Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
C.J. Gable is the latest Hamilton Tiger-Cat to garner individual honours this season, as the rookie tailback was named the CFL’s offensive player of the week for his performance in the Ticats hard-fought victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.
Gable, who has found himself at the top of the Ticats depth chart after an impressive training camp, accounted for 164 offensive yards and a touchdown Monday, his fifth game over 100 yards in Hamilton’s last six. It’s clear they love him in Hamilton, and Head Coach Kent Austin is the head of the fan club.
“He continues to give us great production,” said Austin. “Like I’ve said, he’s easy to coach. He’s asked to do a lot and he relishes every role that we give him. He’s very deserving; he’s a really good football player.”
And Austin isn’t exaggerating when he says that a lot is asked of the rookie. Gable has found success both on the ground and through the air on offence, while also playing key blocking roles in the passing game and on special teams.
“He has to do quite a bit in protection, he’s got quite a bit to learn in the passing game,” said Austin. “Our tailback isn’t an afterthought in the passing game, he has to know (it) as well as our receivers do. He’s also on special teams, so you look at his production on kickoff return and he’s an outstanding off-back.”
The first player to ever start at tailback as a true freshman in the history of the University of Southern California, Gable has shown an equal propensity for production in his first year with the Tiger-Cats, boasting 11 total touchdowns and over 1,300 yards from scrimmage through 15 games.
“I feel really comfortable now,” said Gable after practice on Wednesday. “At first I was kinda nervous a bit because I’m new, I didn’t know the rules and everything, didn’t know what I could do. I was a little timid.”
“But now I’m more relaxed, and I’m just out there playing,” he continued.
Despite his early success at USC, Gable was a forgotten man for much of his senior season after recovering from an injury, something that still motivates his play today.
“I feel like I’ve shown them what they’ve missed out on, and what I’m capable of doing,” he said. “People said I couldn’t get this many carries and run the ball, couldn’t do this or that, but I think I’m proving that I can now.”
Acting a ‘swiss-army knife’ for the Tiger-Cats, Gable has a heavier and more complicated workload than many other starting tailbacks in the CFL, something he admits.
“It’s been rough, yeah… but I signed up for it,” he said. “I could be at home on the couch, but this is what I want to do. Whatever Coach tells me to do I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities.”
His work ethic certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Austin, who is clearly high on the talented rookie.
“He’s very hungry, and we like hungry players,” Austin said with a smirk. “He’s appreciative of the opportunities he’s been given. He wants to be great, he works on his craft. The desire to be great is more than half the battle.”
With the loss of receiver Greg Ellingson to injury for three games, Gable appears to have separated himself as the likely Most Oustanding Rookie in the East. But more than just a great rookie, Austin believes Gable is well on his way to cementing himself among the CFLs best.
“Like I’ve said before, I think he’s one of the best all-around offensive players in this league.”
