Kyle Myers | Argonauts.ca Staff
TORONTO – One of the Argonauts’ greatest strengths so far in 2015 has been the play of the team’s receiving corps. Toronto’s offence leads the league in average passing yards per game (313.7) and passing touchdowns (15), largely due to the stellar play of the rookie trio of Vidal Hazelton, Kevin Elliott, and Tori Gurley.
Then, there’s Dave Stala.
Now in his 13th CFL season, Stala was signed by the Argonauts following training camp. It was a relatively surprising move at the time, considering the team used two of their selections in the 2015 draft on receivers Kevin Bradfield and Matt Norzil. But it didn’t take long for the wily veteran to make his presence, and his utility, obvious.
When K/P Swayze Waters went down with a leg injury in the Argos’ season opener in Fort McMurray, it was Stala, who performed dual duties as kicker and receiver at Saint Mary’s university, who took over.
“I definitely didn’t think that was going to happen” said Stala, who handled punting and kickoff duties before the Argonauts brought in K/P Ronnie Pfeffer prior to week two. “I was brought in to come and help the team out with whatever I could do, and that was the situation for the first game. I stepped in and had a few kicks, but most importantly we were able to get that win.”
He’s not handling any kicking duties anymore, but Stala is playing a growing role on the Argos offence. In the last two weeks, Stala has recorded seven catches for 75 yards, and with Elliott limited in practice this week after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Riders, he could be in line for his first start of the 2015 season.
“I had a few opportunities last week and I made some plays,” said Stala. “I’m going to get another shot this week and I’m looking forward to it. It was my goal when I came (to Toronto) to start, although the coaches told me I’d be coming in to be a role player.”
“As a receiver, you always want to be starting, you don’t want to be on the bench, you want to be one of the guys,” he continued. “I get a chance to shine this week, I’m very excited for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”
At 35 years old, Stala is the second-oldest player on the Argos, and according to receivers coach Jaime Elizondo, has assumed an important leadership role in the locker room and on the field.
“He’s tremendous with the guys in the locker room,” said Elizondo. “He’s always trying to coach a little detail. You see him take guys aside very subtly and say, ‘hey, when there’s this coverage do this, when you run this route work it this way.’ He’s a great guy to be around and he’s brought some veteran leadership which we needed.”
QB Trevor Harris echoed his coach’s sentiment.
“The word veteran gets thrown around a lot, but that’s what Dave Stala is, everything that it entails,” said Harris. “He’s a utility guy for us and he’s come in and done some things that I don’t think a lot of the young guys thought he could do.”
While many receivers rely on their speed to create separation with defenders, that’s never been Stala’s game. Perhaps because of this, his game hasn’t suffered as he’s aged.
“I’ve never been the fast guy on the field,” said Stala, “I’ve always been the guy who understands the game extremely well, knows the playbook, how defences work, and I run pretty good routes. My greatest feature I think is catching the ball; if you get a ball around me I’m most likely not going to drop it, I’m going to catch everything.”
That catching ability earned Stala the nickname “sticky” early in his CFL career, and was on full display at the Argos’ home opener on Saturday. Crossing over the middle in heavy traffic, Stala grabbed a ball just inches off the ground and several feet away from his body, with just his fingertips.
When asked if Stala has some of the best hands he’s seen, Harris didn’t even hesitate.
“For sure. Absolutely,” he said. “He has tremendous hands, he runs solid routes, and he knows the offence. That’s really what it’s all about as a veteran.”
In the twilight of his career and with 13 CFL seasons under his belt, Stala knows that his window to play at the professional level is nearing a close. For that reason, he remains as motivated as ever to put the work in week after week, and chase the prize which has eluded him throughout his career.
“I mean, I get to be a kid every day,” said Stala. “Not too many people get to play this game for that long. We have a great group of receivers here, and a great group of young guys, so however I can help out, whatever role I play I just want to win football games, and ultimately win a Grey Cup.”