Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca
Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week they debate over which new name has stood out the most.
In a sport where nothing stays static, new stars emerge each and every season. The hard part, especially at this point in the year, is taking a small sample size and distinguishing which rising stars are primed for long-term, sustainable success.
This season, a number of talented new names are jumping off the stats sheets. Victor Butler and his league-leading four sacks have helped the Argos’ defence get off to a great start this season, while on the offensive side of the ball, DeVier Posey and Armanti Edwards are the CFL’s unexpected receiving leaders through two weeks.
In Ottawa, Joshua Stangby has stepped into the role of the injured Kenny Shaw and flashed big-time potential both on returns and catching passes from Trevor Harris.
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D’haquille Williams in Edmonton, Kyle Knox in Winnipeg, Marken Michel in Calgary and Edmonton’s Adam Konar and Korey Jones are just a handful of other new names that have turned heads early in 2017.
We’ve seen the flash in the pan before — the player who comes on strong for a couple of games and then fades. And some of the new season’s early risers may not sustain the success they’ve enjoyed through two weeks.
Last year at this time we were talking about Loucheiz Purifoy and Kenny Ladler. So with the new season just under way, we ask the question: Which newer name — not necessarily a first-year player but someone with a new role or added responsibility — has stood out the most so far this season?
It was a tough question for our Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson:
| BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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CFL.ca |
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Steinberg – 177 (34%) Ferguson – 344 (66%) |
Steinberg – 232 (56%) Ferguson – 182 (44%) |
Steinberg – 409 (44%) Ferguson – 526 (56%) |
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FERG (2-2): PUTTING THE ‘SPECIAL’ BACK IN TEAMS
Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh
When I started thinking about a new name to the CFL that has impressed me through the first two weeks of the season, I wanted to argue for someone who made me say “wow.” Someone who made a play that made me stand up and ask, “who is that guy?”
At first, I wanted to recognize a receiver, but those passing stats are a dime a dozen and outside of Joshua Stangby getting off to a solid start in Ottawa, I wasn’t sure who was worthy of the criteria.
Then I remembered a series of plays in the experience of a football game that was the opening of new Mosaic in Regina Saturday. In a game with rivalry, pomp, circumstance, excitement, scoring and a pile of yards, it was special teams that drew my attention.
Not even special teams returns like Tunde Adeleke blazing to the end zone in Calgary, rather special teams tackles by none other than Kyle Knox.
Knox is not brand new to the CFL. He was in Winnipeg last season playing in 11 games but registered only eight total tackles. A mark he is already half way to reaching in one game of 2017.
These were not just special teams tackles – three of them in fact – they were statements of a man’s intentions for 2017. On Saturday, Knox showed exactly what it means to stand out for all the right reasons. He followed every fundamental and special teams coordinator coaching point possible en route to the returner.
Once he was there, the results were spectacular. No head shots, no overzealous whiffs while trying to roll someone. Just a trilogy of perfect tackles in a game where special teams can at times be king in deciding outcomes.
Knox also added a tackle on defence to total four on the evening and after pushing Bakari Grant out of bounds, Knox sprinted back to the huddle like a high school basketball player trying to impress his coach by getting back on defence after scoring.
I loved everything about his energy and production, making Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Kyle Knox my favourite new name in the CFL.
BERG (2-2): ARMANTI EDWARDS WILL SOON BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME
Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg
Armanti Edwards may not be a household name in the CFL as it stands right now, but I believe the Toronto Argonauts receiver is on the verge of changing that. I say that not just because of how strong the relative CFL newcomer has gotten out of the gates, but also because of the path Edwards has taken to get to this point. As such, I believe we’re going to hear a lot of Edwards’s name in 2017.
Edwards is my biggest early-season surprise not because of any talent shortcomings, but because of where his career has taken him thus far. The definition of a journeyman, Edwards was a quarterback at Division 1-AA Appalachian State before bouncing between pivot and receiver in Carolina and Cleveland. Used sparingly in his two NFL stops, Edwards hadn’t even been on the field for a regular season snap in almost three years until he made his Saskatchewan debut last September.
And despite putting up decent numbers in four appearances with the Riders, Edwards’s winding road of a career took another turn in February when he was dealt to Toronto. Prior to this season, we were talking about a 29-year-old receiver who has appeared in a grand total of 10 games since 2013. Even with his decent 2016 showing with Saskatchewan, Edwards was not top of mind for me when thinking about candidates for a breakout season.
But maybe he should have been, especially knowing the fit he was walking into with the Argos. Edwards is not overly big or tall at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, but he makes up for that with off the charts athleticism and speed. And, since making the conversion to receiver from quarterback, Edwards has worked hard at controlling that speed to ensure his route running is crisp without sacrificing his explosiveness.
All of that combined has turned him into a target machine. Edwards has reeled in at least six receptions in five straight games; his final three with the Riders and his first two this season in Toronto. Edwards seems like a natural fit for a quarterback like Ricky Ray: he’s reliable, runs crisp routes over the middle and can use his speed to create separation once his hands are on the ball. It’s no wonder Edwards has caught 16 passes in two games thus far.
Because of the physical tools Edwards possesses, and because I think the fit is great with Ray, I think we’re going to hear his name called a lot for the rest of the season. But more importantly than that, Edwards knows better than anyone else how challenging a road he’s traveled. Now in a position to really be featured, I think Edwards is set to do everything in his power to make sure that doesn’t change.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!
While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?
You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.
The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.
