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. In the final edition of Countdown to Training Camp, we take a look at a position that is not the biggest in the CFL but has upgraded dramatically in speed and versatility – the secondary.
CB Evan McCollough
CB Byron Parker
DB/LB Josh Abrams
DB Brad Crawford
DB Eric Deslauriers
DB Quinton Meaders
DB/LB Ahmaad Smith
DB/LB Jeremy Unertl
DB Dovonte Edwards (Released)
DB Will Poole (Signed with Hamilton)
DB Jason Shivers (Signed with Hamilton)
CB Matt Black
CB Delroy Clarke
DB Alphonso Hodge
CB Sammy Joseph
DB Willie Middlebrooks
DB Lin J Shell
CB Jordan Younger
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TORONTO — Fans should not be shocked when they head to training camp to watch the Argos this year only to see a number of players in the Argos secondary in spots that they may not have been associated with in the past.
Versatility may be the one attribute that will separate this year’s crop of defenders from that of previous seasons. With veterans such as Byron Parker, Willie Middlebrooks, Jordan Younger, Alphonso Hodge and a host of rookies who may be capable of filling one of any of the three secondary positions (defensive halfback, cornerback and safety) at any given moment, the Argos defence may take on a new identity as training camp progresses.
The Boatmen will try out upwards of 15 players in the secondary at some point this training camp and many will likely find themselves playing multiple positions until the final group is decided on.
In recent years, Parker and Younger have spent the majority of their time at the corners and will once again have a chance to prove that they are one of the better shutdown tandems against the pass.
Hodge and Middlebrooks on the other hand have had some time to test their skills at the corner, defensive halfback and safety position. Hodge found himself shuffled in and out of the Argos defence last season in his first year as an Argo but it was another rookie defender that caught the attention of many CFL followers in 2009.
One of the lone bright-spots in a frustrating season was the play of Lin-J Shell who was named the Argos’ Most Outstanding Rookie candidate at season’s end. With another season under his belt, Shell, who accumulated 65 DT and 3 QB sacks last season, will join returnees Matt Black, Delroy Clark, Sammy Joseph and a host of new bodies that will compete for a spot in the Argos secondary which has no shortage of open spots.