Redblacks’ Ryquell Armstead says he needs to avoid penalties

Article content

Ryquell Armstead knows he’s going to hear the taunts — the trash talk from opponents — while he continues to roll up the rushing yardage for the Ottawa Redblacks.

Now, it’s all about how he reacts.

The 27-year-old, who’s known as Rock, is in his first season as the Redblacks starting running back and has 547 yards rushing on 103 carries (with three touchdowns on the ground), for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Capable of running around and over opponents, he had 120 yards on just 11 carries in last week’s 31-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders.

Article content

For Armstead, it’s not about just keeping his legs moving, it’s also about not talking back, even when opponents are running their mouths at him.

In Week 8, Armstead put the Redblacks in a tough situation when he was kicked out in the second quarter of a game against the Stampeders after taking his second objectionable conduct penalty of the game for getting into a scuffle with Branden Dozier.

Redblacks coach Bob Dyce wasn’t happy as it forced him to move receiver Bralon Addison into the backfield.

“We talked about it,” Dyce said. “We have a plan in how we handle those things. Rock knows how valuable he is to this team. No different than anybody else in that locker room, he wants to be a big part of what we’re doing. To do that, he has to keep his composure and stay on the field.

“We talk about mental, emotional and physical — you have to take care of all three of those. He’s done a fantastic job.”

Armstead says he has changed his ways and, with his team in mind, he’s making an effort to tone it down. Last week, Calgary was yapping at Armstead much of the game and defensive lineman Clarence Hicks took a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter.

Article content

“It’s ridiculous (what opponents are saying),” he said. “I’m not going to speak on what they’re saying, but they talk a lot, some of it is personal. I have to continue to walk away — be selfless, not selfish.

“I’m not allowing the things that got me in trouble to be a problem again. None of the altercations are bigger than what we’re trying to accomplish, none are bigger than our team goal.”

Armstead insists he’s calm, cool and collected away from the field.

“I’m very laid back outside of football,” he said. “But when I step onto the field, I’m very intense … this is my job, I have 12 people trying to kill me every play. There’s a switch you need to turn on when you go onto the football field, then turn it off when you come off.”

While Devonte Williams was running for 1,002 yards last season, Armstead was on the practice roster. The Redblacks signed him to come into camp to compete with Williams, who then went down with an Achilles injury. With his performance, Armstead seized the starting job and hasn’t looked back.

There’s a lot goes into that, of course. Armstead can be both elusive and isn’t afraid to run over tacklers. Credit should also be given to the guys in front of him, the blockers. Last week, on several plays, Armstead wasn’t touched until he was a few yards beyond the line of scrimmage, allowing him to get into space.

Article content

“My confidence and my comfort zone has never left,” he said. “My play this year came from last year, that’s when it started. I worked out back home to enhance my game. I was able to build myself up into an all-around player.

“I’m playing with some dogs, we’re playing as one on offence.”

This week is another opportunity for Armstead and the Redblacks to excel with a Saturday night home game against the B.C. Lions.

Peripheral vision is so important to what Armstead does and he says the hand-eye co-ordination goes back to when he spent time playing a video game.

“I used to play Fortnite a lot,” he said. “I told people it was for hand-eye reaction.”

For Armstead, there have been challenges, adversity along the way. But he doesn’t allow him to sidetrack what he wants to achieve as a football player.

“I’m hard on myself, but I feel I’m successful because I don’t chase the accolades,” he said. “My younger years, I chased yards, I chased touchdowns. I’ve learned the best part of football is the journey. What I chase now is just giving 100% each play and that allows everything else to open up.

“A lot of guys wait until their character is challenged. For me, when things go bad, my only question to myself is: ‘Who are you?’ If things aren’t going your way, people want you to lash out, but you have to look inside.

“I’m having a good life, I’m playing a kid’s game. I want to be a high-energy guy … that’s what I focus on. A lot of people aren’t going to like me, but a lot of people are going to love me.

“If the guys in this building understand where I’m coming from — with passion and leading by example — that’s all that matters.”

Article content