Jul 29, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper (61) and guard Earl Watford (78) tackle a sled during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The next faze of the NFL offseason is getting closer, and all 32 teams are fine tuning their draft boards for their prospect selections in the 2014 draft on May 8th.
After the draft is completed the season will shift in high gear and teams will begin OTA’s, this is the period where players like 2nd year guard out of James Madison University Earl Watford will get the opportunity to get playing time for the up coming season for the Arizona Cardinals.
After only being active for three games all of last year and not playing one down, Watford is looking forward to this once in a life time opportunity to showcase his talent and show why the Cardinals used a fourth round selection on him.
I had the pleasure of meeting this kid and I must say he is a very soft spoken intelligent young man but don’t take that word “soft” to serious, because with this kids frame and strength there is nothing soft about him. Watford is 6′ 4″ and 300 lbs of solid muscle.
Observing him for a few days at the Cardinals training camp last year at University of Phoenix Stadium, I watched this raw kid go head to head with the big boys. Physically he has all of the skills and talent to be good in this league but has some issues in the mental aspect of the game.
Watford is tough minded and has his mind made up that he will be sticking around in this league as he was recently quoted in an interview “I’m not here to sit on the sidelines” and the coaches have had nothing but good things to say about his development.
“From a physical aspect he’s probably one of the better guys we’ve had, as an athlete from top to bottom” said offensive line coach Harold Goodwin, he later added ” its all mental for Earl” referring to the need to know his playbook.
Once this kid gets the time and the playbook down he can be a force to be reckoned with, adding depth to the Cardinals frontline going into the next season.