DANIELE FRANCESCHI – Argos Admirals Insider
TORONTO – It can be argued that a defensive lineman has one of the toughest and most diverse jobs in all of football. In the CFL, not only must a defensive lineman be intimidating in terms of size but one must also be very agile along the line of scrimmage in order to be an effective run-stopper. After all, versatility, particularly in the Canadian Football League, is vital for success.
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For Argonauts starting defensive tackle Cleyon Laing, the 22-year-old CFL rookie understands the importance of being a superb all-around athlete. Laing’s athletic abilities combined with his strength have made him a force to be reckoned with on the interior of the Argonauts’ defensive line thus far in 2013.
Laing’s four sacks are currently tied for second on the team while veteran Khalif Mitchell leads the way with five through 15 games. Coincidentally, Laing attributes much of his personal success to Mitchell and says that the Argos’ star defensive tackle has been a great mentor figure for him throughout his rookie campaign.
“It’s a blessing. Khalif is one of the top defensive linemen in the CFL. I’ve been able to learn a lot from him,” stated Laing following Thursday’s practice. “He’s a great teammate and he brings a lot of energy to the field so playing alongside him, it helps me, especially if he’s getting double-teamed, I have the opportunity to get into one-on-one situations. He’s a great player to have on the team and he’s always ready to play.”
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Laing attended Holy Trinity Secondary School where he was a multi-sport athlete. As a senior, Laing was nominated for the Haliburton Trophy, which is awarded to the best football player in the Edmonton Metro Area. Laing also played basketball and was a track-and-field athlete, partaking in shot put and javelin.
The six-foot-three, 280-pound defensive lineman has many fond childhood memories from the time he spent in Edmonton and it’s not very surprising to discover that many of those involved football.
“My cousin played (football) and I played myself so I was always around football growing up,” commented Laing. “We went to Commonwealth Stadium to watch Eskimo games. One of our fundraisers for my pewee football team, we actually had to sell game day programs for the Eskimos. That was definitely a cool experience growing up.”
As much as he enjoyed playing football in the Edmonton area, after graduating high school, Laing received a unique opportunity that he just simply could not pass up.
“I kind of looked at it as a blessing because you don’t hear many people going down to the United States to play college football,” said Laing, who attended Iowa State University from 2008-2012, graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. “I felt that I just took the opportunity and ran with it. It just really worked out for the best.”
After being selected by the Argonauts in the second round (ninth overall) in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft, Laing went on to record 42 tackles and three sacks in his senior season at Iowa State.
Just months removed from the conclusion of his collegiate football career, Laing signed with the Argonauts less than two weeks prior to the beginning of 2013 training camp.
“I did see myself playing professionally. I did think that when I was drafted by the Argonauts that Toronto would be a good destination for me,” said Laing. “I’ve always liked Toronto. Growing up watching (Michael) “Pinball” (Clemons) play and of course, Ricky (Ray) came from Edmonton, so I thought Toronto would be a cool place to play.”
Quietly, Laing has put together a solid rookie season with the Argonauts. His versatility and previous experience playing various positions on the defensive side of the football have allowed him to develop a firm understanding of Chris Jones’ comprehensive defensive systems. While Laing is rather pleased with his performance thus far in 2013, the Argos’ hulking defensive lineman affirms that there is still plenty of work that needs to be done if he hopes to emerge as one of the CFL’s premier interior defensive linemen in the coming years.
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“I feel like I’ve played all right. I have not achieved what I want to yet but that’s what we practice for,” explained Laing. “It’s a learning experience and I’m still not where I want to be but I’m working to get there.”
Laing made headlines earlier this season when he was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Eskimos starting quarterback Mike Reilly during their Week 14 meeting at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Argonauts’ rookie admits that his emotions – playing in front of his hometown crowd – may have gotten the best of him but assures that he has learned from his mistake and will be more cautious going forward.
“I do believe that the fine was applicable to the situation but I was just playing hard,” proclaimed Laing. “I was running around in front of my family and it was just a great opportunity so I was giving it all I had. I apologized, I paid my dues, and it’s time to move on. It’s a learning experience.”
Laing is not one to dwell on the past. With every game, he is becoming more comfortable and confident lining up as the Boatmen’s starting defensive tackle. While Laing acknowledges just how frustrating it can be attempting to dissect opposing offences, the Argos’ humble rookie says that he is not shying away from any challenges.
“Coach (Ed) Philion points it out during meetings, just being able to read the offences more and determine running back sets, and different key aspects of opposing offences,” commented Laing when discussing his targeted areas of improvement. “I wouldn’t say that being able to recognize those things is something that I’m struggling with but I can still grow and learn to use my knowledge even more. Ultimately, I love the position that I play. It’s the only position on the football field that I really feel comfortable at.”
Insider Extra – Denying The Run
In back-to-back losses against their provincial rivals, the Double Blue yielded an average of 149 yards rushing per game. Tiger-Cats running back C.J. Gable racked up 214 yards rushing and two touchdowns as Hamilton swept the pivotal home-and-home set, leaving the Argonauts clinging to a slim two-point edge in the CFL’s Eastern Division.
The Boatmen will get another opportunity to secure a home playoff game this weekend as they travel to Winnipeg for a tilt with the Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field. If the Argos are to emerge victorious on Saturday evening, Laing guarantees that an improved run defence will have a lot to do with it.
“We’re going to have to come out and put an end to team’s believing that they can run on us. We need to put an end to that,” stated Laing. “I think we need to create penetration and get towards the ball carrier. We also need to do a better job of rushing the passer. Ultimately, stopping the run forces them into more passing situations, which allows us to get after the quarterback. We’re going through a bit of a slump right now but we have a game to play on Saturday and I guarantee that we’ll show up. We’re ready.”