Argos running back gets chance to show his wares
Florida high school standout Wilder Jr. gets start tonight against Redblacks
James Wilder Jr. is used to carrying the ball early and often.
He rushed for more than 1,000 yards over his three seasons at Florida State and reached that mark in a single high school season as a star in Tampa.
He had 110 carries in his sophomore season alone with the Seminoles, but only 14 through his first four with the Argonauts, including just one in the team’s most recent game, a July 13 loss vs. Winnipeg. It has been an adjustment for Wilder Jr.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said after Sunday’s walk-through ahead of Monday night’s home clash with the Ottawa Redblacks.
“You don’t get as many carries, it’s more of a passing league than a running league, so it’s a little harder to get that rhythm. So, you have to take advantage of every carry you get, but you also have to stay disciplined, to not try to do too much on those limited carries.”
His carries might not be quite as limited against Ottawa, since the visitors will be playing for the third time in 11 days, which should lead to fatigue.
At 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, Wilder Jr. has the size to punish them. He also won’t be splitting time with veteran Brandon Whitaker (who has 22 carries for 66 yards this season vs. 14 and 66 for Wilder Jr.) who is inactive.
No team has rushed for fewer than Toronto’s 151 yards on the ground so far this season.
All but two have rushed for at least twice as many, with Montreal leading the way with 502.
If he is asked to return to his running roots, Wilder Jr. will happily oblige.
“They are going to be banged up when you play those games back-to-back-to-back like that. That’s up to the coaching staff. If they feel we need to run, I for sure will be ready,” he said.
Head coach Marc Trestman was understandably not giving much of his game plan away on the eve of the clash.
“James is new to the league, he’s certainly shown us flashes, his No. 1 job is to make sure Ricky (Ray) is protected,” Trestman said, adding that Wilder Jr. has been making steady progress as he gets used to the CFL game.
The 25-year-old said part of the adjustment has been slimming down, at least a little bit.
“I had to drop down to 226 (pounds). I play special teams here as well, it’s only three downs, so it’s a fast turnaround so you have to be a lot more conditioned,” he said.
“Coming from 234, that’s a big difference, I can feel it and I feel a lot better.”
And if he gets a chance to run through the Redblacks, he’ll be feeling even better.
ABOUT TIME
While Ottawa has been busy, Toronto has been patiently waiting during this long break. Or impatiently. “Yeah, we all feel like it’s been weeks since we’ve played,” said Bear Woods.
“We needed the rest, the body did, my body did, and we’re excited to get back out there and it’s a divisional game.
“It came down to a field goal last time.
“We’re excited, they’re a good team, defending champs and we’re going to have to bring our best and we will.”
Trestman said the extra practice time was put to good use and defensive back Cassius Vaughan called it “refreshing” to come off of a longer week. Any rust? “I don’t see any of that,” Trestman said.
FULLER’S BACK
The Argonauts will welcome back wide receiver Jeff Fuller to a depleted lineup.
The big (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) veteran missed the past two games due to injury after a solid start to his Toronto tenure and will be receiving passes from quarterback Ray once more against the Redblacks.
“I think we saw the productivity that he can have,” Trestman said earlier this week of a player who notched 103 receiving yards on just three catches in Week 1, then made another five catches for 36 yards as a followup.
“We’ve seen it before he got hurt and we’re hoping he can get that back again.
“It’s going to really help us if he does.”
Especially since receiver DeVier Posey went on the sixgame injured list before the previous game as did WR/ returner Chandler Worthy.
Posey had become a popular Ray target and now that role could fall to Fuller.
Fuller set several records while at Texas A& M, spent some time in the NFL and won a Grey Cup with Saskatchewan.