Robert Hunt – August 31, 2021
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Tuesday, August 31, 2021
G/T Robert Hunt
(You’ve had a whole preseason at guard. What has that been like? Do you feel fully comfortable there yet?) – “Fully comfortable, I wouldn’t say that. But getting the hang of it, you could say that. From going out to in, it takes a little work. I think I’m doing good with it. I think I’m on pace to continue to get better. Right now I’m still a little raw and still working on some things, some technical things. But it’s been good. I can’t complain about it.”
(I know you guys had a little bit of movement – G/T Jesse Davis got established there at some point. What’s your relationship with him like? How do you guys work together?) – “Me and Jesse, we’ve been working together since last year. He’s a leader in our group. We all look up to him. He teaches us a lot of things. We follow his routine. He teaches a lot because we’re a young room. We look up to Jesse. Jesse teaches us a lot and working with him has been good.”
(Have you offered to babysit?) – “No, I have not. (laughter) I got to (expletive) babysit myself. (laughter)”
(When they moved you to guard, before you couldn’t really talk about it. What was their explanation as to why this is the ideal spot for you?) – “I don’t know. It’s just something that came upon us and you know me, I took it head on and willing to work with it. I can’t complain about anything. I’m blessed to be playing this game at this level anyways, so any job I can think about having here, I’ll do it. It doesn’t matter what it is – receiver, kicker, punter, long snapper, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’ve got a chance to play and try to be the best I can, that’s all I can ask for.”
(It seems that guards are more of a mauler. You have to be more of a mauler and there’s more technique on the outside. Is that what you’re picking up on, and do you enjoy that part?) – “I enjoy it. I think I’m fairly decent at run blocking. It’s definitely a bang-bang type of game in there. Like you said, outside you have to be savvy. You got to be the same way inside because these guys can move. You’ve got 350 (pound) guys that can swim, spin and all types of stuff. It’s about me right now, just me working on my game and trying to fix my game or anything I can do.”
(I saw you just turned 25 years old. How does the 25-year-old Rob Hunt compare to the 21-year-old Rob Hunt?) – “Definitely different. A lot has changed. I’m blessed enough to play this game. I was playing in college at 21. I didn’t have a car. I just got my license last year at 24. That’s the biggest thing. I got a car and a new license now. That’s the big thing. Now I’ve been driving for a year. I’m 25 and I feel like I’m damn near 30.”
(I can see you in a Publix parking lot trying to learn how to drive. Take me to that scene, who showed you?) – “Nobody showed me. I really wasn’t driving. Last year I got my license with the help of (Director of Team Security) Drew Brooks. Drew helped me get my license and I’ve been driving ever since.”
(How do you get around in Louisiana?) – “My boy Rico. Shout out Rico. Make sure Rico Robinson sees this. Tweet him on Instagram or something. Rico Robinson was my roommate. Him Kevin Dotson, and Ken Marks – all of those guys I just rode with them everywhere we went. We were tight so everywhere they went, I went. I didn’t have a car, so they hooked me up. They helped me out. Those are my guys. I Ubered too with my little stipend check that I got.”
(Was it like a fear of driving?) – “No, nobody ever taught me how to drive. I never learned how to drive.”
(What do you think of South Florida traffic and South Florida drivers?) – “I’m glad I learned here because these – it’s tough down here man. (laughter) It’s tough down here. I’m glad I learned here because if I could drive here, I can drive anywhere. (laughter)”
(Most kids when they turn 15, they wait in line. They are waiting for their birthday. You never…) – “Man, those kids are more fortunate than I was. We didn’t – my pops and mom barely had a car. It is what it is. I had to wait my turn and God blessed me. I’m good now at 25.”
(This team has invested heavily in the offensive line, including bringing you in. When you take a step back and look at where this line is and it’s progress, what do you see? How do you assess it?) – “I think we’re getting better. Everybody knows we’re a young O-line. I think it comes with reps, I think it comes with age and I think just wanting to be good and having that attitude to do what you have to do and be better is the thing. I think we got a lot of young, hungry guys that are willing to get better.”
(Young o-line, and also a young quarterback. How have you seen QB Tua Tagovailoa develop since you’ve come in?) – “He’s been doing great. He’s firing. I like everything about the kid. He’s good in the locker room, he’s good on the field. He’s definitely more vocal. He’s doing his thing and that’s all we can ask for.”
(I know QB Tua Tagovailoa got you guys some Traeger grills, sausages and other meats. Have you eaten them all? I know it’s kind of tough with COVID but have you been able to have a meal together? How does that work out?) – “You know I ate all the meats already. It’s been a year. (laughter) Come on. Come on, man. You know that already. (laughter) I’ve definitely eaten all the meats, but I’ve ordered more from the guy. I’ve been using my Traeger like heck. Over the summer, I had a couple of rookies over, a couple of guys, and tried to do a little something.”
(We’re trying to shade you like you didn’t eat your meat.) – “Yeah, come on man. You know I ate that meat already. (laughter)”
(I’ve wondered about a Traeger grill. Is it good?) – “I love it. I love that grill. My girlfriend just got me a little hibachi to put on the grill. I use the grill a lot, I like the grill a lot. That was one of my best gifts last year. That and my bike. I got a bike too from Ted Karras – an electric bike. That was pretty nice too.”
(You good on the grill?) – “I’m working. I think I’m pretty good though. The next time you have Austin Jackson in here, ask him about my ribs. He’ll tell you.”
