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.
Hey Mike,
You always seem to be one of those guys happy to lend a hand up to someone on the opposing team after they’ve been hit. I find this to be the height of good sportsmanship, which makes me wonder how you feel about those who aren’t. Do you feel like the rules and regulations in place are strict enough regarding this kind of behavior, and if not, how do you feel these sorts of infractions should be dealt with?
Matt J. (Calgary)
A: There are players out there who would question my sportsmanship. I like playing more on the edge against players who like to play more on the edge. Dave Hack and I used to have great battles that generally crossed the line, but we would then shake hands afterwards in appreciation for our like-minded competitive spirit.
I generally think the rules and consequences are fine, but I have always thought they should be applied equally across both sides of the ball. Hands to the face is illegal except when the running back jams you in the face with a stiff arm. Spearing is illegal except if you’re the fullback on a lead play. It is a late hit except when you are an offensive lineman, then it is called finishing your block and the defender should know better than to be standing around a pile anyway.
I am good with our game; I would just like to find the guy who determined that an offensive player is more valuable to a team than a defensive player. Defensive players play the majority of the special teams so if you lose one he needs to be replaced in two thirds of the game.
Mike,
Typically what do Linebackers key in your base defenses in the CFL ?
Paul M. (Minnesota)
A: I will assume since you are directing this question to the CFL website you are familiar with our brand of football and traditionally the high amount of passing. Every read starts with formation and down and distance info. Since we only have three downs, 2nd and 4+ is a passing down for most teams. Running the football is running the football no matter what league you’re in. Read the movement of the uncovered o-lineman and react to colour going back across. Zone is the number one run play and with most CFL QBs being good runners; Sally off the Zone fake is the compliment. Counter is almost nonexistent these days so the only pulling lineman you see are on toss or on short yardage and goal-line situations. Once you have determined that the play is a pass then the LBs generally read the innermost receiver, which can basically tell you the route combinations for the play.
Mike,
What did you think of Ryan Dinwiddie? Do you think Dinwiddie can lead the Bombers back into contention in the East?
Al B. (Winnipeg)
A: The obvious answer is hopefully not – I do not want the Bombers to get on a roll. The CFL is a quarterback-driven league and I know that Kevin Glenn is a proven commodity. As Bomber fans, you should be excited about Dinwiddie’s potential because we all know that at some point during every season, you have to rely on your second QB to get the job done. Neither QB will be successful though without #1 (Charles Roberts) running the ball.
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.
