Robert Hunt – October 8, 2020
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Thursday, October 8, 2020
G/T Robert Hunt
(I’ve noticed that in the first few games, you’ve gotten a few snaps where they put you in as an extra offensive tackle or tight end, and touchdowns are scored because it’s near the goal line. Can you just kind of describe the approach that you want to take when you get those snaps, especially knowing that right now you’re not starting?) – “Hello, everyone – first off. In my head, once I get that chance to go in and play, I’m going to try to take it serious. I prepare for it all week. We go over it, we prepare for it and mentally I prepare for it as well. Once I get in on the goal line, I try to give it my best. That’s my mentality on it.”
(I wanted to ask your comfort in playing left tackle versus right tackle, and also I know G Solomon Kindley has a great nickname – the “Big Fish” – I was wondering if you had a good nickname we didn’t know about yet.) – “(laughter) Nah, I don’t really have a nickname yet. My nickname that everybody calls me back home, yeah, but other than that, I haven’t gotten one of those “Big Fish” or “Big Cat” or anything like that yet. As far as left tackle, right tackle, guard or anywhere; I train, we all train multiple positions, and we all try to prepare for it just in case anything happens. I’m definitely working my way wherever I can and wherever the coach needs me to play.”
(I wanted to ask – you were just asked about G Solomon Kindley and T Austin Jackson – but what’s it been like as a rookie class when you come into the NFL? Usually that group has a special bond because they got here together. What’s it been like cheering them on and seeing them these first few weeks and knowing that you might get an opportunity here coming up?) – “It’s been exciting. I’m very happy for those guys. I’m very happy for all the guys because I think the o-line is playing well. We have been playing well, so I’m excited for all those guys. We do have a really close relationship. So we text, we talk, all that kind of stuff. We’re here together all day and things like that; but to see them play and go out and execute, and they’ve been playing really well, is really exciting.
(I see you’ve been lining up as the tackle eligible – the sixth o-lineman – so obviously there are things you can do from that package. What are your hands like if they call a play?) – “If they did call that play, I think I’d do well with it. I think I’ve got really, really good hands. I used to call myself a little Randy Moss back in the day; but I don’t want to put that out there and then if I end up getting that chance and I drop it. Then everybody will be like, ‘aw, man.’ (laughter) I won’t say too much about that.”
(I wanted to stay on that topic of that heavy package with the six offensive linemen there. Is that something you’ve done before in the past in college and if not, what can you learn from that package and kind of playing that extra man on the offensive line that maybe you previously didn’t know before the season?) – “No, this is first time actually playing the heavy tight end position. It’s pretty much the same as like a tackle or a guard. It’s the same deal. Same schemes. Everything pretty much ties in together, so it wasn’t a hard position to learn. It’s just like playing o-line, pretty much.”
(Have you been playing guard this week or tackle this week in practice?) – “I’ve been playing mostly tackle; but like I said, we cross-train everywhere so I’ve been playing wherever they need me play, wherever the coach needs me to play, and get in and fit in.”
(Obviously it’s unknown if T Austin Jackson is going to be available or not, but if you do play this week what will the party be like in Wiergate, Texas?) – “It’d probably be a big one. If so, if that were to happen, it’d probably be a big one.”
(Two-part question for you. One, going back to the whole rookie class part – seeing T Austin Jackson and G Solomon Kindley in there, I’m sure you’re very happy as you mentioned for their success, but does that put any added pressure on yourself to get in there in anyway? And secondly regarding your hands, do you have a touchdown dance?) – “I have to (get a) touchdown first. No, not yet. I think I’m a good dancer so whenever it happens, I’ll bring it out. We’ll all see it together, so it’ll be a debut-type thing. (laughter) And pressure-wise, I would say no. I don’t think there’s any more pressure on me. Once I get my chance – like I keep saying – once I get my chance or my opportunity, whenever the coaches need me and think I’m ready; whenever that time comes, I think I’ll be ready and I don’t want to play with pressure, so I think I’ll be fine.”
(A lot of Dolphins fans might not still know your story. Can you just talk about the significance of where you’ve come from and the fact that you’ve been in an NFL game now? You’re not only on an NFL roster but you’re an NFL draft pick and potentially could start some games down the stretch here.) – “It’s a blessing. A lot of people may not have seen my story or may have. It’s a blessing. To come from where I’m from, I don’t take it lightly. This is something that kids dream of coming from where I come from, and for me to be in this position, for them to see me and give them hope, it just means a lot to me.”
(What’s something that Offensive Line Coach Steve Marshall is constantly stressing?) – “Just the basics. Pad level, hands inside. Stuff like that. The o-line ritual, I would say, so we’re all pretty much doing the same thing. Hands inside, pad level, play fast, play physical. He tries to preach play style, so he wants us all to play fast, physical and strain after the play a little bit.”
(You talked a little bit about where you came from, but I do recall when you first got here you Tweeted out about the wildlife here in South Florida. I’m curious if you’ve gotten any more acclimated to seeing the lizards and iguanas out there and have you see any alligators or anything like that?) – “Alligators, I’m used to because I was in Louisiana for five years and plus there are some in Burkeville, too and around that area. It kind of calmed down with the big iguana things. It was kind of cool. I haven’t seen any. I’m used to the little lizards now. I hate – that’s like my biggest fear – the little lizards. I’m really afraid of those; but I’m kind of used to them now seeing them. I don’t really run from them. I just look at them; but I did see for the first time in maybe like a month or two – maybe a month and a half – I saw a huge iguana. Like the biggest one I’ve seen yet. I was in the car, so I wasn’t afraid, but it was huge.”
