Cardinals LB Washington thriving in OTAs

Third-year Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington
is growing…in more ways than one.

The former TCU Horned Frog is getting more familiar with
the defensive scheme employed by second-year coordinator
Ray Horton thanks in part to the organized team activities
(OTAs) taking place at the team’s training facility in
Tempe. Last season’s labor lockout wiped out all OTAs and
hampered teams who were grooming new coordinators, like
the Cardinals.

Washington says that these workouts will go a long way
toward building team camaraderie when the games actually
count.

“Getting guys on the same page and making sure we trust
one another on the field, and that the other person is
going to do their job so we don’t have to think that
much,” Washington said Monday. “When you have guys that
are willing to compete and play hard for one another, you
have
a good team.”

After leading the Cardinals with 107 total tackles in
2011, Washington has grown into a leadership position, but
he’s also growing physically.

“When I first came in, I was about 228-230 (pounds),” he
explained. “The second year I went from 232 to 235 and
now, I weighed in at 243. It’s a big difference for me —
getting bigger, better and smarter; more knowledgeable
with the business and with the plays and players.

“It’s a big difference, but it’s a good difference.”

Washington is by no means a grizzled veteran, but he is
getting more comfortable during the OTAs in lending his
experience to the younger players on the roster.

“I don’t say too much to them, but I make sure I’m
encouraging them and make sure I teach them the ropes like
the older guys did for me when I first came in.”

Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this
report

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