August 18, 2010

Faibish: Cats ready for Argo ground game

Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca

It’s just plain physics: The unstoppable force versus the immovable object.

When the league’s leading rusher, Argonauts running back Cory Boyd, meets the league’s most talented linebacking group of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, something will have to give.

Boyd has been the catalyst for the Argos early success, racking up 711 yards on the ground so far.  If the Ticats hope to leave the Rogers Centre with a win on Friday night, this will be one of the key battles.

“I like to go against running teams, we’re all jacked up because we take pride in not allowing backs to get big runs and being able to shut down the run game,” said the league’s leading tackler Jamall Johnson.

The chance to test their mettle against the league’s leading rusher is an opportunity that has everyone excited to go.

‘He’s the best running back around right now, it’s going to be a great test,” said linebacker Markeith Knowlton.

The thing that makes this trio special is the unique amount of balance that exists between them, in all facets of the game.

Jamall Johnson and Markeith Knowlton were both named CFL East Division All-Stars last season and bring a mix of veteran knowledge and youth to the two outside spots.

Veteran Otis Floyd patrols the middle and dishes out punishment to opponents unlucky enough to find themselves in his crosshairs. Markeith uses his lightning quickness to track down players from sideline to sideline and has the ability to cover like a defensive back.

In team captain Jamall Johnson, there’s a little bit of everything.  Just ask Steven Jyles what it felt like to be plowed through by number 28 on third and short last week.

According to Floyd, there’s one common denominator between all three.

“I think we can all run and we’re all athletes.  It’s not like we’re just linebackers,” he said.  “I think all three of us are athletes first before we’re linebackers.”

Floyd has relished the opportunity to play with some of the best young backers in the game, and has fully embraced his role as a mentor.

“I’m the big brother, like Shaq was to Kobe,” he said.

“They come to me for advice and I give out great advice to those guys,” he added.

The linebacking corps has been an integral part of the Ticats defence that continues to get better every week.  After a four-sack outburst against Winnipeg last week, the ‘D’ could be primed for a break-out performance against their rivals this week.