Travis Hunter's role on defense with the Jacksonville Jaguars is expected to expand this season. However, what his workload on offense may end up looking like is less clear. He will be a factor at wide receiver, but how much remains to be seen.
Even for Liam Coen and the Jaguars' offensive coaching staff, the latter is an unknown at this time. In-game situations and weekly matchups could play a key role in determining what Hunter's playing time on offense looks like, with that ebbing and flowing from week to week.
"Where you want him in there is contested [plays], tough catches -- trying to get the ball in his hand because he can make you miss in a phone booth," Coen told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently. "Quick screens, bubbles … what that looks
like as a rep count, I still have no clue."
The Jaguars' approach with Hunter this year offensively does sound like it will differ from his rookie season. Rather than Hunter having to know the entire playbook inside and out, he will be tasked with knowing the X and F receiver positions within each week's specific game plan.
"He's got to be able to know X, F, both those positions within the game plan and not the whole playbook," Coen added. "Third down, red zone, two minute, specific offense of plays in the normal flow of the game, we will package him in, as opposed to, 'Look, bro, you've got to know the whole offense.' That was a little much last year."
During a recent practice, Hunter flashed at the receiver position, generating two explosive plays in the pass game that day, one on a downfield throw, where Hunter made a leaping contested catch. Another came in a catch-and-run for a chunk play.
Through five practices, Hunter has played 41 snaps on defense during the 11-on-11 periods and 28 on offense, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars' Liam Coen sheds light on Travis Hunter's role at wide receiver
