Adam Gagnon
Two days before the Toronto Argonauts open their season at Rogers Centre, everything at practice is elevated: the temperature is scolding and Scott Milanovich’s voice from the sidelines is more urgent. He’s trying to use every last second to make practice translate to play when the Friday night lights go on.
Despite a whirlwind of personnel changes in training camp, the confidence in the 2013 Argos unproven defence resonates in captain Brandon Isaac’s voice. He responded to a question about expectations for Friday’s game as if it’s common knowledge:
“[We want] to be the best defence in the CFL,” Isaac said. “We want to be known for the best, we want to be physical, we want to be relentless. But, at the same time we want to be humble and smart.”
He could be preaching; Isaac’s message sounds like a sermon. Rookie defensive end (and Isaac-believer) Jonathan Williams says the captain keeps him going, and stays in his ear.
When practice wraps, Williams is working with offensive lineman Jarriel King. They run one more quick drill. And then another one. WIlliams keeps going back for more, but people who know him say he’s always been that way.
“He’s a hard-working guy. He’s determined, and he’s very physical,” said Isaac, who has a history with Williams as teammates at the University of South Carolina. “He loves putting his hands on people, he loves beating people up. I love everything about him.”
The sun couldn’t be any more vicious than on Wednesday afternoon at the University of Mississauga’s Lower Field, and after nearly two grueling hours of work, Williams’ smile could win a yearbook award.
“It feels wonderful to be back outside, to be honest,” the 27-year-old said.
For Williams, a native of Augusta, GA., football culture was inherent. He’s wanted to play ever since he can remember first seeing a football. He watched ex-NFLers Deon Grant and Kendrell Bell play in his neighbourhood.
“My brother was a pretty good football player, growing up. I was trying to make every move he made,” Williams said. Eighteen years separate the two men. Jonathan is the youngest, behind six brothers and six sisters. There was no shortage of sibling rivalry and competition in the household.
That network of siblings worked as a support, and it’s what kept the him in pursuit of the game he loved after falling out of the CFL with the BC Lions in 2009. In 2010, there was no place for Williams.
“It was rough. I thought it was all over and I wasn’t going to play again,” he said.
When the call game from the Spokane Shock in 2011 to play in the Arena Football League, it meant adopting a style of play he knew little about. The tough love from family pushed him through three seasons in the confined space of the AFL.
Williams claims ownership to two or three workouts a day in the off-season, and the commitment to himself meant he stood out at 2013‘s CFL tryout camp in Bradenton, FL.
Through training camp, the rookie kept the pace as the existing defence left the field around him, whether through retirement like Adriano Belli, an NFL opportunity for Armondo Armstead, or the surprise releases in Kevin Huntley and Pacino Horne.
“I just want to be the best,” the 6-2, 282-pound Williams said of his opportunity with Toronto. “Playing on a great defence, you want to give it your all. You come here day in and day out, and don’t want to have any mental errors.”
Milanovich wants to see Williams and the rest of the first-year Argonauts stay the course when they step on the field Friday night.
“There’s a tendency in first games that guys are a little bit more tentative,” the head coach said. “I just want them to come out, play fast, and take chances to try and make the play.”
Opening the season with the reigning Grey Cup Champions on Friday night is exactly where Williams has earned the right to be. It’s also the perfect platform to prove that the the fresh-faced defensive corps has the chemistry to battle a tough CFL season together.
“This is just a wonderful experience,” Williams said.
Somehow, without any breeze to break the wall of heat surrounding him, he’s still smiling.
“I thank god every day for the second chance.”
