SB Nation - Tony Hunt

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview - Fullbacks

JasonB — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:00:21 -0000

This is the next installment in our series of 12 positions in 12 days previewing the upcoming Eagles training camp. Rookie and selected vets report to Lehigh July 26th and each day leading up to that date we will bring you a preview of a different position battle.

Today we look at a position that has been forsaken for too long on this team. Yes, the fullback.

Much like punt returner in 2007, the Eagles went into 2008 without an actual fullback on the roster. Tony Hunt was converted from RB a week prior, which was an experiment that didn't go well. He was replaced by converted DT Dan Klecko, who was better but still not "good" Later in the season, Kyle Eckel was added from the Patriots but Eckel worked mostly as a short yardage running back and never really played the fullback position.

The bodies

Leonard Weaver

Kyle Eckel

Marcus Mailei

Presumed starter

Much like punt returner in 2007... it took the Eagles a year to add an accomplished player at the fullback position. Enter Leonard Weaver. Weaver was a pro bowl alternate in 2008 and having played under Andy Reid mentor Mike Holmgrem in Seattle, he comes already equipped with an intimate knowledge of the Eagles style of West Coast offense.

Anyone who followed this site during free agency knows that I thought this move was a no brainer.

Weaver's skill set should fit the Eagles offense very well. He's a very good blocker, a capable run blocker, can carry the ball effectively when asked(career YPA 4.5), and most importantly has great hands catching the ball out of the backfield. He should provide McNabb with an option and an outlet at position where he really has had one since.... who knows when?

New additions

Marcus Mailei - Alectheman wrote a great article on Mailei that will provide you with more insight to the player that I probably ever could. I suggest you check that out.

What to watch for

The battle for starter probably won't be a battle at all. Leonard Weaver is all but guaranteed to be the starting fullback opening day, but there are several things worth watching in camp with Weaver. First is his lead blocking. While it would be wrong to say Weaver is poor lead blocker, it is the part of his game with the most room for improvement. He's an excellent pass blocker, a good receiver, and a capable run blocker. He's improved in that area every year in the league... can he take the next step this year?

It will also be interesting to see how Weaver is used in the offense. Andy Reid will surely be salivating over another good pass catching option and it could be exciting to see the job Weaver can do as a safety valve for McNabb. When given the chance to carry the football last year, Weaver did a solid job. Will he get any carries in the Eagles offense? All things to watch for.

As for the battle at backup... The problem for Kyle Eckel & Marcus Mailei is that there likely won't be a backup FB position to fight for. The Eagles will probably not want to carry an extra fullback on their roster, but the guys can make the team in other ways. The Eagles are always looking for standout special teams player, there's the practice squad for a guy like Mailei, and Eckel could still find a job as a running back on the team.

Previous position previews

Quarterback

Eagles cut Tony Hunt, sign LB Tracy White

JasonB — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:43:20 -0000

Per the Eagles official site

The Eagles signed linebacker Tracy White. To make room for White on the 53-man roster, the team released RB Tony Hunt.

A six-year veteran, White (6-0, 238 pounds) spent the last two-plus seasons with the Green Bay Packers before being released on 10/7/08. Originally signed by Seattle as an undrafted rookie in 2003 out of Howard, White played in 20 games (two starts) with the Seahawks, recording 26 tackles and one sack. He spent the 2005 season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, before signing with the Packers in 2006.

White seems to be mostly a special teams guy.

Thanks to Andrew for the scoop

Kind of a bummer for Hunt to finally be moved back to RB where belongs, only to not touch the ball and get cut a week later.

Klecko to FB, Hunt back to RB

JasonB — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:00:06 -0000

The Eagles are getting desperate creative with their backfield situation. With the possible absence or limited availability of Brian Westbrook this weekend, the Eagles have moved Dan Klecko back to FB and have told Tony Hunt that he'll practice at tailback this week. Bowen has he details

Fullback Tony Hunt said he has been told he will take his practice reps at running back, where he played before being switched near the end of training camp. Defensive tackle Dan Klecko, signed last spring with the idea he would be a fullback, has been reissued his old No. 49 jersey and apparently will play an expanded role at fullback while still participating in the defensive tackle rotation.

Some of Klecko's snaps at DT could be taken by Victor Abiamiri who returned to full practice yesterday.

In trying to decide how I feel about this move I decided to make my own list of pros and cons. So here goes.

Pros

Tony Hunt has not been doing a great job at FB
If Westbrook is out or limited we could use another RB
Tony Hunt belongs at RB

Cons

Dan Klecko can't play FB, as evidence by the fact that he lost the job before camp even started
Dan Klecko has done a really nice job at DT.
If Klecko plays both FB & DT is he likely to be effective at either?
We actually have a FB sitting on the practice squad presumably for this exact situation. Jed Collins.
We already have a RB sitting on the bench. Lorenzo Booker.

Clearly the cons outweight the pros here. The Tony Hunt at FB experiment hasn't worked and frankly I'm rather excited to see him back at running back. I just hope the Eagles actually give him some carries this weekend. For a team that has had so many struggles on the goal line, you might think a powerful, bruising runner like Tony Hunt was supposed to be might be of some help there?

It's really started to annoy me that the Eagles have spent a 3rd round pick(Hunt) & a 4th round pick(Booker) on running backs the last two years and have so far pretty much refused to play them. Having lost their top RB for a good portion of the year so far, the Eagles have just let two guys they invested decent picks in just rot on the bench or out of position.

As for the Klecko to FB move... why? Who on this roster is so indispensible that we just can't make some room for Jed Collins to come up from the practice squad? I think it's safe to assume that Collins is a better fullback than Klecko since he did beat out Klecko in camp at the position. So why not go with your best option there? Especially considering how surprisingly productive Klecko has been at DT?

Tony Hunt, starting fullback

JasonB — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:51:13 -0000

Coming into the season there weren't very many starting spots up for grabs on this Eagles team. In fact, if you assume like I do that Stewart Bradley won his starting job last year there really was only one job was likely to see a new starter.

Fullback.

When the Eagles allowed Thomas Tapeh to walk at the end of the year they stocked the fullback position with a host of possibilites with the idea that they'd let the best man win. Jason Davis was already ont he practice squad, UDFA Jed Collins was brought, Dan Klekco was signed as a free agent, and Luke Lawton was traded for.

In the end though, the guy who the job was one who wasn't even in the running 3 weeks ago. Tony Hunt.

"Obviously, he's going to be the guy," the general manager said. "He's the only fullback on the roster, so he's going to get a lot of opportunities here, and we'll see how he does.

"We're expecting him to be a top, top guy, and that's going to take some time," Heckert went on. "But I think he's going to be a serviceable guy for us from the beginning of the season. If that wasn't the case, we wouldn't have kept him."

When he first got the news Hunt sounded like the switch from RB to FB was a daunting one, but his tune seemed to change

"I just didn't want people thinking this was going to be easy," he said. "It was one of those things in the preseason, going out there, I knew I was going to make some mistakes. But I know myself, and I think I'm a fast learner. Just going out in a couple of games is enough to actually go out, make some mistakes, learn from them and be ready to go."

Tony thinks it was his special teams play that really sealed the deal for him

"There was a major emphasis put on special teams this year, and I think that was the area where I improved most," Hunt said. "At the end of the day, everything is still just football. Running, blocking and just being physical and just wanting to do it . . . if you've played football, you've tackled somebody before. You can get it done."

Best of luck to former Nittany Lion. When he lines up as the starting fullback this Sunday, he's going to have most of the state of Pennsylvania pulling for him.