AP

During the offseasons leading into his first two NFL seasons, the Titans used a variety of methods in an attempt to turn wide receiver Justin Hunter into an offensive threat.

Wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson went with tough love, not-so-tough love and then back to tough love, but the Titans haven’t gotten the desired results. Hunter had 18 catches as a rookie and 28 in his second season, which ended four games early because of a kidney injury. That left coach Ken Whisenhunt to go back to tough love this offseason when he told Hunter it was time to “get it or you won’t be in this league anymore.”

Hunter says that the message has hit home. He said that “no one has gotten it like I have” and that he’s going to spend the time until camp working to make good on the promise he showed on his way to becoming a second-round pick in 2013.

“Personally, I don’t feel like I have a chance to have a break now because I have a lot riding on the season and everything,” Hunter said, via the Tennessean. “I have to get ready. I have to be prepared. I can’t take a break because I have to stay in condition so I’ll be ready to go to help this team. I know I have to produce. I am confident, but humble at the same time. I have a lot to do, and a lot to prove to coaches. I know that. I just have to stay in my lane and keep working.”

The Titans signed Harry Douglas and Hakeem Nicks as free agents and drafted Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round, leaving them with a variety of options to play with Kendall Wright in the offense this season. Even if Whisenhunt didn’t make it explicit, the presence of those options left little doubt about what Hunter needs to do in his third season.