07-12-2016, 03:32 PM
(07-11-2016, 05:47 PM)3wt Wrote: That's how Margus Hunt describes how his back is feeling in Dan Hoard's recent article on Hunt and Clarke stepping up (http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Opportunity-Beckons-for-Clarke-and-Hunt/df3b1689-76ad-41b5-a4a3-bf5ef518604d).
He went on to describe how bad his back was last year and the process it took to start getting his strength and flexibility back. Ultimately he was only able to contribute 5% of the defensive snaps.
I have this crazy good (emphasis on crazy) feeling about Hunt this year. If he stays healthy that is. I remember how long it took Geno to get back to speed after his knee surgery. Backs are every bit as serious as knees and he barely was able to get back on the field.
Couple that with what sounds like a really good meeting with Kevin Green and I actually have a touch of optimism going into training camp. The visit involved physically showing Hunt how he trained and film work of both Green and Hunt.
If Hunt were to develop to the point where he could put significant pressure on the quarterback it would put our defense into a different category. It would strengthen the rotation (spelling MJ) and add the pressure on the quarterback that has been missing at the end of big games.
A bad back can definately destroy your game. Happy that injury is behind Hunt and i hope for him to finally put it
together. He has amazing strength, size and athleticism he just needs to learn how to bend like Dunlap and keep
his motor up. Sometimes he gives up on plays, this needs to end.
Working with Kevin Green should really help him in all these things.
I know that Hunt is much older than Clarke but of the two i have higher hopes for Hunt. I have seen nothing from
Clarke so far in the NFL, atleast Hunt dominated a game in the Preseason.
But if just one of these two guys can start getting to the QB our Defense could be the best in the league. We need
our DE rotation to be strong behind Dunlap and MJ. The one problem i had with the Draft was no DE, hopefully this
is the reason we did not draft one, the coaches have high hopes for Hunt and Clarke.
Still, sign Freeney as insurance for the pass rush.
