H-2-h: Copeland/richardson

Jeremaine Copeland’s importance to the Toronto Argonauts cannot be understated.  Through week 2 of the CFL season, “Cope” has already established himself as the Argonauts’ go-to receiver late in games.  With under five minutes to play in the opener against the Stamps, the 11-year CFL veteran hauled in two passes for 38 yards, and helped to set up Noel Prefontaine’s game winning field goal.  While the Argos didn’t walk away with the win in week 2,

Copeland continued to show off his clutch playmaking abilities, making two more catches for 34 yards with less than five minutes to go.  He was targeted twice more by quarterback Cleo Lemon in the final minute of the game.

He may not exhibit the same speed that he did earlier in his career, but Copeland has adapted as a receiver, allowing him to remain a big contributor to the Argos offence.  Copeland remains one of the better route runners in the CFL and, rather than outrun his cover, he now finds ways to slip in between defenders and into open space.  Copeland is also very aware of his position on the field at all times. He knows how to straddle the sidelines to keep one foot in bounds when making a catch.  His experience in the CFL has helped his on-field performance and earned him the respect of his teammates.  For the second straight season, Copeland’s teammates voted him the captain of the offence. 

This week against Montreal, Copeland will likely lineup opposite DB Dwight Anderson for most of the game.  Last season as a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Anderson led the CFL in most yards and most touchdowns on interception returns, and finished third in the league in interceptions with five.  This year, Anderson leads the team in tackles with 12.  For Copeland to succeed against Anderson, he will need to continue his resourceful ways.  Lemon is in need of a safety valve that he can utilize all game long, instead of just late in the fourth quarter.  Based on Copeland’s performance early in the season, he might just be the guy the Argos need to step up.

After SB Jamel Richardson captured MVP honours at the 2010 Grey Cup, the 8-year CFL veteran came into the 2011 season with perhaps the highest expectations of his career.  So far, Richardson has done everything expected of him and more.   He was named the CFL’s Offensive Player of the Week for week 1 after hauling in nine catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns in the Alouettes’ 30-26 victory over the B.C. Lions.  He followed up that impressive performance with another nine catches for 114 yards as the Alouettes dismantled the Saskatchewan Roughriders 39-25.  We’re now just two weeks into the season and Richardson leads the CFL in receiving yardage – 64 yards ahead of SB Fred Stamps of the Edmonton Eskimos.
 
Richardson, a three-time CFL East Division All-Star, is one of the more physical receivers in the CFL.  At 6’3”, 215 pounds, his combination of size, strength and speed makes him very difficult to bring down in the open field.  Add to the mix Richardson’s soft hands and above-average blocking ability, and you’ll find a receiver who is about as complete as they come in this league.  His only weakness may be his tendency to lose focus.  Although he led the CFL in receptions (97) in 2010, he also had nine drops on the year.  If he can find a way to limit his mental lapses, it appears Richardson will continue to be one of the more formidable receivers in the CFL for years to come.

The Argos defence will need to find a creative way to limit the explosive Alouettes offence. In man-to-man situations, Argos DB Lin-J Shell will likely get the difficult assignment of covering Richardson.  Shell, who was an East Division All-Star himself last season, is one of the more athletic DB’s on the club’s roster and will need to be at his best to limit the Alouettes’ number one receiver.