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Another day, another declaration of optimism from Argonauts head coach Jim Barker regarding one of his non-imports.
Isn’t Canada Day still more than three weeks down the calendar?
Barker on Monday morning was singing the praises of Mississauga native Andre Durie, less than 24 hours after saying he was counting on receiver Mike Bradwell, a Toronto native, to have a positive impact.
A year ago, Durie dressed in all 18 Argos games as backup running back/slotback.
In Barker’s world, Durie would be a starter in 2010.
“Andre is going to have a huge role,” Barker said after putting the team through back-to-back practices Monday morning at Huron Park in Mississauga.
“He is going to be doing a lot of the things we used to do with Michael (Pinball) Clemons. He is going to play in the slot, and he catches the ball great out of the backfield. He is going to run the ball some, get shovel passes.
“He has earned the right to be on the field.”
Chances are good Durie, 28, would have been entering camp established as a CFL starter. But until last season, he had been hampered by injuries, going back to 2005, when he played in two games for York University before suffering a knee injury that cost him the entire 2006 season.
A hand injury kept him out of half the Argos’ games two years ago.
Durie sought out Clemons, now the Argos’ vice-chair, for advice.
“I’m just trying to get some pointers and roll with it,” Durie said. “It’s about getting the feeling for it, learning when to sit in the holes. It’s different from just running the ball, when you get to select your holes. Here, you are running to a defence that can change on you so drastically.”
Barker likes Durie’s patience with the football.
“He will still carry the ball as a running back, and (Monday) he let the hole open up and he kept pressing it,” Barker said.
“He gives us versatility. What we have to have in our offence is the ability to move people around.”
The Argos’ look coming out of the backfield this season won’t look much like it did last season. Running back Jamal Robertson, one of seven CFL backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards, signed with the B.C. Lions as a free agent. Import DeCori Birmingham and non-imports Bryan Crawford and Jeff Johnson are being given the chance to show Barker they are capable.
“It’s a complete open competition for everybody,” Crawford said. “It’s about what you are doing today, not what you did last year or two years ago. I relish that opportunity. With a new coaching staff, guys can make a new first impression and carve out a new path for themselves.”
Birmingham signed with the Argos in March, coming north of the Canada-U.S. border via the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. Birmingham never was activated in two years by the Panthers, but didn’t just blend into his surroundings either.
“I had a chance to work with a guys like DeAngelo Williams (the Panthers’ career leading rusher) and Jonathan Stewart,” Birmingham said. “Just being in the meeting room with them, watching the way they practised, it really helped me. I can take those traits with me.”
Birmingham is similar to Robertson, in that he’s a rocks-solid nugget who is difficult to tackle.
“He’s a tough inside runner and he blocks well,” Barker said. “He has been a huge bright spot.”
As much as Barker has been answering questions about his quarterbacks, the offence as a whole must improve sharply. If Barker’s thinking comes through, Durie will be a big part of the turnaround.
“Normally I would be doing a lot of in-the-trench-type training,” Durie said.
“This is different, but I am staying confident.”