Head-2-head: Watt/stala

Unlike Stala, who may not excel at any specific aspect of the game, Spencer Watt’s strengths are no secret.  Watt was a track star during his one year at Minot State University, nearly making the Nationals in the triple jump.  On top of his crazy jumping ability, Watt excelled at indoor sprints, specifically the 50m and 60m runs. When he eventually got into football, his athleticism and his eye-popping speed quickly emerged as his two greatest assets.
 
Drafted 18th overall by the Argos in 2010, the 22-year old Watt has become the team’s most tantalizing deep threat.  At the wide receiver position, Watt has the skills and the speed to outrun his cover.  The problem this season has been establishing some measure of consistency with whomever is behind centre for the Argos.  After QB Cleo Lemon was injured in Week 4 against the Blue Bombers, Watt had difficulty getting on the same page with backup QB Dalton Bell. The two crossed signals on more than one occasion.  Lemon returned in Week 6 and connected with Watt on a 30-yard strike for the receiver’s first touchdown of the season, and his first at Rogers Centre.  Watt looked more comfortable in that game against the Alouettes than he had all season long. 
 
Argos fans got a glimpse of Watt’s talent at the end of the 2010 campaign.  In Week 18, against the Alouettes, he had six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns and was subsequently named Canadian Player of the Week.   Watt continued his success into the post-season, making six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in two games as a starting receiver.  With any young player, growing pains are to be expected.  And that is what the North Vancouver native is dealing with so far in this 2011 season. The struggling Argos passing offence (ranked last in the CFL) can only hope that Watt’s Week 6 touchdown was a sign of better things to come for their speedy, young wideout.
 
This Saturday at Ivor Wynne Stadium, Watt will be going against two very solid but young defensive backs in Ryan Hinds and Marcell Young.  Both DB’s are playing well this season and, like Watt, they are prone to making mistakes because of their inexperience at the pro level.  Watt will need to capitalize on the few opportunities he may be provided.  If he can manage to sneak into the endzone for a second consecutive game then Argos fans may very well have another reason to get excited about the offence.

Dave Stala is something of a renaissance man.  After four inconsistent seasons as a receiver for the Montreal Alouettes from 2003-2006 (he spent two injury plagued years stuck on the team’s injured reserve) and in need of a fresh start, Stala signed with his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Since then, he has put together two of the best years of the his CFL career. 

The culmination of his resurgence came in 2010 when Stala was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian.  He experienced the second-best statistical year of his career, hauling in 86 passes for 1,023 yards and 6 TDs.  For a player who isn’t exceptional at any one facet of the game, you might think last year’s campaign was as good as it could get for Stala.  Not for the player they call “Sticky.”
 
This season, the 31-year old has become a major threat in the redzone, leading not only the receivers but the entire league in touchdowns (6).  Stala is on pace to shatter the Ticats’ single-season touchdown mark of 15, held by Tony Champion (1989) and Ron Williams (1999 and 2000).  One of the main reasons for Stala’s success is his route-running ability.  At 6’2″ and about 190 pounds, he isn’t the biggest or fastest receiver on the Ticats’ roster.  Yet, Stala is a very intelligent football player and has a knack for finding the open spots in coverage – especially near the endzone. He doesn’t even lead the Ticats in receiving yards (rookie Chris Williams has 352 yards to Stala’s 251) but as long as he continues to score, he will remain one of the more valuable players in the CFL.
 
Now in his ninth CFL season, Stala’s veteran leadership is being relied upon more than ever in Steeltown.  With the departure of SB Arland Bruce via trade to the B.C. Lions, Stala is the elder statesman of a receiving corps that, according to a story in the Toronto Sun, has been labeled “Dave’s Kids.”  The camaraderie and chemistry between the receivers has the unit looking the best it has in years.  Specifically, the emergence of receiver Chris Williams has been considered one of the major storylines in the league this season.  Had it not been for Stala taking Williams and the rest of the receivers under his wing, the unit’s success probably would not have come so easily.

This week, Stala will encounter an Argos defence that should be re-energized under new defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer.  Stala will be matched up against either DB Lin-J Shell or DB Dee Webb.  Shell is one of the more athletic defensive backs in the CFL, while Webb has emerged as a solid option in just his first year in the league.  Whoever is matched up with the Ticats receiver will have to do his best to “stick” to Stala on Saturday.  Especially inside the twenty yard line.