Rod Woodson spent 17 years of his life as a defensive back in the NFL. He's served as an assistant coach in the league for two seasons and has worked as a television analyst for more than a decade. In 2009, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
It's safe to say that Woodson, who was named a Pro Bowler as both a cornerback and a free safety, knows what he's talking about. So when he praises the Oakland Raiders' first-round pick of safety Karl Joseph in the 2016 NFL Draft, you should probably pay attention.
Joseph was selected with the No. 14 overall pick, and the West Virginia product reminds Woodson of Earl Thomas and Bob Sanders. That's high praise.
"Not so big in stature but physical and fast," Woodson said of Joseph, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. "He has an innate instinct. He's a perfect fit for what we want to accomplish here."
Joseph appeared in just four games last season due to a knee injury, yet he still managed to accrue five interceptions, with three picks coming in a single game. He's a big hitter with natural ball skills, the best of both worlds.
"He's just a natural athlete who has a natural feel for the game," Woodson said. "At the end of the day, he won't be a robot out there on the field, or a cowboy."
Woodson is heading into his second year on Oakland's staff and is hopeful Joseph will contribute right away. The beloved retiree is also spearheading an initiative with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy camp and training program for middle school and high school players.
The event in Canton, Ohio, is invite-only and will be composed of four days of training, classroom work and character development. Woodson hopes the program will afford players from smaller schoolsthe chance to garner attention from big college programs.
"It's an opportunity for us to promote these young athletes so they can promote themselves," Woodson said. "We want to bring back the integrity of the game, fundamentals and details. To get back to the roots with camps and this endeavor."
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
