It happens every year with every team. At some point, usually toward the end of training camp, a popular player or two are released.
On Wednesday morning the Toronto Argonauts surprised many by parting company with Quincy Mauger, brought in via free agency a year ago to play the strongside, or SAM linebacker spot. He played well last year but couldn’t stay on the field, suffering a pair of injuries that cost him 10 games.
His departure opens the door for a new starter, which means finding the right athlete for the spot as the SAM backer is regarded as the toughest position to play in the secondary. When asked why it’s so challenging, defensive co-coordinator and defensive backs coach Jason Shivers, a former DB himself, said there’s a distinct set of skills required for the position.
“You need to be able to blitz,” he explained. “You need to be able to cover, also communicate and think on your toes. There’s a lot going on at that position starting off with the run, to the possibility of different coverages and rotations we have going on the back end.”
The favourite to win the job is Donald Rutledge, new to the Argos but not the position. A product of Georgia Southern, he was the starting SAM for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for most of the 2022 season. He then headed south to play for Houston in the USFL for a couple of years before signing with the Argos last December.
He’s not only up for the possibility of starting, but appreciative the team is considering him for that spot.
“I take pride in playing the SAM because you have to be smart and athletic,” he told Argonauts.ca. “You’ve got to be big enough to play the run, you’ve got to know your gap schemes, you’ve got to be big enough to make the tackle, but then you’ve also got to be quick enough to cover. You’ve got to be a jack of all trades when you’re playing that position. I take pride in it because I’m smart enough to do it, big enough, fast enough, and physical enough to play it.”
The 6’1, 215-pound defender experienced a championship culture in Winnipeg and is now seeing Toronto’s firsthand. There’s one main commonality in his opinion.
“It’s the more so the vets in the room,” said the native of Sumter, South Carolina. “It was the same way in Winnipeg, they had some great vets, some great guys that just want to bring along the young guys. It’s more of a family business; the coaches actually care about the guys and do a lot of team bonding. Those are always the organizations that win, they pull together and go harder for each other.”
Yes, one of the newest Boatmen used the term “pull together.” He’ll fit in just fine.
Shivers mentioned Rutledge as one of three players competing for the starting SAM job. The others are Kenneth George Jr, who finished the 2024 season with the Argos after a season and change in Hamilton. He’s another versatile back who spent some time in Toronto last year lining up at SAM in practice.
The third name the coach mentioned was that of Tyshon Blackburn, who has lined up during training camp at both SAM and safety. The 6’2”, 210-pound University of Alberta product is in his second season with the Argos after being a third-round pick a year ago.
He told Argonauts.ca that he looks at each spot in the secondary as just another space on the chess board.
“Honestly, I feel pretty comfortable everywhere,” said the Calgary native. “I’ve played halfback, free safety, and SAM, it’s all pretty similar,” though he concedes the strongside LB position may be a bit busier. “There’s a lot of things you’ve got to be able to do; you’ve got to blitz, you’ve got to cover, you’ve got to communicate, but all of our roles here are pretty interchangeable.”
The regular season opener is just a week away, so the last chance to audition for the job is Friday night at Alumni Stadium in Guelph when the Argos host Hamilton. Shivers, like everyone else, will have an eye on who plays well at SAM.
“It’s going to exciting to see how the final race ends.”
ARGO NOTES: Along with the Mauger release, the Argos announced that they had released defensive back Lawrence Johnson, while Mark Milton has been activated from the suspended list. The team also welcomed defensive end Brevin Allen to Toronto. He spent the last couple of seasons in the NFL, seeing some playing time with the Los Angeles Chargers. He set school records for career sacks and tackles for loss while at Campbell University.