ASHBURN, Virginia -- Washington Redskins rookie linebacker/safety Su'a Cravens picked his new number -- and one of Sean Taylor's old ones -- shortly after the draft, getting an assist from the fans. And, when he did so, Cravens briefly explained why he wanted that number and how much Taylor meant to him.
During the rookie minicamp last weekend, Cravens explained a little more about why he wanted to wear No. 36, the same number Taylor wore during his rookie season in Washington before switching to 21.
The No. 36 had been worn by fullback Darrel Young the past six years, but he’s no longer with the team. Cravens is the first defensive player to wear it since Taylor was murdered in 2007.
"Sean Taylor is one of my all-time favorite players," Cravens said. "The fact that I get to wear the number means so much to me. I’m so grateful and thankful, and I’ll do my best to respect the number and to show out with it."
Cravens wore No. 21 at USC, and even though he’s listed as a safety, he will likely end up playing more linebacker. The Redskins said he will be a linebacker in their nickel and dime packages. That would give them someone aligned as a linebacker who covers better than most linebackers but is bigger than most safeties and able to play the run. Considering the Redskins use one of these packages 70-75 percent of the time, it's important to handle both roles.
Taylor was a safety all the way, but he was big and hit like a linebacker. He was a fan favorite because of those hits and, especially in his last season, how well he was playing overall.
Cravens could become a fan favorite, but that will be determined by his performance (his personality will then take over). And that’s something that can take a little time. But honoring Taylor will go a long way toward him gaining popularity. He seems genuinely excited to not just play in the NFL, but to be in Washington. He’s already visited monuments in D.C. -- bragging about how he passed his mission at the Spy Museum (while his brother and aunt did not).
But it’s the chance to honor Taylor that matters to him as well.
"It was just how he carried himself and played on the field, like every snap was his last," Cravens said. "The things he did, the amazing plays -- even when he didn’t make plays you still looked at him like, 'Wow, I don’t think I could have done that.' He stood out and he really changed the culture of football with the way defensive backs came up and hit. It made me want to play football even more."
