The Washington Redskins selected a slew of talented rookies in their most recent draft haul, but it’s their second round choice that has caught my eye. Su’a Cravens, a hybrid safety, has the physical and mental tools to succeed in the NFL.
The Washington Redskins added Su’a Cravens to their defense in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The 6’1″, 225 pound safety has the ability to line up at multiple spots within the defense, and will likely spend a lot of his time in the box covering tight ends and players going across the middle.
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His skill set is great to defend the schemes that many offenses employ in the modern day NFL, as his athleticism and size make him somewhat of a hybrid player, capable of covering players of varying sizes and speeds. He’s agile enough to cover wideouts, while also sporting the measurables to blanket tight ends on intermediate routes.
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Cravens’ physicality certainly had a lot to do with his selection in the second round, but, in my opinion, it’s his attitude and overall love for the game that will help him succeed in Washington.
His will to learn the nuances of the professional game, as it does with all players in the NFL, will play a large role in his success or failure. Physical ability is important, yes, but it’s only one part of the formula; the mental aspect of the game is equally as necessary.
When I say the mental aspect of the game, I don’t just mean learning the play book and things of that nature, either. I’m referencing his attitude and approach to being a professional. Just by taking a look at his Twitter, which is plastered with Washington Redskins photos, it’s clear that Cravens loves being a football player, something that is incredibly important.
I say this because, like in any other profession, people tend to do better at their job when they truly enjoy what they’re doing. A player can have all the physical traits and knowledge of the game in the world, but if he doesn’t enjoy playing football, he won’t be able to truly take advantage of his skills.
I believe that Cravens’ love for the game of football will help lead him to success at the next level for the Redskins. It’s unclear how he will fair during his rookie campaign, but if he struggles, which obviously isn’t unheard of with young players, he’ll look to improve and learn from his mistakes.
If a player doesn’t love the game, it’s possible that early struggles will derail their career. But, on the flip side of things, if a player truly loves the game, which I believe Cravens does, he’ll look to learn from the failures in an effort to improve.
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At the end of the day, I believe that people will view Su’a Cravens as a supremely talented player for the Washington Redskins, much of which will stem from his love for the game and will to improve. His affinity with the game of football combined with his physical traits and instinctive play-making ability, in my opinion, will make him a staple in Washington’s defense for years to come.