The Edmonton Eskimos will try to win their first CFL championship in a decade with a running back who dressed for the first time late in the season as a backup defensive back.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Akeem Shavers said with a grin. “A lot of turns of events have happened.
“I am here starting the Grey Cup, which no one expected. I definitely didn’t expect to be playing running back.”
Shavers will appear in just his fourth CFL game when Edmonton plays the Ottawa REDBLACKS in Sunday’s 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw. In his previous three games, including last week’s West Final win over Calgary, Shavers had 24 carries for 123 yards.
For some backs, that’s one good day’s work.
It wasn’t exactly the way the Eskimos planned it either.
“If you had asked me if we’d be in this position I would probably have told you no at the first of the year,” said Stephen McAdoo, Edmonton’s offensive co-ordinator.
“We have put our trust into him. He’s more than exceeded what we wanted him to do as far as in practice and when he got into game time.”
One of Shavers’ strengths is his pass blocking skills.
“It takes a different type of back to really put blocking first,” said the 25-year-old. “That’s the kind of back I wanted to be. As long as I take care of my blocking responsibilities, everything else falls in line.”
Quarterback Mike Reilly has been impressed with how quickly the five-foot-11, 203-pound native of Texarkana, Tex., has learned the Eskimo offence.
“He’s smart, he knows where he’s supposed to go,” said Reilly. “He doesn’t have breakdowns when it comes to protection.
“It’s a tribute to his hard work. He’s not a guy that talks a lot. He studied, he got in the meeting room, got in his playbook and it shows up on the field.”
Shavers wasn’t in Edmonton’s plans when the season started.
The Eskimos wanted to use John White as their running back but he ruptured his Achilles tendon in training camp and was lost for the season.
Shakir Bell played 11 games before he was injured. Kendial Lawrence has filled in as running back but the Eskimos would rather use him a kick returner.
Shavers started the year in Ottawa’s training camp but was released prior to the season. He was back home in Dallas, being interviewed for a job as financial planner, when the Eskimos called.
He was signed on Aug. 24, then first dressed Sept. 24 against Saskatchewan as a backup defensive back due to injuries to Aaron Grymes and Kacy Rodgers.
“I was like the only guy left,” said Shavers, who had played some defence in high school. “They let me practice there for a few days. I was decent. Before I knew it I was suiting up.”
Bell was hurt in that game, forcing Shavers back onto offence.
Shavers put up some impressive numbers during two years at Purdue University. He collected 1,390 yards and 12 touchdowns on 292 carries. He also made 23 catches for 428 yards and four touchdowns.
McAdoo said Shavers combines quickness and with a nose for finding the openings.
“He hits holes very quickly,” he said. “He has good vision as far as when he hits the holes and being able to take the ball and get into the second and third level very fast.
“Some guys are patient runners and they kind of wait to let things develop. He can take the handoff and see right where he wants to go and get there before it can close on him.”
Shavers described himself as a “balanced back.”
“I take what the defence gives me and try to capitalize on other people’s mistakes,” he said.
“You force anything, you might make a huge mistakes or a turnover. You just have to be careful and kind of be like water through cannel.”
The Ottawa defence was the best in the CFL in stopping the run, limiting teams to a league-low 70.8 yards a game. Shavers got a taste of their talent during the REDBLACKS training camp.
“They are going to bring the best out of me like I am going to bring the best out of them,” he said. “I want to deliver a few blows myself.”
The running back-by-committee system resulted in Reilly being Edmonton’s second-leading rusher with 324 yards on 66 carries. That’s a double-edged sword for the coaching staff.
“That’s not what we want him to do until we call the play where he is designed to do that,” said McAdoo. “Sometimes he does have to take off.
“Mike is a warrior. He is going to run the ball like a tailback. My job is to keep Mike from Mike.”
Having a running attack with some teeth is important any time, but especially in a championship game where the temperatures will dip below freezing before the final whistle.
“It’s going to be vital,” said Shavers. “Fingers are going to get cold, the ball is going to be hard.
“When this time of year comes around you definitely need a consistent running back to really balance it out and, if you have to, take control of the game.”
Eskimos fullback Calvin McCarty is playing in his first Grey Cup after nine years in the league. Other veterans like long snapper Ryan King, linebacker J.C. Sherritt and defensive tackle Almondo Sewell are also getting their first chance to win a CFL title.
Shavers could win a ring without having played most of the teams in the league.
“I’m really blessed to be in this position,” he said. “I just really want to do whatever I can to help the veterans that deserve it and bring it (the Cup) back to Edmonton.
“I want to have a great time and have fun doing what I love to do.”
