DON LANDRY – Argonauts.ca Columnist
TORONTO – Mike O’Shea knew precisely what he wanted from Walter Spencer when the veteran linebacker became an Argos on July 24th.
“Exactly what I wanted him to add,” the special teams coordinator said with a grin, when asked just what it was that Spencer had added to the unit. Then, a long pause. So, I jumped in.
“In special teams,” I began, “a necessary ingredient is a certain amount of…”
“Violence,” interrupted O’Shea. “Violence. You need violence.”
Walter Spencer is bringing violence to Argo special teams and it’s paying off. For him and the team. Since joining the Boatmen in time for a July 27th win in Montreal, Spencer has helped fire up the attitude on cover teams, recording 4 tackles in 6 games. All 4 of those tackles have come in the last 3 games, suggesting that he may have found the groove in double blue.
| Related: Walter Spencer |
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Since being signed on July 24, 2012, Spencer has brought his brand of toughness to Argos Special Teams registering 4 STT in 6 games. |
“It’s always good when you can contribute to the overall well-being of your team,” said Spencer, when asked about his two tackle effort against Hamilton last Saturday. It was an effort that earned him a game ball, afterward, in the locker room.
Spencer was happy to be recognized, but felt he could have played better. It’s a trait that O’Shea feels makes the nine year vet an invaluable pinch of spice in the special teams concoction.
“This is how he’s made his living,” said O’Shea, of the man who’s never had more defensive tackles than special teams tackles in any year of his CFL career. “This is how he’s making his living right now. This is how he carved his name in the CFL. This is why he got a phone call when he didn’t have a team. This is what he does. So, you need to take it as seriously as he does, when you’re standing next to him on the field.”
Heading into this Saturday’s game against the B.C. Lions, Walter Spencer has a total of 22 career defensive tackles and 161 special teams tackles. For him, it seems no big deal. Just another game. Just another 60 minutes of tracking punt and kick returners.
“It’s all good, man,” he said. “Shoot, just playing football in the whole. Don’t matter about no life on special teams, it’s just playing football, you know? You can make an opportunity for yourself. It beats not playing, know what I mean?”
Not playing was something Spencer was experiencing, this past spring. For the first time since he was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in 2004, he was not at a CFL training camp.
A free agent, he’d opted to return to his hometown of Windsor, Ontario, to set up a new business; “The Top Player Athletic Training Facility.” (More on that, below in “The Extra Point”)
After getting the business up and running, he was ready to return to the football field when the Argos came calling.
Spencer’s addition has given the special teams unit a little more of the ornery spirit O’Shea wants. With the likes of Tristan Black (12 special teams tackles), Matt Black (8 STT) and Kyle Jones (6 STT), Argo cover teams get efficiency. With Spencer, O’Shea says, they get under the opponents’ skin.
“Whether he thinks so or not, that’s beside the point,” O’Shea said of Spencer’s ability to annoy. “The guys that he plays against, they know they’re going to be in a battle all the time with him. You can tell by the smile on his face in the middle of the skirmish, the scuffle, the aftermath, that he loves every second of it.”
Not to say that Spencer is looking for trouble, says O’Shea.
“He conducts himself like a football player on the field. He runs around and he likes to hit, he likes contact. He doesn’t shy away from it. He delivers it whenever possible. There’s still a number of football players out there who stop their feet on contact. Walter’s not one of them. His feet keep going.”
Is it contagious?
“Yep. It makes a difference,” insisted O’Shea.
Priding himself in his play on special teams, Spencer wouldn’t mind seeing a bit more duty on defence as well.
“That’s the plan for me. That’s my plan. Coming into a team a little bit in the middle of the season, it’s kinda hard when they have a lot of things already set. You know, you just be patient and try to get in where you fit in,” he said.
Spencer’s training facility (www.topplayersports.ca) is a sprawling complex.
“Ten thousand square feet,” he began, “indoor batting cage, pitching lane, hockey treadmill, hockey shooting lane, basketball, weights, turf area, synthetic ice.”
“We’re trying to make opportunities for kids,” he continued. “So they can at least get some elite training. If they’re looking for scholarships to The States we can try to bridge the gap, get some training and some contacts as well.”
With the training centre in Windsor, Spencer says Toronto provided a logical next stop for his CFL career.
“My business is closer. Economically, Toronto is the better move. Plus, I knew the team would be different than past years. With Scott (Milanovich) and (defensive coordinator Chris) Jones, I knew that they’d be a contender.”
After spending five seasons with an excellent Alouettes’ program, how does the feel around Argo camp compare?
“They’re similar, they’re similar,” Spencer began. “Montreal’s got good tradition. That’s something that we’re trying to build here in Toronto.
Working hard, staying disciplined.”