In year 2, everything is slowing down for Cardinals RB Eno Benjamin
Aug 10, 2021, 11:20 AM
Running back Eno Benjamin #26 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception during a NFL team training camp at State Farm Stadium on September 02, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
With training camp in full swing for the Arizona Cardinals, things are coming much easier this time around for second-year running back Eno Benjamin.
The former Arizona State Sun Devils standout was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, but didn’t see any action a year ago.
Now heading into the 2021 season, Benjamin says the game has slowed down and he has a better understanding of his job.
“My job is really just to go out there and do everything that I’m asked of,” he said on Tuesday morning as a guest on Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf. “At Arizona State I just had to mainly focus on running the ball, now here there’s a lot more on my plate.”
When asked about his rookie season, Benjamin said there were ups-and-downs.
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He said being in-person this offseason instead of the virtual training camp in place last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has made a big difference.
Benjamin said going back to in-person meetings has been key, as he’s now able to really ask the questions he wants in meeting rooms. He also said lining up against other teams and actually having preseason games this year is another benefit.
Benjamin said he sees a lot of similarities between his game and starting running back Chase Edmonds’.
“Chase is a very smart guy in the room,” he said. “Chase, like myself, likes to know everything that’s going on in the offense. Chase likes to think like a quarterback and I like to think the same way, so me and Chase are always bouncing questions off each other.”
Benjamin said he’s watched a lot of film on Edmonds and other running backs in the league, trying to take parts of their game.
Currently, the running back said he’s getting majority of his looks on special teams.
Cardinals fans could see Benjamin serve as the primary kick-returner for the team where he’s been taking practice reps, as well as playing on punt team and kickoff coverage.
Benjamin hasn’t seen any game action since 2019 at ASU, but he didn’t seem all that worried about it.
“I didn’t wake up and forget how to play football,” he said.
