“I can see him sitting at the knee of Socrates and studying astronomy.”
Admittedly, bringing the Greek philosopher into the conversation wasn’t expected when Toronto Argonauts defensive coordinator Greg Quick was asked about middle linebacker Isaac Darkangelo.
“We talk a lot about the Socratic method of learning,” Quick explained. “He’s the same in how he studies the game of football, it’s an exact science to him. He’s inquisitive but at the same time he has a level of wisdom that allows him to carry conversation with those that may have experience beyond his, but his knowledge and how he looks at the world is far beyond his experience.”
The linebacker’s constant quest for knowledge has been a huge asset in his development, but it doesn’t hurt that he hits like a Mike Tyson uppercut.
Darkangelo, or “Dark” to his teammates, has stepped into an almost impossible role for the Argos, attempting to fill the void left when Wynton McManis pulled the CFL version of a wrestling “heel turn” by signing with archrival Hamilton in the off-season.
While fans and media will certainly have that perception from the outside, the Brighton, Michigan native doesn’t feel the same way about replacing McManis.
“I’m a big believer that you can make the situation as big or as small as you want,” he told Argonauts.ca. “I decide how big I want to make this situation. I just go day-by-day and take care of what I’ve got to take care of.”
His training camp has been one of constant improvement, with Quick noting that Darkangelo had his best practice of training camp on Tuesday, both against the run and the pass.
It may be a new defence under an incoming defensive coordinator, but the 26-year-old linebacker, now in his third season with the Argos, is seeing his Socratic inquisitiveness pay off.
“I was just talking to a buddy about this,” he said while breaking into a big smile. “I feel like the older I get, the more I understand concepts. Now when I see photos and different things I can plug it into my brain pretty quickly.”
On the field, things have been going well and steadily improving, but there have also been questions about who may step in to become the leader of the group. Darkangelo stresses there are several leaders on that side of the ball, though his DC mentioned that the linebacker can assume that role.
“He’s making the guys around him better,” said Quick. “His leadership, his ability to communicate, his overall knowledge of the defence, he’s able to communicate that with his teammates. Not only is he a value from what he brings as far as his linebacker craft, but what he brings as a leader and extension of us (his coaches) onto the field to ensure the application of the schemes and the tactics that we hope to deploy are properly developed.”
Quick was, well, quick to point out that guidance in his group is not the responsibility of just a sole player.
“I don’t know that it’s leadership by one,” said the coach. “What I’m seeing on this football team is leadership by many, and that the relationships that the young men have allow them to interact and hold each other accountable. What I see is a team of leaders that’s developed. If there was a void that was left, I think everybody’s accepted the responsibility of making sure that there’s an accountability. Dark has done a wonderful job of how he’s applied his leadership skills, but I’ve been really impressed that across the board, to a man, they’ve assumed responsibility.”
There were many questions about the Argos defence heading into camp. The unit didn’t click last season like it did during the four previous years, with the Argos allowing a league worst 583 points against (32.4 per game), with 519 (28.8 ppg) of those allowed by the defence.
The first pre-season test for the new-look group comes this Saturday in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats. Watch on TSN in Canada or CFL.ca/Plus in the U.S. and internationally.
ARGO NOTES: Tuesday was the hottest day yet at training camp. The two words heard most often were “hydrate” and “water”…Qualan Jones was again taking first team reps at running back, though all the backs rotated through…Four players were returning punts; Janarion Grant, Peyton Logan, Dimitri Stanley, and Dymere Miller…Robert Priester was in disbelief as he made great plays on back-to-back reps but dropped what could/should have been interceptions. He had another nice knockdown later in skelly…Few people in life are happier than a defensive lineman after coming up with an interception. Quincy Robinson was all smiles after catching a ball that was deflected at the line of scrimmage…The club used the 35-second clock in scrimmage to get players used to the new rule…Lirim Hajrullahu’s final field goal attempt on Tuesday was good from 60 yards…Yesterday players were asked to pronounce their names, so broadcasters and PA announcers can get them right. Among things of note, rookie Louis-Philippe Gauthier prefers to go by L-P, and newcomer Andre Miller prefers ‘Dre…Miller had a great catch, high pointing a ball along the sidelines. He teamed up with Chad Kelly on a 40-yard TD, but had a deep ball knocked away later by rookie Ethan John…Gauthier was taking reps at boundary corner with the second group. He’s usually been on the field side. The third-round pick had a nice knockdown along the sideline…Kelly showed off his arm strength when he was forced to scramble to his right, then pulled up, set his feet, and fired a bullet to Kevin Mital at the back of the end zone…Kelly has developed a nice chemistry with Miller and newcomer Dimitri Stanley, teaming up with the latter for a couple of TD passes…The Argos play Saturday in Hamilton. The two teams meet the following Friday, May 29, at Alumni Stadium in Guelph. Tickets are available at Argonauts.ca.