Canadian Press
TORONTO — The latest from Best in the League brings us to one of the CFL’s most underrated position: defensive back.
There are numerous candidates for top dog when it comes to shut down defenders, from last year’s rookie standout Tommie Campbell to a proven veteran like Jamar Wall.
For general managers across the league, finding that elusive shutdown defensive back is becoming paramount to success. Last year, 15 receivers reached the 1,000-yard plateau as passing offences are connecting more than ever before it seems.
That’s bad news for defences but perhaps not for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who appear to have two of the top shutdown defenders in the country.
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By re-signing Emanuel Davis and landing one of the top free agents on the market in Abdul Kanneh, the Tabbies have two of the best defensive halfbacks in the business.
“The dynamic of having not only two great defensive backs but two great halfbacks is that the Ticats should be able to limit big plays down the field,” said CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson. “Both Davis and Kanneh can eliminate corner routes effectively and have enough range to get all the way to the sideline if their corner gets beat.”
Despite dealing with nagging injuries last season, Davis played 17 of 18 regular season games for the Ticats and hauled in five interceptions, adding one touchdown and one interception. He’s emerged as one of the league’s top playmakers, tallying 10 picks and four touchdowns over his last two seasons.
As though having one premiere halfback weren’t enough, the Ticats went out and bought the services of Kanneh this off-season. Kanneh comes to the Hammer in the prime of his career and on the heels of a Grey Cup Championship, contributing 12 interceptions and five forced fumbles over three seasons in the nation’s capital.
“Kanneh is unique in that his thirst for involvement in stopping the run is perhaps only matched in the Hamilton secondary by Craig Butler,” added Ferguson. “I think Kanneh gives Jeff Reinebold the ability to be creative in blitz packages as well, which could be a game-changer with him playing on the same end of the line of scrimmage as Simoni Lawrence.”
In other words, Davis and Kanneh each bring something different to the Ticats but the result is the same. Both are elite defensive backs in the CFL and to see them in the same secondary is a scary sight.
Best in the League is back for a third season as the CFL’s biggest stars evaluate their peers in 12 different categories, from fastest to most clutch.
