Dave Campbell
ESKS.com
Last Sunday afternoon in Edmonton turned out to be another hot day in the City of Champions. Fresh off the team’s most recent win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team was sitting in a share of first place in the West Division with the BC Lions. The Eskimos, winners of three of their last four games, enjoyed their best offensive performance of the season a couple of days earlier. Well, a quiet Sunday turned into a boisterous one real fast. Word came out of Toronto that the Argonauts released the CFL’s leading rusher Cory Boyd.
The Eskimos didn’t waste any time. They evaluated the film on Boyd and by Sunday night General Manager Eric Tillman had already reached a verbal agreement with Boyd to become a member of the green and gold.
Boyd isn’t coming into the fold to turn around a struggling ground attack. The run game is nowhere near struggling. While Boyd leads the CFL with 447 rushing yards. Hugh Charles sits fifth in the CFL in rushing with 400 yards. He’s also added 269 yards through the air. Charles is fourth the CFL in yards from scrimmage with 669.
You could make a pretty good argument that the Eskimos don’t need the services of Boyd. Go with the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. The reality for the Eskimos is they have only two healthy running backs in Charles and Calvin McCarty, who’s now the team’s starting fullback. The Esks needed to bring in another running back and, wouldn’t you know it, the CFL’s leading rusher was available.
Charles says brining Boyd into the fold is a good move and it sounds like he doesn’t feel he’s a threat to his job.
“I mean it leaves me here in the same spot. I didn’t get traded, I’m not going anywhere. I’m still the featured back,” Charles said. “I think it’s good that we add another guy like Cory Boyd because our depth at the running back position is real slim. We have guys going down every week and we need that depth.“
Charles is taking the addition of Boyd extremely well. He doesn’t sound offended or put out. In fact, he was in on the conversations with Head Coach Kavis Reed and others in the Eskimo leadership group discussing whether or not to bring Boyd in. Charles fully endorsed the deal.
It gives the Eskimos a dimension in their offense they enjoyed late last season, having a solid 1-2 punch in the offensive backfield. Charles was used with Jerome Messam and, although not much was seen of that look thanks to Charles’ late arrival and Messam’s knee injury in the playoffs, it was very effective when used. Charles says he’s excited to reclaim that element with Boyd.
“You can call it whatever you want. “Little lightning, big lightning”. “Thunder and Lightning,” Charles said. “I’ve been in this situation before and however the coaches want to utilize us, I think it’s going to benefit the offense tremendously. I’m excited to get things going with the new teammate.”
Boyd has been added to the 46-man roster tonight vs. the Montreal Alouettes and is expected to make his Eskimo debut. Boyd is likely to see at least 10-15 snaps and Reed wants to see how Boyd performs without the ball. The Argonauts pointed out their concern of Boyd’s ability to protect as one of the reasons for releasing him.
It’s quite the scenario this week. The league’s leading rusher joins a team who boasts the fifth leading rusher. How the two will be utilized remains to be seen, but expect one to spell off the other. Also, expect the two to be out on the field together. Charles can be used as a receiver and you can line him up as slotback or a wide receiver and not lose anything.
Give Charles a ton of credit. He’s not complaining, not whining, not talking about having to give up some touches. He’s fully on board with working with Cory Boyd.
Welcome the return of Thunder and Lightning.
NOTES: Middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt has been named the CFL’s Defensive Player of the Week. Sherritt recorded seven tackles and his first career interception last week in the Eskimos’ 28-20 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It’s the third time this season Sherritt has captured the honour and he was named the CFL’s Defensive Player of the Month for July. Defensive end Marcus Howard will remain out of the lineup tonight with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Ted Laurent will be on the sidelines tonight with an ankle injury. Linebacker Clint Kent returns to the lineup after missing the last three games with a knee injury. Kavis Reed says he hopes to have offensive lineman Simeon Rottier back for the August 27th game in Toronto.