John Mackinnon
Edmonton Journal
The Edmonton Eskimo defenders are a proud bunch, as well they should be, proud, self-critical and realistic.
So it was that Eskimo defensive coordinator Mark Nelson, asked how various defences around the CFL have performed so far this season, offered this introduction:
“If you were going to have to pick the best defence right now, it would be the BC Lions,” Nelson said Friday. “They’ve got a lot of their guys back from last year, and they’ve been scored on (with touchdowns) maybe once or twice in the last three or four games.”
Which is not to suggest that Nelson, in his first year running the Eskimo defence, is dissatisfied with his group’s play. Far from it. And for good reason. Yes, the Lions led the league in fewest points allowed (141), but the Eskimos were second, with 154.
The Eskimo ball-hawks have picked off 14 passes to lead the league (BC and the Toronto Argonauts had 10 each), and Edmonton is second in quarterback sacks, with 20, one behind – who else – the Lions.
The Esks also lead the league with 24 takeaways, including seven recovered fumbles and four turnovers on downs.
It is safe to say that as goes the Eskimo defence, so go the fortunes of the 5-3 team, led by its indefatigable middle linebacker, J.C. Sherritt, who leads the CFL with 70 tackles, 17 more than runner-up Adam Bighill of the Lions.
“I’m happy with the way our boys have been really working hard and flying,” Nelson said. “We still make probably too many mistakes. I’ve got to do a better job of coaching. One thing we do, we play hard.”
Like the Lions, the Esks have continuity working for them. They should line up against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday with nine holdovers out of their starting defensive 12. It would be 11, but linemen Marcus Howard and Ted Laurent both are doubtful for the Labour Day Classic.
With continuity has come chemistry and the sort of mind meld on-the-fly that defences need to read and react effectively in the heat of battle.
Something else has emerged, said veteran linebacker T.J. Hill, the 32-year-old leader who is in his fourth season with the team and sixth in the league.
“Accountability,” Hill said. “I feel like we’re all holding each other accountable when we do things wrong. Nobody wants to be that weakest link. We feel like if we make a mistake, we let the team down.”
The Eskimos are not a physically imposing defence, but they are fast and aggressive. When they play as a cohesive unit, they can and have been effective, as they were in Monday’s 26-17 win over the Argos.
When they are out of sync, they can be exposed, as they were in that 38-25 loss to the Alouettes on Aug. 17. Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo led the Als to a 28-0 lead by the midpoint of the second quarter, and he made it look easy.
The Eskimo defenders are aware of their limitations, but they also know what they are capable of when the pieces fit together correctly.
“We’re definitely built around running to the ball, that’s something we preach,” Sherritt said. “It’s all about speed and how fast we can get to the ball.”
And getting there with support, so the second guy makes the tackle if the first doesn’t.
“We go where our defensive line takes us,” Sherritt said. “All the success we have is based on what those front four do, whether it’s getting pressure and forcing bad throws by quarterbacks, or holding up offensive linemen so linebackers can get to the ball. At the end of the day, we go where they take us, and they’ve been great this year.”
They’ve been effective despite injuries, to the likes of Howard and Laurent and rush end Julius Williams, who missed three games. Not to mention tackle Etienne Legare, who missed two months and six regularseason games while recovering from a bout of mononucleosis diagnosed two weeks before training camp. That’s depth, and the Esks have needed it.
“They’ve done a really good job of being blue collar, and an outstanding job of playing collective defence,” said head coach Kavis Reed. “As a collective, we’re pretty good. We have had some inconsistency in terms of our tackling. Last week (against Toronto), that was the most impressive thing about our team defence.”
The Esks defensive collective will have to be at its suretackling, ball-hawking, bluecollar best against the Stamps in Calgary on Monday.
jmackinnon@edmontonjournal.com
