Special teams focus on speed
Stamps face challenge of corralling Alouettes' Landry
By DAN TOTH -- Calgary Sun
Joey Boese, a Californian in just his second CFL season, never saw legend Henry (Gizmo) Williams turn on the jets.
But the Stampeders defensive back and special teams workhorse hopes he doesn't get burned tomorrow night trying to grab hold of a little speedster who reminds almost everyone of the former Eskimos sensation.
Ezra Landry, acquired two weeks ago by the Montreal Alouettes from Edmonton's practice roster, has quickly made an impression with his speed while standing only 5-ft. 2-in. (although rarely does he stand still long enough to measure).
"You don't really look at size, you look at athletic ability, speed and quickness," noted Boese, 24, a second-year Stamp who isn't exactly flipping over the prospect of running down the lightning-quick Alouettes rookie.
"He's got all those things and is the type of guy you have to go attack because if you're hesitant with him, he'll make you look silly, make you miss with one juke.
"If he gets to the corner, he'll take it to the house. Our cover teams will have their hands full and it's a good challenge playing against somebody of that calibre."
Challenge might be an understatement if Landry's early reviews are any indication of his potential.
Although he's sixth in punt return yards through just two games this season, averaging 7.2 yards, a 110-yard touchdown off a Toronto Argos missed field goal two weeks ago has left tongues wagging on every CFL special teams player, stirring up memories of The Giz.
Williams returned a league record 26 punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns, punctuating almost every performance with an endzone flip.
While Stamps tacklers are bracing themselves to corral Landry, rookie kicker Charlie Hebert doesn't seem concerned.
"He's supposed to be really fast but we're not too worried about him," Hebert shrugged. "We tend to try pin the ball out of bounds as much as possible and pin them deep, get the ball up in the air so our cover team has time to get down there."
That's a fine strategy on punts but what about missed field goals when fleet-footed defenders are often sidelined in favour of beefier blockers?
"I don't plan on putting the ball short," Hebert said.
DENSON CROWNED: Montreal Alouettes running back Autry Denson was named the CFL's offensive player of the week yesterday.
Denson rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries for three touchdowns in the Alouettes' 46-22 win over the Ottawa Renegades last week. He added 19 yards on two receptions for one TD.
Winnipeg defensive back Ricky Bell captured the defensive award while teammate Elfrid Payton earned lineman of the week honours. Bell had three tackles, one knockdown in the endzone, one interception and one fumble recovery which he ran 26 yards for a touchdown as the Bombers defeated Saskatchewan 32-15. Payton added one tackle, two recovered fumbles and a forced fumble.
Bashir Levingston of the Toronto Argonauts was named the special teams player of the week.
