Leading Eskimos’ tacklers share neighbour-like bond
Samuels, Burnett both originally hail from towns near Orlando
It really is a small world after all.
Linebacker Eric Samuels and cornerback Joe Burnett, who grew up in neighbouring towns just outside of Orlando, Fla., are teammates 4,500 kilometres away with the Edmonton Eskimos.
They’re also tied for the CFL team’s lead with 14 tackles each entering Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. showdown with the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg.
“We live like five minutes away,” said Samuels, 23, a second-year-old Eskimo from Umatilla. “He’s like right up the street. We worked out a lot together this off-season.
“I watched him played high school. Our high schools are rival high schools. Basically, I used to go to the games, but he’s a couple of years older than me. I know his younger brother, David.”
“I knew nothing about him,” said Burnett, 27, a third-year veteran from Eustis. “I got my information from my younger brother about him.
“He’s a smart guy, a fast guy, he went to Vanderbilt (University). He’s just an athlete and he has a knack for defence, getting his nose on the ball.
“Our little talks are almost like brother talks in the locker-room before we touch the field,” Burnett continued. “We compete against each other to make plays, challenge ourselves to be the best and continue to put on for our hometown. We’ve got a lot of peers who look up to us each and every day.”
While it isn’t surprising to see a linebacker lead the Eskimos in tackles, Samuels isn’t the first name to come to mind.
The Eskimos, after all, have J.C. Sherritt, who had a CFL-record 130 tackles in 2012 but has been injured this season, and middle line backer Rennie Curran, who has made only six tackles in the first three games.
Samuels, a six-foot-one, 200-pound strong-side linebacker (also known as the Sam), played four different positions as a rookie last year — halfback, cornerback, safety and linebacker. That was after getting cut during training camp and then being brought back after the final pre-season game.
“Wherever they needed me to play last year, I was open to do it,” he said, having also played cornerback, safety and the nickel position plus running back and kick returner in college.
“He played numerous positions and that’s always good,” Burnett said. “That tells you he’s a quick learner, quick on his feet and he can adjust on defence.”
Samuels prefers the strongside linebacker position, which he says is similar to playing as an extra defensive back (nickel) in college.
“I say it’s the hardest, but I like the Sam the most,” said Samuels, who had a great teacher in Eskimos veteran T.J. Hill last season.
“I learned a lot from him. I just kind of watched him and modelled my game a little bit behind him.”
Samuels had only a few plays here and there at the Sam position when Hill was banged up or needed a break in 2013.
“I’m still making adjustments, the next day adjustments,” he said. “I still have a lot to learn at the position, so I try to watch some of the older guys. I talk to the older guys about the position.”
How does he explain his success on the field so far?
“This style of defence that we play, everybody is running to the ball,” he said.
Burnett, who also plays on the wide side of the field, also pointed to all of the pressure the Eskimos’ defence puts on the opposing quarterback as a factor.
“The quarterback has to make quick decisions to get the ball out, and sometimes the wide-field guy is probably open or seems to be open and where he should throw the outlet pass,” Burnett said. “Any time they do that, you come up and make the tackle.”
Samuel’s only interception last season came while playing cornerback against the Bombers in Winnipeg. He also broke his hand in the first game between the teams and had to play with a cast “for at least seven or eight games.”
The cast didn’t prevent him from leading the Eskimos with 18 special-teams tackles, but he doesn’t have one yet this season.
“It’s coming. Don’t worry, it’s coming,” he said. “I’ve been on myself pretty hard because of the season I had last year on special teams.”
It’s not always a positive sign when a cornerback coleads his team in tackles. It could mean that opponents are targeting the player as a weak link.
For example, the B.C. Lions threw often to Burnett’s side in the season opener. He ended up making a game-high seven tackles.
“Any time a quarterback or a team can challenge me, I’m all up for the challenge,” Burnett said.
“Knock on wood, as a DB, you’re going to get beat some time, but I haven’t got beat deep, so I’m still hanging my head high on that.
“I’m going to challenge the receivers for that deep ball whenever it comes. I know it’s coming.”