Mitchell Blair
The CFL is a league where players get a second chance and many capitalize on that chance. Riders running back Jerome Messam may be the poster-boy for that as the 2015 season enters Week 5.
The 30 year-old has begun the season at the level he played at when he topped the 1000 yard mark as an Edmonton Eskimos in 2011, the same year he was named the league’s top Canadian.
After that season, Messam tried his luck in the National Football League, but a stint with the Miami Dolphins failed. He came back to the CFL, but he wasn’t the same player with the Montreal Alouettes in 2013 leading to a call from Brendan Taman and an invite to come to Saskatchewan. Messam arrived mid-way through the 2014 season and while he had an impact in the Saskatchewan offense, it has taken up to now to regain his 2011 form.
“I definitely feel like I did back then.” Messam said. “It took me a while to get into the right role and the right situation, but I feel I have that in Saskatchewan and I am making the most of my opportunity.”
Messam has taken the opportunity given to him this year and has taken off. Going into Sunday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats he is not only the CFL’s top rusher with 306 yards, but he is also the league leader in combined yards and yards from scrimmage as he has totalled 509 yards.
When asked what is different about this year, Messam makes no hesitation when it comes to the answer.
“I’m healthy, I’m in a great offense and I have a full training camp under my belt.” Messam said. “Like I said, I think I am a better player than I was in 2011 not only with my play, but in the physical and mental aspects of well. I’m really enjoying myself.”
Head coach Corey Chamblin likes what he has seen from the Toronto native both on the field and in the huddle. In fact, Chamblin says he gave Messam a challenge earlier this year and that challenge has not only been accepted, but embraced.
“The biggest thing I want from Jerome is for him to be a leader, on and off the field,” Chamblin said. “I want to see him take that next step. I told him, down in Florida (at a Roughriders’ mini-camp), ‘You want to be a champ. You want to be the best running back in the league. Here’s your opportunity to show it.”
Messam is already known as one of the top Canadian running backs in the CFL, but he wants to be the top overall running back in the league.
“You know it’s funny, because I started the trend of the Canadian running back in 2011 by doing what I did in Edmonton and now those two are two of the best in the league and I feel I am as well. At the end of the day, I don’t want to be known as the best running back from Canada though, I want to be known as the top running back in this league.”
After four weeks, one can make a solid argument that he is.
Messam and the rest of the Riders will be back on Mosaic Stadium turf for the 4th time in 5 games on Sunday night when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats pay a visit. Kick-off is 5 PM.
