Mitchell Blair
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have arguably the best quarterback in the CFL in Darian Durant and they may arguably have the best running back in the CFL in Kory Sheets. When it comes to Canadian receivers though, there might not be an argument as to who the best is in the CFL and he also wears green and white.
Chris Getzlaf goes into this Saturday’s game against the B.C Lions with 982 yards receiving which puts him 3rd in the league in that category behind Edmonton’s Fred Stamps and Montreal’s S.J Green. While Getzlaf has flirted with 1000 yard seasons since becoming a full-fledged starter in 2010, Getzlaf only has achieved the landmark once and that was in 2011. Getzlaf is never one to put personal accomplishments ahead of team goals, but he does admit reaching that 1000 yard barrier is special.
“Its something all receivers strive for,” Getzlaf said. “I’m not looking at how many catches or how many yards I get though. At the end of the day, I just want to get the win and if I can put up good numbers and we win it’s a bonus.”
Getzlaf is in a group of talented receivers. When all is said and done this year, he could be one of three Rider receivers to hit the 1000 yard mark as Weston Dressler and Taj Smith are also looking to hit that figure. Getzlaf says it shows how well as a unit the offense has played even though it has some recent problems in getting the ball in the endzone.
“Overall as a unit, I think we’ve clicked pretty good this year. When we’ve been on our game, we’re putting up some yards and stats.” Getzlaf stated. “When you have three guys with the potential to crack that mark, it says something about your offence. “
Darian Durant pulls the trigger to his talented receivers and he is not hesitant in saying the relationship he has formed with the Regina product is a special one and one that has clicked many times not only this year but over the many years that the two have been in the huddle together.
“I think Getz is capable of putting a number of good seasons together.” Durant said. “He’s gotten better and better every year and he’s helped me get better. He’s really thriving in this new offense and I think the best is yet to come. “
The 30 year old also draws high praise from his position coach and that position coach was one of the best inside receivers to ever play the game—Jason Tucker. The former Eskimos passcatcher believes that while Getzlaf went into the season as an established receiver in the game, he has also taken his game to another level.
“He has taken his game to a new level,” Tucker boasted. “I think he’s improved each time out this year and he is having a phenomenal season. I give him pointers on certain things, but when I look at his game the thing impressing me the most is he works hard to correct his mistakes and he learns from them. He had a tough year last year when it comes to drops, but he has worked hard at making sure that isn’t happening anymore. He’s had a couple this year, but he knows what he has done wrong and I haven’t seen him make the same mistake twice. That’s what you want from a football player. “
As the regular season winds down, it’s hard to think opposition defences aren’t paying him the attention he should, but Getzlaf thinks perhaps it is and he is fine with teams getting ready to try and stop Durant and company from doing their thing feeling that way.
“No complaints here,” Getzlaf says with a smile. “If teams are thinking they have to suck up the linebackers to stop Kory or double-team Weston (Dressler) or Taj, it leaves me with some open space and that’s what any receiver wants.”
Getzlaf and his group of pass-catchers will have their work cut out for them Saturday night when the B.C Lions bring perhaps the best secondary in the league to Mosaic Stadium for what is a huge game between the Western Division rivals. With both teams having won one game in their three game series, the winner of this contest will likely finish no worse than second in the West and that means a home playoff game. Kickoff is 5 o’clock.
