Adam Braidwood wants to make the most of his opportunity.
The six-foot-four, 270-pound defensive end got his first official start on Friday against the Montreal Alouettes and didn't disappoint.
He recorded two tackles and a sack in the Eskimos' 21-13 loss - making him a positive story in weeks of negatives surrounding the mistake-prone team.
"I made a lot of mistakes, but I also made some good plays, so it kind of balanced out," said Braidwood. "My goal this week is to definitely be more consistent with my play, that's for sure."
Braidwood, 22, was selected first overall by the Eskimos in this year's Canadian College Draft. The Delta, B.C., native played his college football at Washington State. And six games into the season, he's already making an impact in the CFL.
"I'm happy with Adam," said Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia. "He's playing his heart out. And even when he's making mistakes, he's making them at 100 miles per hour."
Braidwood's enthusiasm and his toughness make him a valuable addition to the Eskimos' defensive line. Going into last week's game as a starter, however, did change his mental approach to the contest.
"My first couple of games when I was getting in there, I was just excited to be in there," he said. "In this one I think I made the mistake of maybe thinking a little bit too much.
"I felt good, but I was definitely thinking too much on a lot of plays. But we'll clean it up as the weeks go on."
"Everything he does is correctable," agreed Maciocia. "He's the type of guy that won't make the same mistake twice."
And that could be a scary prospect for the opposition - trying to stop a young, eager freight train.
