By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
The NFL is going to be a little different for the Arizona Cardinals’ Evan Boehm, at least for the time being.
Boehm, the Cardinals’ fourth-round draft pick out of Missouri, started 52 straight games for the Tigers, his freshman year at left guard and then three consecutive years at center.
Like most rookie offensive linemen, Boehm will wait his turn. He’s spent his first NFL training camp trying to pick up the Cardinals’ offense and has learned a lot from the player he will likely one day replace, starting center A.Q. Shipley.
“The biggest things for me is learning the concepts of the play,’’ Boehm said. “Why we call this play, and why we call it here, and not there? Why we do this instead of that? Those are the questions I ask. And then you have to know the coverages and what the safeties are going to do. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
“It’s a complicated offense. B.A. (Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians) puts together a great offense, but it’s complicated and it’s all run through the center. That’s something new for me. At Missouri, it was run through the center, but not like this. It’s a lot more complex, a lot more things to look at to make the correct call.’’
Boehm, 6-foot-3, 309 pounds, was lauded in scouting reports as a pure power player with good instincts, leadership ability and of course durability. Some scouts compared him with the Green Bay Packers’ center Corey Linsley.
If their right, it’s only a matter of time before he begins another streak of consecutive starts, but as the regular season approaches he continues to listen and learn.
“I’m fortunate,’’ Boehm said. “I have guys like A.Q. that are right there helping me out. It’s getting a lot smoother now. My confidence is gaining every day, every practice. That’s the most important thing for me to just improve every day.’’
Shipley, the five-year veteran from Penn State, has been a mentor to Boehm, even though they compete for the same position. That’s how the NFL works. The veteran helps the rookie, even if he knows it could lead to him taking over his job.
“Like I said, I’m very fortunate I have a guy like that,’’ Boehm said of Shipley “He’s been through it. He knows what it’s like. Whenever I have a question, from making a call, to a technique point, I ask him and he’s been great. He gives me that feedback that I need. I’m blessed to be in this situation. I am trying to win a job, his job, but he’s been there for me.’’
As the regular season draws closer, the former Missouri star realizes his dream of playing in the NFL is coming true. And opening day is almost here.
“I remember our first week here when we had the rookie minicamp,’’ Boehm said. “Just being in the building, a NFL building, and then getting in this offense and going against such high caliber players. It’s an honor to be here, an honor to be on this team, a team that has that playoff mentality.
“Sure, there’s always (anxious) moments. That’s where A.Q. and the older guys help me out, too. They keep telling me I got drafted for a reason I just have to show them they weren’t wrong. They keep telling me to keep playing and do what I do best.’’