Rogerio Barbosa
It isn’t easy to corner a cornerback.
Geoff Tisdale laughs and will only say “I’m just trying to do my job, man.”
One of the CFL’s best cover guys is trying to give me the verbal bump-and-run when it comes to talking about his shot at finishing #1 among CFL pickpockets.
It has been more than a decade since an Alouette won the CFL interception title. Before Davis Sanchez in 2000, only two others in franchise history were such thieving masters of their secondary domain.
With just two games left to play, not only are the Als vying for top spot as a team, but a pair of veterans, Tisdale and Jerald Brown, may get their hands on their first career crown as Canada’s Top larcenist.
| Picking Pockets |
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With three of the top six interception leaders hailing from Montreal, it’s no secret that the Als have one of the most dangerous secondaries in the CFL. Here’s a look at the league’s leaders in picking pockets. |
I want to know just how intense the self-declared “Angry Bird” ball hawks will get in their friendly competition. I warn Tisdale that Brown has already given me his prediction. Tisdale refuses to change his answer, repeating as if well rehearsed.
“I’m just trying to do my job, man…if I’m blessed to get one,” restates the former Ticat and Stampeder whose six picks are his career high and lead the CFL.
He’s laughing and seems surprised that Brown, who is tied for second with five, has boldly predicted he’ll surpass Tisdale.
“It’s all in fun and it’s what we get paid to do,” says Brown, who has already surpassed last year’s total of two and matched his career best.
“It’s great that it can be between two teammates, because that’s something we pride ourselves in.”
Fun, and possibly a good omen. When Sanchez lead the league, the Als made it to Grey Cup.
Their first master thief Vern Perry, a hitter more infamous for his forearm casts than his 9 interceptions, was part of the Marv Levy squad that won 1977 “Staple Game” Grey.
Terry Irvin is the exception. He set the Montreal franchise record with four interceptions in a single game and with 12 in a single season on a squad that only won five games in 1986.
Those were the last interceptions recorded by any Alouette until the team was reborn in 1996.
“We want to be known as the best secondary in the league, we want that plaque,” says Tisdale, a key free agent signing of Jim Popp’s in 2013. “We want to be known as the best ball hawks in the CFL.”
“His ability to play bump-and-run made him a priority,” says the Als’ GM and Head Coach. “We stay on him hard because we need him to be physical.”
Tisdale is working for his third different team in as many years and there were some obvious growing pains despite working alongside the Als’ 2009 Rookie of the Year nominee and a 2010 East all-star.
Big busts in coverage the first half of the season inflated the number of TD passes allowed, and all too frequently seemed to result from communication breakdowns between Tisdale and Brown and/or rookie safety Mike Edem.
The Als, who held Hamilton out of the endzone entirely last Sunday, are now second only to Saskatchewan in fewest TDs allowed overall.
Their guru Noel Thorpe insists he’s not paying attention to the hype about on-field heists. “If we play with great effort, then hopefully some good things will happen.”
The Als’ pressure defence also has them vying for the team sack lead. Good coverage requires quarterbacks to hold onto the ball longer. Good pressure means some passers are chucking balls up for grabs.
“A lot of what we do is based around playing man-to-man coverage,” explains Thorpe. “They put their hands on receivers and re-route. They do a good job in zone and they attack the football.”
“As long as they don’t start freelancing out there,” cautions Popp.
Brown and Tisdale deny that’s a worry, that the quest for personal glory will blitz the team concept. The duo doesn’t even have a friendly side wager for dinner in place.
“No, no, no, not even that,” admits Brown. “It’s a critical time right now. We have to be focused on winning out and playoffs. We’ll get something worked out.”
Brown admires Tisdale’s confidence. “It’s a respect factor there. Once you have that, you can do a lot of things. We just have a common goal. That’s a good deal.”
Brown missed virtually all of 2011 because of a broken ankle and was at one point released by the Als before re-launching his career. “I always savor the moment because you never know when your time is going to be up.”
He arrived in 2009, scouted out of Arena Football ranks along with Billy Parker, an unheralded physical presence and calmest of the angry birds.
Parker’s one pick should in no way be taken as any indication of a subpar season, though.
“He’s outstanding, solid,” reinforces Thorpe. “Billy’s consistency and reliability don’t always show up in the stats.”
Tisdale has overcome adversity as well.
“I’ve had some tough times, but it’s all made me better, man. There have been some big things, and a lot of things, but I just use it as fuel for my fire. Pain is only temporary.”
That fuel ignited on the interception celebration last Sunday. Tisdale was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, another mark against a secondary already targeted by officials for more flags than any other.
“I don’t know that I did anything wrong,” he emphasizes. “They said I stepped over the guy (a fallen Hamilton pass-catcher), but I was just trying to run to the sidelines. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Should Tisdale pick off any more these next 2 games, he’ll stick to the “wing-flapping” ballhawks gesture Parker began, inspired by the Molson Stadium sea gulls that always seem to descend by game end.
“Flapping the wings feels real good,” agrees Tisdale.
Now they want to see if they can flock together as Angry Birds for another month.
