Show of hands gets Argo going on ground
Wilder Jr. spent off-season working on receiving skills to be a more complete back
When the Toronto Argos dropped their depth chart Friday for Saturday’s pivotal matchup against Montreal, James Wilder Jr. was pencilled in at running back.
That was a reflection of his tremendous 257 combined yards (11 rushes for 190 yards, seven receptions for an additional 67 in the air) against Edmonton last weekend. It also speaks to the commitment he made to the CFL last winter, one that saw him work on adding receiving ability to his natural running game.
It’s taken 12 weeks into the season for things to pay off for the former Florida State star. With Wilder Jr. in the backfield — thanks in part to a lingering injury to Brandon Whitaker — the Argos posted a key win against Edmonton, and had a season-best rushing performance.
Wilder Jr. had a mile-wide smile on his face after last weekend’s performance, but the smile is gone now. In its place: another challenge from coach Marc Trestman to prove his mettle and post another outstanding game.
“He (Trestman) told me you have another opportunity,” said Wilder Jr., who was also named CFL Performer of the Week after the Edmonton game. “Everyone has that one game where everything goes right, but the question is, can you do it again.”
The Argos (5-7) face a Montreal club that has slipped from the first half of the season, when it was the top-rated team against the rush in the East, and one of the best in the league overall.
Since losing to the Argos on Aug. 19, Montreal (3-9) has fallen on hard times, with losses in its last six games. The Als now rank fifth in quarterback pressures with 70, but last in sacks with 17.
They are still allowing 4.7 yards per rush, second-best in the CFL, but they now rank next to last in allowing an average of100 yards rushing yards against per game.
Toronto can seriously damage Montreal’s playoff chances with a win Saturday — as well as enhance its chances — but Trestman doesn’t want his club to fall into a trap, be- lieving Montreal is ripe for another defeat.
Wilder Jr. understands that mindset. He’s had to work on several details in his own approach, just to get another chance to prove himself out of the backfield.
Blessed with great size and genetics, the six-foot-two, 232-pound Wilder Jr. has always relied on his father, James Wilder, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer who is still the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
The elder Wilder was happy with his son’s performance against Edmonton, but one of the first things he told his son was to be brief in enjoying the moment and get back to work in earnest so that you can repeat the performance.
Wilder Jr. was diligent and patient during the first 12 weeks of the season, when he saw spot duty in the backfield.
He’s also earned his keep on special teams, while building on his off-season work on becoming a bigger factor in the passing game.
That involved moving in with good friend and Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman in Atlanta. The two worked out every day, with Wilder Jr. aiming to improve his receiving skills.
“When I first made the decision to come here to Toronto and the CFL, I realized I had to be more than just a running back in this league,” Wilder Jr. said.
“I wanted to come in here knowing I wasn’t going to limit myself. I wanted to expand my game. I’m one of the bigger guys on the team, so with the offensive line doing a fantastic job, I’m going to get yardage on the ground and in the air.
“I worked on the mental edges in the game with my dad, and the physical side with Devonta Freeman,” Wilder Jr. added.