This year’s rookie class has challenges that almost no other rookie class has had to deal with. They have not been able to practice yet this offseason because of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury believes expectations will probably have to be tempered for first-year players, especially early in the season.
That said, the Cardinals drafted intelligent players and one is their final draft pick, running back Eno Benjamin, whom they selected in the seventh round out of Arizona State.
He earned a reputation of being very knowledgable of his team’s offense, even sitting in on meetings with the offensive line to understand their assignments as we as his own.
From what teammate Kenyan Drake, the team’s lead back, has seen from Benjamin in virtual meetings, things are going well.
“I feel like he definitely is a quick learner,” Drake said in a video conference with reporters. “All the questions Coach asks him in the meeting room he is real in-depth and he takes pride in the details of what the play may ask. I’m definitely interested to see how he can build up the mental with the physical once we get on the field and run around a little bit more.”
Benjamin is expected to have a limited role on offense, much like Chase Edmonds did as a rookie. But if he continues to be impressive in the mental part of the game, he will endear himself to the coaches and he will carve out a role for himself as the season and his career progress.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 267
Ep. 266
