Dave Campbell
CFL.ca
The amount of times a player actually touches the pig skin during a game can vary by position.
If you’re an offensive lineman, you’ll likely never touch the football unless you’re the centre. Defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs only touch the ball on fumbles, tips, knockdowns, or interceptions.
The glamour position is the quarterback; he touches the ball on every offensive play.
But what about the receivers? Now there’s a feast or famine position. How much man or zone coverage does the receiver face? Is the defensive back physical? Translation: Does he get away with a lot of interference. How many double teams will a receiver face?
It’s a position that, for some, can breed frustration. This year alone, Arland Bruce protested while with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and was traded away to the B.C. Lions. Maurice Mann did the same and now he’s a member of the Toronto Argonauts. Calgary Stampeders slotback Nik Lewis has complained twice, well the second time he said he didn’t want to talk the media because he might get cut, but said you could quote him on that.
Enter the Eskimos receiving triple threat of Fred Stamps (66 catches, 936 yards, seven touchdowns), Adarius Bowman (47 catches, 808 yards, two touchdowns), and Jason Barnes (41 catches, 728 yards, five touchdows).
Have you heard one single peep out of them about not getting the ball enough?
No griping at all to the media, not one comment about how the offence needs to get them involved more either. The three simply go about their business and patiently await their chance to contribute.
Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed says he’s happy his receivers are choosing the selfless road, which can be the road less travelled.
“Especially when you have guys that are very capable. True to their character, and I’ve said all along the character of that locker room has been absolutely unbelievable,” said Reed.
“Their character is showing that they’re not selfish, they’re enjoying each other, enjoying playing with each other, and understand that they can feed off each other and they’re doing that very well right now.”
At this point last season, Bowman was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was a CFL top-ten receiver at the time but had difficulty staying focused and, by his own admission, he needed to grow up. Bowman says it’s hard not be selfish when you want the football in your hands so badly.
“It’s a challenge I’d like to give myself, do what’s not easy, just get mad and say I want the ball. I feel like I could easily do it,” explained Bowman. “It crosses your mind at times but to actually act upon it, I’m not going to do that.”
The Eskimos top receiver, Stamps, has only one 100-yard receiving game in six games played since returning after missing three games with an abdominal injury.
He says when one of his teammates enjoys a great game; he treats it like they deserve that achievement. Stamps says at the end of the day, it’s about one thing.
“Everybody has one mindset right now and that’s winning.”
“Receivers want to get the ball and make plays but as long as we come out with a victory, it’s fine. This whole team has one goal and that’s to be playing in that last game at the end of November in that Grey Cup game. Put all the egos aside and forget about everything else.”
Okay, this all sounds too good to be true about these three receivers. They never complain about not getting the ball? To get to the truth, I had to go to the source of all those receptions, quarterback Ricky Ray.
“Don’t let them fool you, they want the ball.”
AH-HA! The truth comes out. Wait a minute; shouldn’t a receiver want the football? Shouldn’t a playmaker want to make plays? Of course! If a receiver doesn’t want the ball then the next catch he should make is the next bus out of town.
“The thing that they do well is they’re not out in the media and complaining about it,” Ray explained.
“They come to the sideline and give suggestions and let me know what they’re seeing out there. They’re definitely not the Jason Tucker type; he would come off and didn’t say anything. They definitely give suggestions but in a good way.”
The Eskimos offensive attack was almost unstoppable in the first five weeks of the season. Then the injury bug hit Stamps, Bowman, and Barnes. Friday in Toronto will be the fifth game back together for the trio.
Defences get paid too; they watch film so they know what the three are capable of doing. The problem is; they can’t cover all three. Pick your poison. You double one receiver; you leave two free to roam.
One ball and so much talent to work with, it’s a nice problem for Ray to have.
Notes: Eskimos linebacker Rod Davis has been fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL for a helmet to helmet hit on Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce in last Saturday’s 24-10 win over the Bombers.
