ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO — Each week, argonauts.ca showcases one of the marquee matchups for fans to watch out for before the Argos next game. This week, we take a look at two ball-hawking members of their respective secondary’s that give quarterbacks fits.
He sits one interception behind Dick Thornton, Malcolm Frank and Jason Goss (all tied for first) for the all-time lead in interception return touchdowns, and will look to pull even this week against the Als. Byron Parker made his return to the endzone for the first time since 2006 last week when he sealed a victory for the Boatmen over the B.C. Lions. In doing so, also became just the fourth Argo ever to record more than 600 interception return yards in a career (602). He’s now behind position coach Orlondo Steinauer (710 yards) for third place in club history.
Parker returned to the Argos when free agency opened last February after spending the second half of 2009 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He started at field-side cornerback in the Argos season opener but suffered a shoulder injury only to return last week against the Leos.
His veteran savvy has gone a long way in helping Jim Barker and his staff develop an evolving defence that sometimes puts an emphasis on speed over size. Many argue that it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ Parker was going to take another one to the house so much as ‘when’. Some will now wonder if/when his record-tying eighth interception for touchdown will come. There is no better test for him to try than Anthony Calvillo and the Alouettes’ offence.
Second-year Montreal Alouettes defensive back Jerald Brown has quickly turned into one of the league’s most clutch defenders – coming up with the big play at the right time. In a defence that already boasts names such as Chip Cox, Etienne Boulay and Mark Estelle, Brown has gone a long way in making a name for himself.
Last season, Brown moved into the starters role as a rookie, generating 45 tackles and, perhaps more importantly, four interceptions. Year two has rolled around for Brown and four weeks into the season, he seems to have picked up where he left off.
After a suspect season opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Brown has bounced back with solid play in the secondary including two interceptions.
His first could not have come at a better time. With the Esks driving, Brown stepped in front of a Ricky Ray pass, snatched it from the awaiting hands of SB Kamau Peterson and ran it back 22 yards to help the Als regain a lead that they would not surrender.
This week, he goes up against the Argos’ Cleo Lemon, who had done a relatively good job not turning the ball over but threw two interceptions last week against the Lions, and 2009 CFL all-star SB Jeremaine Copeland.