Each week, Toronto Argonaut linebacker Mike O’Shea answers your
questions. To submit a question to Mike please send an e-mail to askoshea@cfl.ca.
Mike,
What went through your mind when deciding to return for a 16th season?
A: The process of deciding to play again involves only three questions:
Do I want to play again?
Can I play again?
Do they want me to play again?
Number one was easy, I love to play football. Along with the sheer enjoyment of the game comes the feeling of not wanting to let my teammates down, so making the decision to quit would not be possible.
Figuring out whether or not I am able to play another year takes a little longer. Mentally, the disappointment of losing grows exponentially the closer you come to the end of a career. It never seems to outweigh my desire to compete, but it takes longer to get over. Physically, I felt good this off-season and was able to train hard enough to allow myself to compete for a job at another training camp.
Having the third question answered before the season ended certainly made life a little easier. Coach Stubler talked to me briefly and said he would like me to come back for another year. As a younger player if the answers to the first two questions were to play again then the team’s opinion on playing would not matter. Later on in life, the ability and the desire to move to a different team wane and therefore being wanted is important.
With these three questions answered, the only thing left to do was sign a suitable contract.
Michael,
How has your training method differed from your first season to this past off-season?
A: There has been a natural evolution in training from my rookie season to my sixteenth. During this period what I find interesting are the constants that have remained in place.
Since my days at the University of Guelph, I have worked with knowledgeable trainers who are on the leading edge of this evolution. I have always tried to stay sport specific and have my workouts be football functional. I believe in spending more time on footwork and speed than in the weight room. Lastly, I always spend more time working on weaknesses and correcting imbalances because it is too easy to fall into the trap of practicing what you are good at. Strong does not mean healthy – healthy means strong.
There have been two major changes from 1993 until now. REST and DIET. Recovery at thirty-seven takes longer so real rest from activity and eight hours of sleep have become vital to be able to have repeatedly good workouts. With regards to diet, dropping body fat and staying lean have become a lifestyle choice. Simply put, I will be quicker and faster if my muscles do not have to drag around extra body weight in the form of fat.
Mike,
You have had lots of success on defence, but you continue to excel on special teams, too. How important are special teams?
A: Let me use some statistics to illustrate why good special teams are ultimately important to CFL success.
Calgary (2007 best offence) averaged 400 yds/game over an average of 80 plays/game for about 5yds/play.
The league average for punting was around 7 punts of 44 yds for a total of 308 yds of field position. Add in 7 punt returns, a few kickoffs of about 60 yards, and a couple of 129 yard missed field goal returns and you are talking about huge real estate.
At the low end, each game will feature 20 special team plays most covering over 40 yards. In any given year how many plays on your favourite team’s “O” or “D” cover more than 40 yards? Special teams cover significantly more yards in far fewer plays. Winning is about field position, and special teams have the most impact on that.
Mike O’Shea enters his 16th CFL season in
2008. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion and the captain of the
Toronto Argonauts’ defence. He is the CFL’s all-time leader in
defensive tackles by a Canadian and is second all-time on the overall
list. In 1999 he was named the league’s outstanding Canadian player.
