THE CANADIAN PRESS
CFL.ca Staff
With files from Esks.com
EDMONTON — Half a season for Cauchy Muamba in Chris Jones’ revamped Eskimo defence left him wanting more.
The 27-year-old National joined Jones and the Esks to play safety halfway through last season, playing in eight games and recording at least a tackle in all but one of them.
With a full off-season under his belt to learn the terminology and nuances of Jones’ aggressive defence, he can’t wait to contribute in 2015.
“I’m excited,” says Muamba, a native of Kinshasa, Congo and a graduate of St. Francis Xavier. “Bringing it up right now is just getting me excited.”
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Muamba’s breakout season came in 2012, his third season in the league, when he weighed in with 41 defensive tackles and two interceptions in his first season as a starter.
| Mark your calendars! |
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The Edmonton Eskimos kick off their regular season on Saturday, June 27 in Fort McMurray, Alta. against the Toronto Argonauts.
» View 2015 Schedule
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After joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in free agency a year later, he found himself without a team for part of 2014. He caught on with the Esks later that year, signing as a free agent last August.
His impact grew as the season progressed, especially as he melded with one of the league’s most dynamic defences.
“I was part of special teams last year and I was just having fun and trying to make a play, and trying to help the team in any way possible,” Muamba says.
He picked up his first interception as an Eskimo in Week 17 against the Riders, and then struck again with a pick in the playoffs in the Western Semi-Final. In a Western Final loss to Calgary he added two defensive tackles.
Muamba’s foray into Jones’ defence was an overall brief one, leaving him hoping for more in 2015.
“It’s fun and exciting with Chris Jones,” says Muamba. “His schemes are amazing.”
But what, exactly, is the appeal in playing in a Chris Jones defence?
“That defence is explosive,” explains Muamba. “That defence is fun to play in.”
“They put you in a position where anybody on that defence can make a play, so it’s exciting. I just can’t wait for June.”
That aggressiveness – the mindset that the defence should score points too – provides players extra incentive in a defence that last season led the CFL with seven defensive touchdowns (well ahead of the next closest teams, which tied with four).
“That’s what our defence does – it makes plays,” he says. “Take away the ball and be aggressive, and you’ve got to be able to run with this defence.”
“The motto for our defence, we want to score every time we get the ball.”
Knowing he’ll be in a CFL training camp this season, Muamba is already preparing hard for the upcoming season in Dallas, Tex. Physical preparation is one thing, but knowing what to get ready for mentally as far as schemes and the playbook is an advantage he didn’t have a year ago.
He’ll return for his second season in Green and Gold looking to help his team take that next step.
“I’m looking forward to the team aspect we had last year,” says Muamba. “I came in halfway through and they accepted me with open arms.”
“As far as we went, that was not what we wanted – we wanted to go all the way,” he adds. “We took a step forward and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Muamba’s 2015 role with the Esks isn’t yet defined, but his excitement and passion to play defence encapsulates what playing for Chris Jones seems to be about.
