Margus

by **Junior** » Thu May 28, 2015 1:52 pm

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/5/28/86 ... n-jeopardy

Margus Hunt may miss rest of OTAs, per report; roster spot in jeopardy

Margus Hunt still has yet to make his mark in the NFL, but he's already off to a rough start this year.

Hunt, who missed four games last year while dealing with an ankle injury, now has suffered an undisclosed injury that's got him on the sidelines for OTAs. Not only may that injury keep him out of the rest of the spring, but possibly the start of training camp, according to Geoff Hobson.

Not on the field was backup defensive end Margus Hunt and itâ€™s believed he has suffered some kind of injury that could take him out of all of the spring drills. In his absence, second-year player Will Clarke took a bunch of snaps at right end. Huntâ€™s status for training camp is unclearâ€¦

Hunt has yet to find a niche among the Bengals defense, despite the unit having one of their worst pass rushes in recent memory last year. Hunt only played 187 snaps and generated eight QB pressures. This, after getting nine hurries in 165 snaps as a rookie in 10 games.

If Hunt can't show some improvement during training camp, there may be no room for him on the 53-man roster. Michael Johnson is back to play alongside Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry who will occupy most of the DE snaps.

Second-year lineman Will Clarke is expected to get more runs this year after playing 64 snaps as a rookie. As Hobson noted, Clarke is benefiting the most from Hunt's absence in OTAs. This is his chance to pass Hunt on the depth chart, and it sounds like he's making the most of that opportunity.

The one saving grace of this injury is it could lead to a PUP stint for Hunt, which would keep him on the team but not the 53-man roster for the first two months. That way, Cincinnati could bring him along and decide what to do with him midway through the year.

At this point, Hunt certainly isn't a lock for the final roster if he does practice in training camp and compete with Clarke for the fourth DE spot. There's no certainty the Bengals will keep five DEs, especially with the versatile Marcus Hardison likely getting some runs there as a rookie.

All of this could amount to another pass-rushing blunder by Cincinnati in the same light as Dontay Moch just four years ago.

by **blackoutpony** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:15 pm

Love Margus, but he's been a total non-factor in the NFL, as he was for long stretches on the hilltop. Hope he gets healthy and can do something.

It can't help that the Begnals had to sow him how to properly get into a 3 point stance when he got there. Hard to imagine that with all the great coaching we had here back then :roll:

by **Pony147** » Thu May 28, 2015 4:02 pm

Also doesn't help that the DC Mike Zimmer and co are no longer in Cincy (HC in Minnesota). Zimmer drafted Hunt as his project. IF Margus gets cut from the Bengals, I bet the Vikings pick him up

by **footballdad** » Thu May 28, 2015 5:11 pm

Hey, at least he got paid well for a couple good college games and his monster combine numbers.

by **PSCA** » Thu May 28, 2015 6:48 pm

His size, athletics, and other intangibles will give him a spot somewhere else if he is let go. Someone is still going to see upside project potential for a few more years for someone that is 6'8" 295. My main concern with Margus has always been what at times appears to be a motor in low gear and not that killer instinct all the time. That is sometimes a born trait that you can't teach ... he would be dominating with that mindset. Given that he was/is still learning the game, I always thought someone might flip him OL (tackle).. With those long arms, height, strength, speed/quickness ... might have been interesting to see. But, he did get to pocket some nice change no matter what.

by **MustangStealth** » Thu May 28, 2015 9:01 pm

I think he is eligible for practice squads also under the new rules. That may be where he needs to be for a season.

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri May 29, 2015 10:06 am

He won the underwear Olympics and beasted on a redshirt freshmen tackle for Fresno State and parlayed that into an NFL career. Job well done.

by **ponyboy** » Fri May 29, 2015 10:59 am

Give him more credit than that. He hasn't stolen the chance to play at the next level. It's a tough haul and I believe he's not done yet. With supporters like some of you, who needs enemies?

by **JasonB** » Fri May 29, 2015 12:48 pm

StallionsModelT wrote:He won the underwear Olympics and beasted on a redshirt freshmen tackle for Fresno State and parlayed that into an NFL career. Job well done.

He also made a couple of tackles look silly in preseason games in the NFL. And A&M players talked about how hard he was to block. Every team we played schemed against him.

Even though someone played for June and was lauded by June doesn't make that player a bad player or a bad person. If you have ever met Margus, he is a great guy. Try not to be such a jerk and so dismissive aver someone who brought SMU great press and had a positive impact on the team. How many games did we win by a couple of points where the difference was a blocked EP or FG?

If Zimmer sees something in him, then he probably has some legit talent. I hope that he gets healthy and makes the most of his opportunity.

by **Harry0569** » Fri May 29, 2015 12:52 pm

ponyboy wrote:Give him more credit than that. He hasn't stolen the chance to play at the next level. It's a tough haul and I believe he's not done yet. With supporters like some of you, who needs enemies?

Cinci was one of the worst teams in terms of generating pressure / getting sacks last year. It's a shame that he couldn't get onto the field.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri May 29, 2015 12:53 pm

I'm not saying he's a bad guy at all. I'm sure he's a good dude, but the hype never matched the film. He had some incredible plays and his natural athletic ability is off the charts. But he was nowhere near a dominant force in CUSA and was a total non-factor in our run defense. That game against Fresno State and his performance at the combine got him picked in round two. In reality he was a 5th or 6th round type guy.

by **Otto** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:58 pm

You're right that the expectations have been through the roof for him. But I doubt the Bengals give up on him yet, because they don't look like it was a wasted draft pick. If he does move on, though, he'll have options. Too many teams will see his athletic ability and be willing to take him, hoping they can get his potential out of him.

by **blackoutpony** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:03 pm

Otto wrote:You're right that the expectations have been through the roof for him. But I doubt the Bengals give up on him yet, because they don't look like it was a wasted draft pick. If he does move on, though, he'll have options. Too many teams will see his athletic ability and be willing to take him, hoping they can get his potential out of him.

He's kinda old though to be a real "project" anymore.

by **footballdad** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:36 pm

Original thinking was lack of football experience and poor college coaching. Going on 3 years in NFL and he still doesn't get it. He's an athletic aberration, not a football player.