Whitaker, Cox earn weekly honours
25. Aug, 2010 
6 Comments
Alouettes’ Brandon Whitaker made the most of his first start of the 2010 CFL season, earning offensive player of the week honours on Tuesday.
While filling in for an injured Avon Cobourne, the running back rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to clinch a 39-17 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday.
Whitaker’s Alouettes teammate Chip Cox was a unanimous choice for defensive honours. In the first quarter against the Bombers, the linebacker recovered a Steven Jyles fumble and returned it 14 yards for the game’s first touchdown. He also had a team-high nine tackles, including one sack and one pass defended.
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Phew!
For a moment there I thought that like the Als, AIO was taking a bye week this week as well!
Also, congrats to Whitaker and Cox.
But what’s Whitaker going to do when Cobourne returns?
Whitaker winning player of the week is, in Herb’s words, a “only in the CFL” moment.
Doesn’t get a carry in the first half, then runs for 74 yards.
But with AC out and no other Al standouts, then a defensive Hamilton-Toronto game.. and a bye in the WEST… who else but Whitaker.
Good for him. At least it will look good on his resume
Cox on the other hand was truly outstanding.
I thought Whitaker more than deserved the award. He didn’t run the ball in the first half because the coaches gave him a grand total of TWO touches in the first 30 minutes of the game. In the second half, they remembered the run and he delivered with 118 combined yards (rushing and receiving) and two important TDs (the first reestablished our two-TD lead and gave us our first points of the second half; the second was the insurance TD that basically put the game out of reach for Winnipeg).
All this came from a second-year pro who had hardly seen any live CFL action, lining up next to a young QB (Leak) whose lack of experience made it doubly imperative for us to run the ball effectively.
Whitaker was full value for the award.
Wow
Two Defensive Player of the Week in 3 weeks!
Chip Cox rules!
That first quarter was probably the BEST I’ve ever seen from a defensive player.
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve6yep8j8to
I’m not suggesting that Whitaker didn’t perform admirably given the circumstances or that he wasn’t instrumental in the Als victory.
Only that in a typical week, his output would not have earned the award.
Let’s not forget the value of a quarterback that rattles the defense with some running ability. Chris Leak rolling out and breaking tackles didn’t do the running game any harm…that’s for sure.
It sometimes takes just a hint of doubt in the mind of a defensive lineman…and leverage is gained…holes start popping open.
It goes some way to explaining the Alouettes obsession with the pass. The middle’s been clogged up…more times than not. Running off-tackle’s worked OK at times…and the “Bratton Sweep” once a game.
It will be interesting to see if the offensive line and Avon Cobourne can take advantage of the opportunity. Might get some folks thinking….