http://www.cfl.ca/article/esks-nickname ... seabiscuit
Esks nickname workhorse tailback 'Seabiscuit'
October 27, 2011 1 Chris O'Leary Edmonton Journal
"We call him Seabiscuit," Eskimos slotback Jason Barnes said. "That's the nickname that our running back coach, Dennis McKnight, gave him. We call him Biscuit for short, just because he's a big horse."
Oh yeah, he is a horse.
"In my opinion, he had turned the corner after the Hamilton game," Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed said. "He started to show that his vision was there, his flexibility was back, and he'd learned the lesson from the situation that he'd had earlier (with inconsistency) and we really felt that he had turned a corner."
As for the nickname, the 26-yearold from Brampton, Ont., said he's not too worried about what he's called.
"I don't really feel any way about it," Messam said. "That's what they call me and I just go with it."
But as to a parking lot spot, or a card game, look out. Not so easy going there.
The most impressive aspect of Messam's yardage this season has been his ability to run through tackles. At six-foot-three and 245 pounds, he's proving near impossible to haul down in single coverage.
"He's a monster, man," Eskimos defensive back Rod Williams said. "He's running with confidence, he's running with power, and he's going to run us right to the Grey Cup. " Williams said there aren't too many players in the league who can haul down Messam on their own, especially when he gets a step or two behind them.
"You've got to gang-tackle him," said Williams.
"You've got to run to the ball, you've got to make sure he's down," Williams continued. "You can't expect one guy to make the play."
"He's definitely gifted," Esks quarterback Ricky Ray said. "He's big and powerful, but he's also got some speed and he can make some guys miss. He's got a good combination of skills."
"Man, that power-run game. When (Messam) is on, we can control the clock and grind it down," Barnes said.
"He gets those tough yards that we need in difficult situations, so he's not the typical scatback; he's not scared to punch it up in there. I think that definitely gives us an edge and an attitude on our offence."
"not scared" ... No, he is a warrior.
"got some speed" ... Yup.
"can make some guys miss" Yes, running back skills in a huge athletic, powerful guy.
"I'm really excited," Messam said. "It's just big, a big accomplishment. It'll be good to go back (to B.C.). It'll be kind of ironic, but - I've just got to compose myself and keep my emotions within."
I expect he will manage to keep his emotions in check.
"It's not like he's been playing tailback for five or six years in this league," Ray said. "Really, this is his first full season of starting and I think you're going to see him improve quite a bit this year with our remaining games.
"As well, he's still got a lot to learn at the tailback position."
He could be a good one for quite a while.
