C.J. Gable (32) of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Victor Butler (94) Bear Woods (48), Marcus Ball (6) and Dylan Wynn (98) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game aat Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton, ON, Saturday, September 30, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
This week the Argos nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player will be announced. There doesn’t seem to be an easy decision in any of the categories, and this one is no exception.
The Toronto chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada vote on these individual awards, as do all of the local chapters across the league. So who will get their vote? Who should get their vote?
Here’s a look at the leading candidates.
Bear Woods
The Argos middle linebacker has lived up to all expectations in his first season in Double Blue. Woods leads the Argos with 87 total tackles, a whopping 23 more than Marcus Ball, who is second on that list.
Woods has missed just one game this season, unusual as part of a group that has fought major injury woes this year. His presence on the second level has allowed the players up front to perhaps take a few more chances, knowing that they have number 48 behind them to clean things up.
The sure-handed tackler also has a couple of sacks to his credit this year.
Marcus Ball
Like Woods, the Argos Will linebacker was a late addition to the roster, not signing until May 28. The impact of his return after three years in the NFL was felt immediately.
Ball is a player who is easy to find on the field as he always seems to be around the football. Second on the team in tackles despite missing three games due to injury, Ball has also chipped in with a pair of interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
One of the team’s vocal leaders, Ball backs up his words with actions. It’s hard to imagine where the defence would be without the late additions of Ball and Woods.
Victor Butler
If this vote came early in the season it would have been easy. One of several first-year starters on the defensive side, Butler exploded onto the CFL scene with an incredible eight sacks in his first three games.
Butler missed all of August due to injury before returning in mid-September. In the half-dozen games since, he’s proved to be mortal, recording just one sack. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been a disruptive force on that side of the ball.
The defensive end’s nine sacks leave him tied for second in the league in that category, while he’s a league co-leader with three forced fumbles.
Cleyon Laing
Another player who’s battled injuries. Laing has missed seven games, despite returning from a knee injury well ahead of schedule.
Laing constantly draws double teams from his defensive tackle position, yet still collapses the pocket on a regular basis. He’s been rewarded with five sacks and is the CFL co-leader with three recovered fumbles.
Sometimes defensive tackles get overlooked when examining top defensive players, that shouldn’t be the case with Laing.
Dylan Wynn
Like Laing, the Argos rookie has made an impression while playing tackle. His six sacks from the interior has opened eyes across the league.
The Oregon State product plays with an exceptionally high motor, which is also evident on special teams. He’s also been able to remain healthy this season, which is certainly not the norm on a group that has had more than its fair share of injuries.
Shawn Lemon
Another player who has battled injuries, ‘The Lemonator’ has produced seven sacks in just 11 games.
A key member of the defence, Lemon constantly draws extra attention from offensive coordinators, which leaves his teammates working against single coverage.
That’s a big reason for the Argos success along the defensive line this season, something that makes voting for one individual so tough. You can’t double team everybody, which allows the other players along the line to work their magic.
Out of the lineup since being injured on Labour Day, Lemon should be ready for the playoffs.
Cassius Vaughn
The Argos leader in interceptions, Vaughn’s biggest contribution to the defence this year may be his versatility.
Vaughn has lined up as the Sam linebacker on most occasions, but has also found himself playing at the next level at safety or defensive halfback.
Of his three interceptions, the most memorable would be one in Calgary which he returned 115 yards for a touchdown.
The votes by FRC members have already been cast. As evidenced here, the selection process was far from easy.