Matthew Cauz
CFL.ca
With one-third of the season already in the books, we have had our usual fill of surprises, upsets, player movement and of course injuries. As the cliché constantly reminds us football is a war of attrition and that regular season success is all about which teams possess the greatest depth. With that in mind, I have put together a list of eight players who may not be stars but will need to play like one for their respective teams.
(1) Jason Barnes:
With Fred Stamps out for at least a month Jason Barnes has the difficult task of assuming the Alpha Dog role of the team’s wide-outs. Barnes was living the high life playing Robin to Stamps’ Batman for the first six weeks. That is not to take anything away from the solid year that Barnes is having, just that his life is about be far more challenging as he assumes the role of ‘the guy’ that your opponents are scheming to shut down. Barnes will be matched up against the other teams’ best defensive backs and should start seeing more double teams. His ability to get open will be critical for the team’s success.
(2) Steven Jyles
Jyles is still on the nine-game injured list, but with the team floundering offensively Jyles has a legitimate chance to play a major factor for Toronto in the second half of the season. Jyles has shown the ability to attack a secondary down field and with both Cleo Lemon and Dalton Bell not living up to expectations, Jyles could be thrust as the team’s starter sooner than we would have imagined back in June.
(3) Dallas Baker
You could see this move coming. Saskatchewan needs some kind of boost to their passing attack and with Montreal being loaded at receiver, this deal made sense for both teams. While Baker is an unknown commodity within the CFL community, remember that he dominated in the toughest conference in college football, the SEC, where he was a Captain for Florida’s 2007 Championship team. Saskatchewan is the perfect situation for him to develop. When given weapons, Darian Durant is an elite quarterback and the team is in need for someone to step up. Dallas, now is your time.
(4) Bryant Turner
Can’t you just see Turner’s situation played out in a 90-second movie trailer? (Cue inspirational music) Rookie Bryant Turner was such an afterthought that the team didn’t even have him on their media guide. All is lost for our young hero! Or wait, is it?? (Turn up decibel level of generic inspirational music) The Blue Bombers are struck time and time again with injuries to their precious defensive tackles. First it’s the cagey old veteran who has just one day left to retirement (Doug Brown), then his wise-talking younger partner (Dorian Smith) is out with a high ankle sprain. The team is doomed against the mighty Eskimos of Edmonton. But out of the darkness rises a hero who collects his first sack, single handedly holds Edmonton to 29 rushing yards in the second half.
With injuries to Brown and Smith it will be up to guys like Turner to give the team a push up the middle to allow for guys like Odell Willis to terrorize the quarterback.
(5) Aaron Kelly
The Arland Bruce experiment is over in Hamilton, Maurice Mann is not 100 per cent healthy and the entire receiving corps, with the exception of Dave Stala, is fairly inexperienced. Chris Williams is starting to emerge as a legitimate downfield threat but Kelly provides Hamilton with the kind of size you need around the goal line and over the middle of the field.
(6) Anwar Stewart
His pedigree would indicate that his name does not deserve to be on this list but I have to be honest. I have watched a bunch of Montreal’s games and I can’t remember Stewart making the kind of big plays we are used to seeing. That being said, I am not going to get on Stewart for his lack of statistical production (No sacks and five tackles) considering the team has asked him to play far more plays at defensive tackle than you would expect from someone of his size. However the line is contributing to a rush defence that is giving up almost six yards per rush and has produced a paltry seven sacks on the season. Stewart’s new role of Mr. Inside/Outside will be critical for Montreal going forward.
(7) Arland Bruce
Has there been a more disappointing player so far in 2011 than Arland Bruce? His grand total of nine receptions is downright shocking when you consider this is the same player who racked up over 1,300 yards just a year earlier. Of course we are talking about Arland Bruce so nothing should be seen as a great shock. I’m sure that somewhere out there, player-friendly coach Bart Andrus is nodding his head. Bruce has a good shot of turning his season around by being a part of the usual B.C. Lions second-half surge. With Geroy Simon on the other side Bruce has the potential for a monster second half.
(8) Rene Paredes
You think I would have this list and not include a kicker? With Rob Maver injured and five of Calgary’s games decided by five points or less, Paredes will play a major role in deciding who wins the West.
