents.
Just two preseason games into his career, it's clear that's not the case.
"The guys close so much faster," Hunt said. "I get in the open field and open up a little bit and guys close in so fast they get me with my pads up. You have to really make it a habit to get your pads down at all times because you never know when you're going to get hit. Guys are coming from all angles."
Yet as important as technique is, being a power-runner is also about attitude. Hitting defenders and pushing forward for an extra-yard or two – like Hunt did on both his touchdown runs – is something Hunt takes pride in.
"I think it's just kind of a mentality," Hunt said of his powerful running-style. "It's what you do. I think some guys are make you miss and that's what they take pride in. Everybody has their own thing, and (power-running) is just something I like to do. It comes pretty natural to me."
Hunt For A Big Back Could Be Over
Hunt For A Big Back Could Be Over
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