Carter's Classroom: Boom or bust for big-play Hunter

The Steelers' move to sign free-agent wide receiver Justin Hunter at wide receiver is intriguing for the contrast it adds to an already intriguing unit.

Between Antonio Brown, Eli Rogers, Cobi Hamilton, Demarcus Ayers and Darrius Heyward-Bey, there's already a core of quicker receivers who can work underneath routes for Ben Roethlisberger to find. While Heyward-Bey does have the speed to get deep, he doesn't have the size of a prototypical deep threat.

The two receivers who do have such size in the unit are Martavis Bryant and Sammie Coates, but Bryant was suspended for the full season, while Coates broke multiple fingers and became ineffective.

That's what makes the Hunter acquisition sensible: Roethlisberger is at his best when he throws deep. And when Heyward-Bey, Coates and Bryant were all out, Roethlisberger was handcuffed.

Hunter's built for the big play. His 6-4, 201-pound frame is one inch short of Bryant's, and his slim NFL highlight reel is stuffed with deep and/or red-zone targets.

Someone turn out the lights, and let's get to it:



NOT A SHARP ROUTE-RUNNER

One of the biggest criticisms of Hunter when he came out of Tennessee was that he was not a polished route-runner, that he relied too much on his size and speed to make plays. That has not changed in his four NFL seasons, as he's bounced between three teams despite being a second round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

To illustrate that, watch this route against the Raiders this past season. He uses very little setup into his inside move, and it is read easily:



This is a recurring theme with Hunter during his career. He doesn't finish routes, and that comes back to hurt him as the season goes on. It's also why he never became a playmaker with the Titans, Bills or Dolphins.

DEEP THREAT

Hunter is adept at taking advantage of one-on-one matchups against defensive backs who aren't as fast or talented.

Watch this play back in 2014, when he used a double-move to get open and score on a 75-yard strike:



Hunter isn't as fast as Mike Wallace, but he's got the wheels to capitalize on a mistake. This is where he can be an asset to the Steelers, as most defenses will focus their best assets on Brown and Bryant. This would give him the best opportunity to make plays like these, especially with one of the NFL's best deep-ball quarterbacks throwing.

NOT AS GOOD UNDERNEATH

That unpolished route-running comes with a lack of consistency in coming back for the ball. While the play below can also be blamed on Tyrod Taylor, it highlights that Hunter can't be counted on to make a tough catch when the quarterback is off:



This past Christmas for the Steelers, Rogers made a great play extending his body for a tough catch on the game-winning drive against the Ravens, and plays like those might keep him on the field instead of Hunter. Hunter brings size and speed the 5-10 Rogers doesn't have.

The Steelers could have a serious battle between Rogers, Coates and Hunter for playing time and targets.

JUMP BALL 

What Hunter brings with his deep threat is the ability to win jump balls in the red zone. If Ladarius Green isn't healthy, Hunter's presence can maintain a dual jump ball threat, along with Bryant.

Watch how Hunter caught this red zone pass this past season:



Hunter did a solid job high-pointing the ball, which is to say he attacked it at the highest point he could reach. A receiver of his height makes for a difficult matchup for defensive backs who have to square up against him in the red zone. Especially with a quarterback like Roethlisberger, who loves to try for big plays and jump ball passes, defenses will have to be mindful of a goal-line fade.

OVERALL

Hunter is a big-bodied receiver with NFL experience that can add to the red zone threats the Steelers already have on the roster.

He will still have to battle to get on the field, as Rogers and Coates each showed the potential to be playmakers. But the vacancy left by the departure of Markus Wheaton leaves plenty of questions as to what the Steelers want to do with their third wide receiver option.

Hunter presents possibilities that could shake up what opponents fear the most, but he'll have to prove he can consistently exploit the opportunities his athleticism affords.