He may not be a rookie, but, Lorenzo Booker knows that he too has a lot to learn between now and training camp. That is why the second-year running back has maintained a steady diet of X's and O's since the end of the post-draft mini-camp.
While most rookies spent the last couple weeks back home, Booker remained in Philadelphia, spending much of his time at the NovaCare Complex.
"Come (training) camp I want to be ready," said Booker, who was acquired from Miami in a draft day deal. "You can't play if you're thinking all the time. I should be here learning the offense so that when (training) camp comes its full speed, I'm out there making plays, and then when the regular season comes I might as well have been here last year because I will know it so well.
Known for his mix of speed and elusiveness as well as his pass-catching ability, the 5-foot-10, 191-pound Booker feels that he's a perfect fit for this offense.
Coaches believe Booker, a third-round pick of the Dolphins in the 2007, can step in immediately and complement Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook. Like Westbrook, Booker figures to line up all over the formation and be a threat in both the run game and the pass game.
"The offense and the team is exciting itself, but being able to work with a guy like Brian is priceless. That was one of the things that excited me, just being able to see his style of play and the success that he's had in this offense," Booker said. "You can't help but be excited because that's what you do. You know that you're not coming into a situation hoping they use you right, hoping they understand what your strengths are."
Booker said catching the football is definitely a strength he brings to the Eagles. He said he loves catching it out of the backfield as much as he loves running with it. He had success at both last year in Miami, amassing 125 yards on 28 carries and 237 yards on 28 receptions.
"I'm immune to the way I get the ball, I don't care," Booker said. "I'm dying to go on a straight nine route and jump over a defensive back. That gets my blood boiling just like running threw the middle and picking up five or 10 yards and breaking a few tackles. Just give me a chance to help the team and I'll do what I have to do."
As for pass-blocking? Booker says he can do that too.
"I can pull up tape of me blocking Junior Seau and I blocked fine," he said. "Hell, I'm tough too. I don't care how big I am and I don't care how big the other guy is. Blocking is all a state of mind."
It's worth noting here that Booker bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times at the NFL combine.
As for the mental aspect of the game, certainly the learning curve isn't as large for Booker as it is for the 10 players that make up Philadelphia's draft class. Booker has a year of experience under his belt -- albeit seven games – and that makes a huge difference. He knows he can perform at the NFL level.
"I can pull up film of me playing against the best of people. Asante (Samuel), I played against him twice last year, and Ray Lewis and guys like that, so as far as having to prove that to myself, I don't have to," said Booker. "Now it's just about proving to myself I can play as well as I know I can, and I'm in the perfect situation to do that now."
Bottom line is this: Booker may be more than the third-down specialist many immediately penciled him in to be.
"I think that the more I prove to them that I can get the job done I think the more action I'll end up seeing," he said. "I'm a fast learner."
