Tony Hunt Round-Up

May 11

PE.com:
As a third-round draft pick, and as the guy being called the long-awaited power back, there will no doubt be a lot of pressure on Tony Hunt right from the beginning. And one day before his first mini-camp in Philadelphia, the former Nittany Lion is ready for anything that could be thrown at him.

"I'm just expecting everything ... I'll come in tomorrow (Saturday) expecting to jump off that building right there," Hunt said. "I don't know what's going to happen."

At Penn State, Hunt had a tremendous senior season, running for 1,386 yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns. At 6-feet-1, 233 pounds, he weighs 16 pounds heavier than teammate Correll Buckhalter, and 30 pounds more than starter Brian Westbrook. Many believe that Hunt can make an immediate impact in short-yardage situations.

This weekend will be overwhelming for all of the eight draft picks and the many more rookie free agents, but the Virginia native has a slight advantage over his peers.

"I know the fact that I'm no too far away from where I went to school and home, I feel that helps me out a lot," Hunt said.

May 12

CourierPostOnline (columnist Kevin Roberts):
Tony Hunt, meanwhile, arrived in relative quiet, and went about his business preparing for his first NFL minicamp. He met everyone and smiled and said all the right things, and insisted he'll be ready for anything.  "If I have to jump off this building right here, I'll be ready," Hunt said, gesturing toward the Eagles' offices... 

Brian Westbrook led the Eagles last season with seven carries on 3rd-and-1. No other team with one primary starting running back had a back with fewer carries on 3rd-and-1. You know how it seemed the Eagles viewed 3rd-and-short as a passing down? They actually did.

Westbrook was OK in this situation, converting five times -- a 71.4 percent success rate that ranked 23rd in the NFL. The Eagles' alternative, Correll Buckhalter, isn't built for this situation. Buckhalter got six carries last year on 3rd-and-1 or 3rd-and-2 and gained just 11 yards.

Hunt is built for this situation.

"That's the kind of back I am," he said.

Because the Eagles have Westbrook, one of the best backs in the league, Hunt looks to contribute in bits and pieces -- as a short yardage back and as a between-the-tackles runner who can help the Eagles eat up the clock when they have a late lead. Does Hunt think he's more than that? Sure.

"Nobody shoots to play on just one down," he said... 

At 233, Hunt is the biggest back on the roster and it's not close (unless you count Thomas Tapeh as a running back, which you probably shouldn't, or unless rookie Nate Ilaoa out of Hawaii makes the team).

Of course, it helps if you can play. The praise for Hunt out of Penn State last year at various times through the course of his senior season was heady stuff: "He runs so hard," said Jack Ham, Penn State broadcaster and Hall of Fame linebacker. "You never see him get thrown back or bounced back from a tackle in a very physical Big Ten. Plus he picks up the blitzes in the backfield, and he's a great receiver."

"Tony's got the whole package," Penn State offensive coordinator Galen Hall said. "He is probably the best pass-protecting back I have ever been around. I think he is a very good, hard-nosed back that can catch the football out of the backfield and make people miss, and I think he has a bright future in the pros. I think Tony is one of the best backs I have ever been around."

Hunt rushed for 1,386 yards and scored 14 touchdowns at Penn State last year. The only knock on him is a lack of breakaway speed, that he doesn't run away from people for long gains.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid dismissed that notion by saying: "I look for good football players . . . I want guys that can play football."

Hunt can play football. But more importantly, drafting him shows the Eagles are serious about running the ball more -- because they went out to get a big back who can help them do it.

PE.com: 
10:30 AM -- The running backs are warming up through the rope drills, which is a series of netting that they run through, showing their quick feet and their lateral movement. Tony Hunt has very good feet.

And just as I write that, he stumbles through the roles. So does Nate Ilaoa, whose feet are not as quick as Hunt's in this drill.

"Don't let the ropes whup ya," says running back coach Ted Williams.

10:51 AM -- The running back rotation, as I see it: Brian Westbrook followed by Correll Buckhalter, then Ryan Moats, Hunt and Ilaoa. [Me: Right...]

G.Cobb:
Speaking of size, running back Tony Hunt is even bigger than I expected and he showed early on that he is very physical.

May 13

Marty Mornhinweg:
On whether the Eagles were looking for big running backs in the draft: "You'd have to go directly to (head coach) Andy (Reid) on that or (general manager) Tom (Heckert). However, we really like (RB) Tony Hunt as a football player. Tony's a good all-around player, at least he was in college, and he's shown that up to date. He runs the ball very well. He has very quick feet. He's physical. He's done a very good job in college in the pass protection aspect of it. When he's been asked to block on running plays, he's done a good job there. Lastly, he's been effective and productive in the passing game. So, he's very good all-around. It's my opinion that we took the best player, the best runner, on the board."

Brian Westbrook:
On his thoughts about the addition of running back Tony Hunt:  “I think it adds depth to our already deep backfield. He’s going to give us the opportunity to run the ball a little bit more. Hopefully, we run the ball more, so we get a chance for that young guy to get on the field. The same thing I felt about Donovan and Kolb, is the same way I feel about Tony Hunt. I want to play as well as I can so that coach wants me on the field all the time, and he gets his opportunity years down the road.”

May 14

G.Cobb:
They're continuing to mentally push the youngsters on the squad. All rookie running back Tony Hunt could do was shake his head, when I asked him about all the plays they're putting in during this three day mini-camp.

Tony's been looking good in the way he's been able to run the offense. The youngster seems to have the patience of a veteran in the way runs the screen plays. I'll bet you his ability to run screens, which is one of the Birds favorite plays, had a lot to do with the Eagles drafting him. Mornhinweg mentioned Hunt's quick feet during his news conference on Sunday. The kid isn't going to run away from anybody but he does a good job cutting back and picking through bodies during inside runs.

PE.com:
HOW DID THE ROOKIES DO? The general consensus among the coaching staff was that the rookies got off to a collective good start. Tight end Brent Cesak stood out after reviewing the film, and quarterback Kevin Kolb was tremendous. Running backs Tony Hunt and Nate Ilaoa digested and processed the information and went and made some mistakes and also did a lot of good things.

May 15

Ryan Moats:
Now, with Hunt and seventh-round draft choice Nate Ilaoa joining the Eagles, there's reason to wonder if Moats will make the team.  "That's just how it is," Moats said. "Ryan Moats will be ready to go and Ryan Moats will give it all he's got. I ain't afraid of competition. Tony Hunt hasn't proven anything, either. He's got to prove it, too. I do, too. This isn't make-or-break for me. If I don't play here, I'll play somewhere. That's just how you have to look at it, but I'm here to make this team and I'm pretty sure I will."