Next Game
@
ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MONCTON – Soft spoken off the field and intense on the field, Argos DE Ronald Flemons is just now beginning to receive accolades for what he has been doing for the Argos since 2006.
On a defensive line that has seen charismatic characters such as Adriano Belli, Eric England and Jonathan Brown play beside him throughout his tenure, it is easy for a modest rush end such as Flemons to get lost in the shuffle.
However, his calm and quiet demeanor off the field is not necessarily the best reflection off of it. Flemons is a tenacious pass rusher that prides himself on putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and very seldom seems to be out of place.
As Jim Barker explains, it is for that reason that he has earned the nickname Mr. Perfect.
“They (Flemons’ teammates) call him that because he is a quiet guy who always does exactly the right thing on the field, he is never in the wrong gap and he just does everything perfectly,” Barker said with a smile.
With the exception of the one blemish two weeks ago in B.C. where he fumbled a sure touchdown two yards prior to crossing the goal line, Flemons has had a career year thus far for the Boatmen. He is second on the team in quarterback sacks with five and has also recorded 36 defensive tackles which is almost half of his entire career total heading into 2010.
Two weeks ago he was named Defensive Player of the Week and was a runner-up for the award last week after recording a single-game career-high nine tackles and a sack in the win over Winnipeg.
The recognition is slowly coming but Barker says that it does not surprise him in the least.
“Ron is well liked and respected as a player. Every snap he plays, he gives everything he has and he is one of those guys that plays under the radar.”
Since joining the Boatmen in 2006, Flemons has earned his role on the Argos. He spent three seasons as an understudy, learning from some of the best that have played in the CFL in recent years. After being part of a defensive line rotation in 2008, last season was Flemons’ first shot at being an every down starter and did not disappoint. He racked up 42 tackles, six sacks and added a knockdown.
Flemons and the rest of his defensive line have come into a zone, of sorts. They’ve racked up 11 quarterback sacks in the last two games and will hopefully continue to produce with the addition of DE Ricky Foley.
This week, their challenge is an Edmonton team that has struggled mightily this season but has the weapons on offence to burn even the best defences. The Argos will kickoff the historic Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic this Sunday afternoon t 12:00 p.m. ET.