With an ultimate goal of winning the Grey Cup, the Toronto Argonauts understood that their defence in 2021 was good, just not good enough.
That realization sent General Manager Michael “Pinball” Clemons and his player personnel department into overdrive in the off-season. Players like defensive end Ja’Gared Davis and Jachai Polite were signed. Wynton McManis was brought in to beef up the linebacking corps, while on the back-end Royce Metchie was added along with DaShaun Amos.
Amos is a former All-Star, getting the West Division nod in 2019, his first full CFL season. He comes to the Boatmen with both CFL and NFL experience and has settled in nicely with the first unit at the field halfback spot.
For Amos, this is a case of one family merging with another. Not only is he able to reconnect with some former teammates and coaches, but he’s now playing with his younger brother D’Angelo, a defensive back/returner who signed with the Argos after spending the beginning of 2021 with the Detroit Lions.
“It’s been a dream come true”, said a proud older brother of their professional reunion. “We couldn’t have written a better story; our journeys meeting here. I really love it for my mom and my family back home, just being able to see us on the same field and not have to pick and choose who they watch each day. They can come up and watch us both play.”
There may be some serious group road trips heading north from Richmond, Virginia.
When the Amos family and friends arrive they’ll see a player in DaShaun who has stepped into a leadership role, even though he’s wearing Argo colours for the first time.
“That was one of the first things I said when I got here,” explained Amos. “I let guys know that I didn’t come here to try to take over the room or be that guy that says, ‘do this, do that,’ that’s not my style of leadership. I know I have to earn it just the same as anybody else. I just told them I’ve been in the league for a little while so you can lean on me for advice. I’m going to give advice; I’m going to give my opinion, but I don’t want to come here and think that I’m entitled to a leadership position, I’m going to earn it day in and day out, on and off the field.”
Leadership is a funny thing. Some players can step right in and lead, while others take their time to become acclimated to the locker room dynamic before being heard. While Amos was not afraid to let his voice be heard from day one, Shawn Oakman has taken his time.
Oakman was highly visible in his first camp with the Argos in 2021; it’s hard not to be when you’re 6’8”. For him, last year’s camp was a time for the defensive lineman out of Baylor to master a new brand of football.
“That yard off the ball was something to learn,” he said with a smile. “With the work in the off-season that we did we’re ten times better as a unit. We’re going to be great.”
That sound you just heard was a giant ‘gulp’ from offensive linemen across the league.
Oakman understands that he’s now more than just a big guy who was best known for a meme created when he was still in the NCAA. He’s become a force on the defensive line that has to be accounted for on every snap.
“I’m a little more comfortable,” he said of his second camp. “There are a lot more expectations on me, on the team as a whole, and on the defensive line as a unit. We’re excited and we’re ready to play.”
The playing part Oakman took to pretty quickly. He led the Argos a year ago with six sacks, while knocking down numerous pass attempts at the line of scrimmage. It led to him being voted a CFL All-Star.
Now that he has a year under his belt, he’s also now comfortable with being more of a leader
“Yes sir, and it’s all due to the leaders that came before me,” he said. “All those players that put me in a position to lead. I’m just taking that same leadership role and applying it to this year and making Shane Ray a better leader and pushing the guys to all become leaders.”
Oakman and Amos are talented enough that they’ll stand out on the field. Their contributions off the field may go unnoticed by fans but are certainly appreciated by the players that line up alongside them.
ARGO NOTES:
Practice ended roughly half-an-hour before it was supposed to as the intense storm that pounded much of the province moved into the area. Alumni Stadium at the University of Guelph is located across the road from Cutten Fields golf course. When the course’s lightning lights flashed and the horn sounded, Argo players scrambled for the locker room. It meant practice ended at 12:30 instead of 1:00…The defence had the better morning session, while the offence was moving the ball more effectively after the break…In the morning, two No. 39s came up big. Undrafted free-agent fullback Joe Carbone scored a touchdown on a corner route, while defensively Maurice Carnell IV had knockdowns at the goal line and in the end zone on successive plays…Whether it was by choice or by good coverage, there were few, if any, deep shots taken in the first sessions, though both Chad Kelly and McLeod Bethel-Thompson were able to get into a rhythm on underneath routes. In the later sessions Kelly hit A.J. Richardson and Damonte Coxie for big plays, while Bethel-Thompson connected with Cam Phillips on a long ball…DaShaun Amos took one back for a pick six for the defence…Defensive end Robbie Smith had a strong day for the D.