Richardson Welcomes Shot At Facing Calvillo

07/07/2009 04:33

The thing about losing Jesse Lumsden is you know what you're getting in replacement Arkee Whitlock, who had an outstanding CFL pre-season and has obvious talents in running the ball.

The bigger question is how do the Edmonton Eskimos replace Canadian safety Scott Gordon, who is out of the lineup with a leg injury that could keep him out for at least a couple of weeks?

Simple. Just throw in another raw rookie and see what happens.

At practice on Sunday, fellow Canadian Elliott Richardson saw most of the reps on the first defensive unit, which is an interesting story in itself. He could join fellow rookies Bobby Keyes and Lamar Herron at the corners against none other than veteran Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo in Montreal.

"Yeah, it's kind of an interesting situation, going in against one of the most prolific passers in the CFL in the last 10 years," said Richardson, knowing full well what he might be up against.

"I think he put up more than 5,000 yards passing last year and more than 50 touchdowns. I just have to make sure I'm doing the little things right and it shouldn't be too much of an issue."

That's 5,633 yards and 43 touchdowns, actually. But no pressure, eh, kid?

"No, not at all, it's just football, right?" smiled Richardson, who is virtually an unknown, having come to camp from Acadia University. "I came in here a month ago, fourth on the depth chart, so ... Even before I came out here my friends asked me, 'So what are you planning?'

"I said, 'Well, you know, we'll see. Maybe end up on the practice roster this year, eventually make the transition, kind of chip away.' Now it's three weeks later and I'm potentially the guy on Thursday. We'll see how it goes."

Yes, we sure will. But one thing the 23-year-old Toronto native has going for him is he's a quick study. The two-time Academic All-Canadian rooms with Gordon and has picked the veteran's brain from Day 1.

"I've taken a lot of the reps. That's all it is right now," Richardson said of Sunday's outing. "Maybe I'll take some more tomorrow. I'm just trying to take advantage of every (rep)I get and try and show them that I can do what's required to be the starter on Thursday and let them decide."

What's the chances the diminutive five-foot-nine, 190-pounder will start?

"There's a good chance he (will)," said head coach Richie Hall. "We have Richardson and we have (Jason) Nugent. They'll both be platooned in there and we'll make a decision. But we feel very good regarding both of them. Neither one has the experience that Scotty does, but there is a reason they're on the football team."

WHITLOCK TO START

With Lumsden out, Whitlock is officially in as a tailback.

"Finally; it's been a long time coming. I'm trying hard not to get too excited and too anxious," said Whitlock, who made the 46-man roster, but sat out Game 1.

He had a terrific exhibition season with 108 yards on 14 carries for a 7.7-yard average and two TDs.

"I've still got a bit in the tank, you know, from my momentum from the pre-season," smiled Whitlock. "I've been doing the same things, hoping for the opportunity to play."

He has it now.

MORE CHANGES?

Gordon was not at practice and FB Mathieu Bertrand and DB Willie Amos sat out without pads. Don't be surprised to see Jason Goss replace Herron at wide-side corner with Lenny Williams moving to half.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

Certainly, this is not the way the Eskimos wanted to begin the season – losing two starters for extended periods of time in the first game. If Montreal and Edmonton play anywhere near the way they played last week, this is going to be a very looooooooong game for the Edmonton Eskimos. They’ve got to pick it up a few notches – particularly offensively.