Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
Ricardo Colclough’s time as a Ticat began with an unenviable task: playing nickel against the Anthony Calvillo-led Montreal Alouettes.
Colclough had arrived in Hamilton two weeks earlier in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos, and was thrust into the breach at the strong-side linebacker spot that requires a unique combination of coverage and run-stopping talent.
Seeing a new face in coverage, Calvillo put Colclough to the test time and time again in the Ticats and Alouettes September 28 contest.
In a single third quarter series, the defensive jack-of-all-trades consecutively defended two long, probing passes intended for deep threats Jamel Richardson and S.J. Green.
That sort of challenge is something Colclough enjoys, and one that he has overcome to cement his spot in the Ticats lineup, in what is now his seventh week in Black and Gold.
“Always, even as a rookie when I was playing down in the States, even then I wanted the challenge,” says Colclough. “Down in the States as a rookie, coaches put you in a situation where a veteran quarterback is going to try you. He knows the lineup, he knows who’s out there and what side you’re on.”
“You want to be thrown at, you want to be tested, just to see how you react. Coaches know that you’re going to make mistakes, but it’s how you react that matters.”
The NFL veteran has been forced to learn quickly and take lessons from those mistakes he does make, entering Hamilton’s lineup at a late stage in its 2012 season.
First and foremost, he’s working to develop the chemistry with his teammates needed to consistently make plays.
“I’ve just been trying to get the chemistry with the guys,” says Colclough. “It’s kind of tough to get that when you’re not in training camp and not going through the blood and the sweat of it.”
“Coming in here midway through the season it’s about getting that chemistry and making sure that I’m doing the right things on defence.”
Arriving in Hamilton wide-eyed and asked to play at the unfamiliar nickel position, Colclough was taken under the wing of veteran Ticat linebacker Rey Williams, who guided him through what was to be expected of him.
“When I first came in and started playing at the nickel back, Rey helped me out with the alignments and telling me what I should do, because I was trying to learn it on the fly,” explains Colclough.
“You’ve got to lean on the guys who have been around and been playing in the defensive scheme.”
Colclough has since moved to the defensive halfback spot with the return of Markeith Knowlton to the lineup, but admits that even with the help he was given, the adjustment to the SAM position was difficult.
“It was one of those things that I was actually brought up here to play – at SAM – but when I came in I thought I was going to be playing corner,” says the defensive back. “It was a surprise when I realized that I was going to be moving inside and playing this safety-linebacker sort of role.”
“It was a big adjustment for me, but I think I took it all in stride and got the gist of it.”
Colclough has gotten the hang of the CFL quickly, and his last performance against the Stampeders was a testament to that adjustment. He notched five tackles and nabbed two interceptions in Calgary to stand as the statistical leader of his defence on the night.
With two games remaining and the Ticats battling to secure a playoff position, Colclough believes that he can put his experience to good use.
“Our backs are against the wall,” the defensive back concedes. “There have been times where I’ve been in that situation and we’ve come out on top, and there have been times where I’ve been in this situation and our season’s ended.”
“So I’ve been on both sides of the boat.”
So how do the Ticats take the more positive path? Colclough believes that it will take all of the mental and physical strength that he and his teammates have to give.
“We’ve got to dig deep and fight to the end.”
