Hall-of-Fame defensive back Rod Woodson knows a thing or two about playing at a high level in the NFL. After all, he was one of the top corners in the league in the 1990s and later kept his career going when he switched to safety in the 2000s. This is a long-winded way to say that he knows a thing or two about playing at a high level. And just recently, he joined the many voices who have raised questions about Travis Hunter's capability to play two ways for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Woodson recently made an appearance on the Rich Eisen podcast and touched on several topics, including whether the reigning Heisman Trophy winner can realistically succeed at playing both corner and receiver in the NFL.
Rod Woodson raises skepticism about Travis Hunter playing two ways for the Jaguars
Rod Woodson told Rich Eisen that he's not sure that Travis Hunter can play on both sides of the ball in the pros, pointing out that he did it at Colorado because Deion Sanders was his coach.
" Let's throw back from centuries ago. Ok, everybody played both ways, and he was very blessed to be with the head coach in college to allow him to play both ways in Prime," Woodson responded when Eisen asked him why Hunter could have trouble playing two ways in the NFL. "And so Prime does know that, but the coaches in the league, they're not prime. They didn't play both ways. They're going to give them opportunity to make some plays on offense, be on defense."
Woodson continued, "Is he going to play 85 plays? 90 plays a game for 17 weeks? That's a tough ask on your body. If anybody's going to do it, he's going to be the one. But I think that's a real tough ask on the body. If you want to play at the highest level that you can possibly play at the cornerback position, and then add to something at the receiver position. That's a real tough task because the running backs that are going to come through. I mean, how is he going to tackle Derrick Henry if he played the Baltimore Ravens?"
For the sake of transparency, let's make it clear. From the moment the Jags traded up to select Hunter second overall, they revealed that they had a plan in place to make his goal of playing two ways in the NFL possible. So far, their approach has worked.
After mostly getting reps at receiver to start the offseason program, Hunter began to line up at cornerback at mandatory minicamp. He then took the next step when he began to practice on offense and defense the same day.
To his credit, though, Woodson isn't outright saying that Hunter won't be able to achieve his goal but rather brings up all the hurdles he'll face to pull it off. Moreover, he makes a handful of compelling points.
Related: 5 recent Jaguars draft picks who will undoubtedly get cut after the preseason
Why Travis Hunter will play two-ways for the Jaguars (but may not do it on a full-time basis)
During the draft process, Deion Sanders cited the NFL's slower tempo as one of the reasons Travis Hunter could successfully line up at corner and receiver in the pros. That said, he isn't taking into account that NFL players are bigger and faster than those at the collegiate level.
Furthermore, talent alone doesn't cut it in the NFL. Aside from facing more athletic competition in the pros, Hunter will need to deal with significantly more complex schemes. When you add it all up, he may need to adjust his expectations.
On the other hand, Hunter is a very unique talent, one that has a legitimate chance to play two ways. As he said when he offered a rebuttal to Davante Adams. Just because someone hasn't done it in the past doesn't mean somebody won't achieve it in the future.
And as Rod Woodson stated, if anybody can do it, it's Travis Hunter. And soon will have a chance to prove his doubters wrong.
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