Hunt debuts against Falcons

Margus Hunt has the benefit of playing behind Michael Johnson and Wallace Gilberry this season. Those two have been around the league for a long time and are expected to provide Hunt with a shorter learning curve than most rookie defensive ends. Hunt should be pretty comfortable learning the techniques of an NFL defense all throughout this season because he won't feel the pressure of having to step into the line of fire right away. The Bengals are most likely grooming the rookie from SMU to take over the starting job in a year or two. Hunt is twenty-six years old but has only played the game for four years after coming to the United States from Estonia. Hunt was a talented shot putter in his native country, but his adventurous spirit drove him to the U.S. to eventually pick up the game of football and become the Bengals' second round draft pick.

Hunt is one of the most athletic defensive ends to ever participate in the draft process. According to Mel Kiper, Hunt's pure physical ability is as strong as anyone he's ever seen. Hunt is a towering player whose 6'8, 280 pound frame should intimidate tackles immediately. Hunt has learned the game well enough to earn a reputation as a dominant player on special teams in college and an eight sack rusher his senior year. 

Against the Falcons tonight, Hunt will be on a defensive line with Devon Still and and Dontay Moch. Moch, Still and Hunt all have the same standout pass rushing abilities in common. The defense hasn't been concentrating much on the second round pick just because of the mega-talents Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson already featured on the Bengals' line. Hunt can earn his way onto the field on third down snaps by performing well in the preseason. To be able to go up against backup linemen on the Falcons will be a good measuring strip of Hunt's progress since being drafted. If he looks like a mismatch out there, he may be bumped up to competing with Robert Geathers and Gilberry for regular season snaps. 

The pick on the Bengals' part was a smart one in that the team can afford to take a chance on potential alone with Hunt. The worst case is Hunt doesn't reach the field at all this season, which may be cause for inner motivation for Hunt's NFL future. I don't think that will end up happening though. I believe Hunt will have multiple sacks in the preseason and open the eyes of Mike Zimmer. If Hunt can keep his pad level low enough, he will be a nightmare on the outside. Pass rushers with a combination of immense size and speed are just hard to find in the league. JJ Watt has been the ideal pass rusher for the last couple of years. Hunt is taller and almost as strong as Watt, and probably is quicker off the line as well. All everyone can do is wait and see if Hunt has the fire to excel in the league. His physical tools are already better than most, so he may just have the DNA to mold into a star.