New Rider Steele ready for some familiar foes
Ex-Argo set to make debut against his old team at Mosaic Stadium
Curtis Steele knows the Toronto Argonauts are going to see him coming, but he plans to make sure they hear him too.
The talkative tailback has no intention of holding back in his regular-season debut with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who open their 2016 CFL schedule on Thursday night against Steele’s former team at Mosaic Stadium.
“They know how I am,” offered Steele, who inked a free-agent deal with Saskatchewan in the off-season after three seasons in Toronto. “When I was over there I was always trash talking to the defence. Same thing I do here. I’m not going to do too much to cost my team a penalty or something like that. I’m just going to have fun and really embrace the time facing my old team and trying to beat them.”
Although the element of surprise won’t be on his side, Steele sees no reason to alter his game-plan against the Argos.
It goes something like this: A lot of talk and even more action.
“Sometimes I’m more quiet, but most of the time words are being exchanged,” he said with a grin. “They know I’m a talker but I can also back it up. You can’t just talk about it, you have to be about it and I do both. They know that.”
Steele’s best season with Toronto came in 2014 when he rushed 87 times for 541 yards (6.2 average) and four touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 309 yards and one major.
Those numbers provide just a sample of what he expects to do in his first season as a full-time starter.
“You always want to come in setting goals for yourself,” explained the 29-year-old native of Franklin, Tennessee. “I would like to have 1,000 rushing yards and probably 600 receiving, maybe some kick returns, but most of all just go out each week and get that win and get the Grey Cup. That’s when I’ll really be satisfied.”
The quest begins in earnest on Thursday night against the Argos.
“I have some good relationships with those guys over there,” noted Steele.
“It means more on my end (than a normal game) but they know what I’m about and I know what they’re about. It’s just time to play.”
Steele is eager to show his stuff after being forced to sit out most of last season due to injury. The fact that he’s getting a chance to re-establish himself with a new team just adds to the sense of motivation.
“It’s like a new Curtis Steele,” he said. “I’m going to really be able to show (the fans) what I can do from a running back standpoint. Most of my years in Toronto I was playing a lot of special teams and also (tailback). Now I get to focus more on just offence and a light load of special teams.”
Steele considers himself an “allaround back” who can contribute in the running game and passing game. He also prides himself on doing the dirty work as a blocker.
“I’m Mr. Do It All,” he said with a smile, adding that he believes the CFL has yet to see everything he can do.
“I feel like my first two years they got a good dose, especially my second year. Unfortunately, last year I was hurt and didn’t get an opportunity when I came back. This year, I’m just going out there trying to do the best I can do and show the whole league what I’m about.”