Stephen Holder

stephen.holder@indystar.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Can a player who is 29 years old possibly possess untapped upside?

It seems a ludicrous suggestion in a game where making it to age 30 is quite the achievement.

But Margus Hunt wants you to believe he has more to offer than he’s previously shown. And the newest addition to the Indianapolis Colts’ defense, signed on Monday to a two-year contract, seems to be getting the benefit of the doubt from his new team.

Having found a better fit for his skill set, the Estonian native who didn’t pick up football until college, thinks he can tap into something in Indianapolis that he could not during four seasons in Cincinnati.

“I was just looking for a good fit for what I can bring to the table, a more defined fit,” Hunt said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday. “I remember meeting with Indianapolis early in the draft process as well four years ago, and there was interest there back then. I was very glad to get the call to come and visit there again and get to see a little more of the defense that they run and just go over how to do it and where I will be fitting into the defense.”

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The Bengals, who drafted Hunt in the second round in 2013, viewed Hunt as a project when they picked him. But that project never produced the expected results. Hunt, playing defensive end in the Bengals’ 4-3 defense, netted 1.5 sacks in four seasons and had only meager impact against the run. He never seemed to carve out a role, something that hurt his ability to make a consistent impact of any kind.

But in the Colts’ 3-4 system, Hunt will play a defensive end role that he believes suits him better.

“It’s just the way the system is,” Hunt said of his preference for the Colts’ defense. “D-line help is always needed, so it was just a good fit … with the (scheme) that they run, how they play in it and what to do. It’s just really simple and straightforward for me. That was a big key.”

Hunt might benefit from playing closer to the ball in the Colts’ defense – he’ll be lined up over an offensive tackle, as opposed to outside the tackle – because it positions him to make better use of his long, 6-8 frame in passing lanes. Worst case, Hunt is effective on special teams (14 blocked kicks in college, 3 last season), where he created a niche for himself in Cincinnati.

But he wants more. And, in Indianapolis, he thinks he can achieve it.

“I feel like the past four years in Cincinnati really helped me to understand the pro game a lot more,” Hunt said. “I feel a lot more mature in understanding the game itself and what’s going on. Now, it’s just a matter of putting it on the field and working my butt off to get to a point where I can really, really contribute to the team and help this team out. I feel like it’s a great opportunity (for) that.”

Follow Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.