As far as difference-makers go, there’s no need to look any further than Edmonton Eskimos linebacker JC Sherritt.
Now in his sixth season with the Eskimos, Sherritt has earned a well-deserved reputation of walking the talk.
When it comes to leadership by example, Sherritt takes his role seriously.
A one-time CFL record-holder for individual tackles, he’s quietly gone about his business this season as a vet on the Eskimos defence.
“I was fortunate when I was coming in to have T.J. Hill, who was here and was a veteran and one of the best leaders I was ever around,” said Sherritt. “The way he treated me, held me accountable and helped me along is something I really took to heart.
“You’ve got to be that way when you’re in Year 6. That becomes your responsibility, to help the young guys. They’re going to go through growing pains just like I went through. When they go through that, you give them your advice and make sure their spirits are right and they’re mentally prepared. That’s how it is.”
It’s tough enough for a rookie breaking into this league to understands all the nuances of three-down football, especially an international player more accustomed to the four-down game. The learning curve can often be very steep and not everybody can handle the adjustment.
“The speed of the game, how fast it picks up,” said Sherritt. “Not just athletically, but … four down football and three down football, if you’re an American and a defensive player, you’d better be good on special teams or you’re not going to be up here. That’s always a shell-shock, the shape you need to be in and how fast the game comes at you.
“I certainly had my ‘welcome to the CFL’ moments. When these guys go through them, I just make sure to let them know that it happens but you have to be a professional, learn from it and get better. It is a business and if it keeps happening, you’re not going to be around.”
It is a tough business and only the best survive. Just five players have been with the team since 2011, the year Sherritt broke into the league. It’s one thing to talk like a leader, but Sherritt knows the only credible form of leadership is leadership by example.
The team’s veterans made that perfectly clear when they set the table in a recent locker room discussion.
“Definitely lead by example,” said Sherritt. “You don’t really have a lot of room to talk if you’re not out there performing. That’s just how it’s been since was 10-years-old. We have to step up and make plays. That’s what you get paid to do. You don’t get paid to sit here and make motivational talks, that’s not just what it is.
“We have to make plays but at the same time, hold everybody accountable and have that leadership quality.”
One of the trickiest things to do while holding a younger player accountable is to make sure he doesn’t make the mental mistake of beating himself up too much.
“You just relate what you’ve gone through … hey, it’s OK,” said Sherritt. “I was a rookie at one time too and I made that mistake at one time and I’m still here, so you’ll be all right. Also, to recognize personalities. Some guys handle criticism, some guys just need motivation and that comes with experience and how you handle personalities. If anybody is panicking, we’ll show him where the door is.”