NFL Draft interview: Kareem Hunt's RB coach talks his West Coast fit

We recently interviewed Toledo running backs coach Marquel Blackwell to learn more about the college career and pro potential of Kareem Hunt.

The Kansas City Chiefs made several moves up in the 2017 NFL Draft to get the players rated highest on their draft board. After taking Patrick Mahomes in the first round, general manager John Dorsey made another move up in the third round to secure the rights to Toledo RB Kareem Hunt. It was a bold decisive move to strengthen a weaker spot on the Chiefs roster.

We recently sat down with Toledo running backs coach Marquel Blackwell to hear more about Hunt’s pro potential, collegiate career and how much the Chiefs seemed to be interested before actually taking him.

Were you surprised by the way he performed in the Senior Bowl?

His performance at the Senior Bowl did not shock me whatsoever. Actually, to me, it pretty much clarified all I’ve been talking about all year, about how great of a football player all around that he is. It’s his vision, his yards after contact, his understanding of concepts, pass protection, catching the football. He’s a total package. It was just a matter of time for him to get in front of the right audience and situation for everybody to see what he’s all about.

How much were the Chiefs around leading up to the draft?

The Chiefs really weren’t around a lot. Coach [Eric] Bieniemy obviously ran the workouts at the Combine. Looking at the history at the type of back that he likes and that he’s been a part of, you knew when the pick was made that it was the right fit. I’m pretty familiar with Coach Reid and the type of back that he always uses in his system. I can tell you this: they did a really good job of identifying someone who can play in that system, that West Coast system.

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We did a lot of protections that are similar to what they’re running that Kareem will be used to. He can catch the ball, which is something that system has always had. And, of course, he can run it. When you get into those games where you gotta give him 25 or 30 [carries], I think he can do it. If you need him to close out games, he’s really, really good at that point as well.

You’ve mentioned a bit about this already and John Dorsey kept talking about Kareem’s contact balance again and again. Did you see that develop over his time at Toledo or is that something he came in with?

I think a lot of that is just natural ability, but it’s also understanding where the running fits are, understanding where a free hitter is coming from and knowing how to protect yourself. You have to have a plan to attack it. If I sat here and said that’s what I helped him with, I’d be lying. [Laughs] That’s just a natural thing that he has. You have to have it as a running back, but I know one thing, he’s ultra-competitive, so that might help that sitution as well. He plays the game with great passion, and that will help him break some tackles as well.

Did you watch the draft?

I watched it all the way until he got picked and then I said, “Good, I’m outta there.” [Laughs] Ultimately, you have a great deal of emotion and excitement for Kareem knowing what he’s been through. It wasn’t easy. He’s worked his tail off the last offseason to prepare himself for the season that he had. When you watch those last five games, there’s no back in the country who played the way he did in those last five games, just from an overall standpoint—from protections to running the football to catching the ball. He was on another level.

What can you tell us about Kareem as a player off the field or in the locker room?

Knowing Kareem and his approach in going about things, he’s competitive. He’s a tough guy. He’s a guy that’s fun to be around. He’s a guy’s guy in the locker room and off the field. He’s a soft-spoken guy, but when he talks, he talks. Everybody loves him in the locker room. He cracks jokes, but he’s also serious. He always prepared to play. You can count on him. That’s one of the intangibles he has that makes him a good football player.

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NFL Draft interview: Kareem Hunt’s RB coach talks his West Coast fit

By Matt Conner | May 19, 2017