JONATHAN RUBINOFF
Argonauts.ca Staff
With training camp nearing, argonauts.ca will be preparing fans for the new season by breaking down the competition at each position. Today, we take a look at the Argos’ backfield.
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Part of what has plagued the Argos for the majority of the last decade was establishing a consistent and productive rushing attack. Despite showing moments of brilliance, even when the Argos were near the top of the football landscape in this country (winning a Grey Cup and appearing in six straight East Championships), balancing their offence with a threat out of the backfield has remained a challenge.
Last year however, it seemed that the Argos’ poor passing game was offset by their most productive rushing attack in years. In his second year with the Boatmen, RB Jamal Robertson reeled off the first 1,000-yard rushing season by an Argo since Michael Jenkins in 2001 and 2002.
RB DeCori Birmingham
RB Cory Boyd
FB Peter Quinney
RB/KR Dominique Dorsey (FA – Signed with Saskatchewant)
RB Jamal Robertson (FA – Signed with B.C.)
RB/KR Amos Allen
RB/FB Bryan Crawford
RB/SB Andre Durie
RB Jeff Johnson
Riding on the success of Robertson was short-lived however, as the Argos granted him free agency n February and Robertson signed a contract with the B.C. Lions. The Lions lost last year’s Outstanding Rookie, and starting running back, Martell Mallett to the NFL this off-season as an option year player.
Helping the Argos head in that new direction will be rookie running backs Cory Boyd and DeCori Birmingham. Boyd has been on the radar of Argos’ Head Coach, Jim Barker for quite some time now and hopes that the former South Carolina Gamecock star could carry some of his college success over to the pros.
“He is a back with size which is important to our game”, said Barker upon Boyd’s signing. “His great receiving skills coupled with his speed to go the distance make him an intriguing prospect we look forward to seeing on the field.”
The Argos have another potential speedster in Birmingham. The University of Arkansas product set a school record with more than 1,300 career kickoff yards and his versatility was one of the main reasons that Barker perused him.
“We were interested in DeCori because he is a very versatile athlete”, Barker added. “An excellent inside runner, DeCori is also very comfortable as a receiver and he has always been an outstanding returner. We are excited to watch him compete at training camp.”
The new backs, along with rookie FB Peter Quinney will join a veteran supporting cast that includes Jeff Johnson, Andre Durie, Brian Crawford and second-year Argo, Amos Allen.
Like many positions on offence, heading into training camp the position of primary tailback will be entirely up for grabs. The question remains who, if anyone, on the current roster will take the position and ‘run’ with it?