Let’s face it, early in the 2018 season the Toronto Argonauts special teams were anything but special. There were flaws in virtually every group, but the Double Blue has made significant progress, especially of late.
The most obvious improvement has been in the return game. Martese Jackson had been relatively quiet through the first half-dozen games of the season, especially by his own lofty standards. In the most recent three games, however, it has been a different story.
The second-year Argo has regained the form he showed in his rookie season. In each of his last three games, Jackson has returned a punt for at least 34 yards, while in two of the last three games he’s returned a kickoff for at least 41 yards.
The Asheville, North Carolina native has been exceptionally close to breaking one for a TD, and it now seems like it’s only a matter of time before that occurs.
Jackson is in good spirits these days. Before speaking to Argonauts.ca, he playfully pointed out that this was the first time he’s been interviewed this season. But despite being called to the microphone because of his better individual play of late, he still brought the reason why he was in demand back to his teammates.
“I think it’s just us coming together,” said Jackson, “It’s special teams continuity. We’re meeting more after practice, getting the chemistry with the coaches and players.”
Granted, the chemistry has improved, and while there have been some changes made in return schemes, the product of Florida Atlantic University said it’s less about what they’re running, but how they’re running it.
“It’s just execution,” admitted Jackson. “We haven’t really changed much, it’s just executing what we already had. That’s the main thing, just getting it executed.”
The return game has improved, but so have the coverage teams. There have been multiple major breakdowns this year, underscored by Calgary’s Terry Williams returning a punt 102 yards for a TD, and Ottawa’s Diontae Spencer doing likewise from 87 yards out.
The last two games have been significantly better in terms of coverage, particularly against the B.C. Lions and Chris Rainey, arguably the most dangerous returner in the league.
Robert Woodson is a big part of the Argos cover teams, recording a half-dozen special teams tackles so far.
“We just always stay locked in,” said the Calgary native. “We corrected some things that maybe we didn’t do so well earlier in the season. We have good game plans, it’s all about executing on game day.”
The second-year Argo has been getting additional time on defence, versatile enough to fill in at corner, halfback or safety. He’s still making most of his contributions on special teams, including recovering a punt at the end of the Ottawa game, where Redblacks punter Richie Leone caught Zack Medeiros’ last-second kickoff and hoped he could punt it to the end zone for a rouge.
“That was one where we had to adjust on the fly, said the Calgary native. “They had put their kicker back on kick return, so we made a quick adjustment. I was back there and caught the ball and that was the game.”
The other noticeable improvement has been in the kicking game. While Ronnie Pfeffer had done a nice job punting, he struggled with his field goal attempts.
Zack Medeiros has been filling in for the injured Pfeffer and has done a nice job. He’s third in the CFL with a punting average of 47.4 yards, a mere 0.1 ahead of his sidelined teammate.
His field goal kicking has been superb. He’s connected on seven of his eight attempts, his only miss coming when a 54-yard attempt hit the upright on the final play of the Montreal game.
“It’s second nature now,” Medeiros told Argonauts.ca. “When I first got drafted (by Edmonton in 2014) I was a bit nervous, dealing with a bigger crowd, newer team, obviously you’re getting paid at this level, so you’re dealing with all the elements. I’ve now been doing enough times, whether it’s practice or games, it’s just second nature to go out there and just trust my technique and hope for the best.”
It’s a long way from where Medeiros was in late July. Before Pfeffer was hurt, the St. Thomas, Ontario native was working at a car dealership, coaching high school and college kickers in his spare time, and staying in shape in case the phone rang. When it did, he was ready, but was the dealership?
“They knew the deal,” said a smiling Western Mustang product. “I was only part-time there anyway, so I told them this is the deal if I get called up I have to leave for this opportunity. I know the manager pretty well, he’s a family friend, so he knew the deal.”
With things going well, the one thing that’s still needed is for Martese Jackson to take one back for a touchdown. He has yet to do that this year, though it looked like he had so done a week ago in Montreal, before replays showed he had stepped out of bounds at one point.
He found the end zone on returns three times last year, twice on punts, once after a wide field goal attempt. One of those TDs was a 93-yard punt return at Tim Horton’s Field, though not on Labour Day.
“Any game where you can break one is sweet,” said a now broadly smiling Jackson, “But in Hamilton that was sweet and hopefully we can get some big ones this Monday.”
He’s due. In fact, he’s overdue. There is no better time for an Argo to do something spectacular than on Labour Day. Jackson and his fellow special teamers are hoping that’s the case in this year’s Classic.