Tennessee Titans new wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson knows all about Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson being that he coached him ever since he came into the league. During his talk with the media on Monday, Jefferson said he thinks Titans rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter might be further along in his development than Johnson was when he was a rookie.
According to Craig Peters of Titans Online, Jefferson said Hunter “hasn’t frustrated me at all,” adding I’ve had lesser frustrations with him than I did coaching (Calvin Johnson).
The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Titans in the 2013 season opener at Heinz Field and Jefferson plans on having the Tennessee product ready to contribute in that game.
“Receivers learn best when they go through the fire and I’ve been trying to put him through as many fires throughout this training camp so when we get to Pittsburgh we’re battle ready,” Jefferson said.
Hunter was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Titans and while he definitely has the size and speed to play at the next level, his hands will certainly have to improve as he dropped 12.1 percent of his targets last season.
As of right now, the Titans lists Kenny Britt and former Steelers wide receiver Nate Washington as their two starters, so Hunter will likely be their No. 3 by the time they face Pittsburgh. Should that wind up being the case, the Steelers need to hope that cornerback Cortez Allen is back healthy and “battle ready” as well, because at 6-4, Hunter and his 4.44 speed could cause the Steelers secondary problems without him.
