Next Game
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ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA – Eric Taylor has been patiently waiting for his chance to make his Argos regular season debut. It looks like he will get to do so this Friday, fittingly, against his old club in Edmonton.
Taylor will start at defensive tackle next to second-year DT Kevin Huntley and the two will combine for an interior defensive line unit that will weigh over 600 pounds.
The Winchester, Tennessee native will replace veteran DT Adriano Belli who has been relegated to spectator after suffering a leg injury. Taylor is coming off an injury of his own, one that he sustained during the pre-season. He admits that it has been hard to watch from the sidelines and now he is just itching for a chance to get back on the field.
“It’s big,” he said. “I have been out for some time now and I just want to come in and make a difference with this Argos team.”
Argos head coach Jim Barker confirmed that, although injuries to Belli and sophomore non-import lineman Etienne Legare are setbacks, he is anxious to see what Taylor can do in a starters role.
“We are excited to see him,” Barker said. “I thought he played well in the pre-season and it was unfortunate that he got hurt, but he will have a chance to show what he can do [this Friday].”
Sitting out the first five weeks of the season has allowed Taylor the unwanted luxury of watching his team, more specifically his defence, progress. After a solid week of practice, he feels that the club is making strides as each game passes.
“Every week we are getting better,” Taylor said after the Argos’ final full practice of the week. “You can tell that the chemistry is coming with our d-line and each week we are taking a step closer to where we want to be.”
As for his former team, perhaps nobody knows more about the talent that resides in the Eskimos locker room than Taylor. He’s aware that taking them for granted after a slow start is not a wise proposition.
“They are better than a 1-4 team. I was over there last year and they have a lot of talent. One thing I know is that they are going to play hard for Richie Hall. He is a great coach, a player’s coach and this is a team that we have to take seriously.”