REGULAR SEASON FINALE GAME THREAD / Week 20 / Argos @ Lions

[doubleblue]

The more we see of Wilder and the more he dominates each game, the more he reminds me of Robert Drummond.

I don't remember Robert Drummond being as physical as James Jr. To me he more of a chip off the old block. He is suppose to be still under contract for 2018, if Popp doesn't let him go early. I'm sure the NFL will come calling again.

[Argo]

I don't remember Robert Drummond being as physical as James Jr. To me he more of a chip off the old block. He is suppose to be still under contract for 2018, if Popp doesn't let him go early. I'm sure the NFL will come calling again.

I wonder how it'd play out if the CFL did not allow GMs to let players under contract leave early? Most players would still sign in the CFL anyway (playing vs not-playing, in all likelihood), and could still leave after year two.

[paulwoods13]

I don't remember Robert Drummond being as physical as James Jr. To me he more of a chip off the old block. He is suppose to be still under contract for 2018, if Popp doesn't let him go early. I'm sure the NFL will come calling again.

It's hard to know whether that will happen. Certainly he's dominating this league, and for better or worse the Argos get more NFL attention than other teams. But he was on NFL practice rosters for two seasons, and was a FA who could have been signed by any NFL team after Buf cut him last year. I'd say it's about 50/50 that he gets some interest from the NFL. If I were Popp, I wouldn't stand in his way if he has a good offer, but would first ask him how many undrafted FAs have made the NFL at RB four years out of college. And inform him how the greatest rusher the CFL has ever seen, Mike Pringle, barely got a sniff from the Broncos at the peak of his abilities.

[AngeloV]

It's hard to know whether that will happen. Certainly he's dominating this league, and for better or worse the Argos get more NFL attention than other teams. But he was on NFL practice rosters for two seasons, and was a FA who could have been signed by any NFL team after Buf cut him last year. I'd say it's about 50/50 that he gets some interest from the NFL. If I were Popp, I wouldn't stand in his way if he has a good offer, but would first ask him how many undrafted FAs have made the NFL at RB four years out of college. And inform him how the greatest rusher the CFL has ever seen, Mike Pringle, barely got a sniff from the Broncos at the peak of his abilities.

Obviously I hope he stays here, but I if he were to go, I hope he has a lot of success.

[OV Argo]

I don't remember Robert Drummond being as physical as James Jr. To me he more of a chip off the old block. He is suppose to be still under contract for 2018, if Popp doesn't let him go early. I'm sure the NFL will come calling again.

Wilder might (but I doubt it) get an NFL shot again - based on his famous NFL name and coming from a top notch Div I program; but not on what he's done in the CFL - NFL scouts don't give a rat's @$$ about CFL RBs.

As far as comparison to Drummond - very similar in that they are big and tall tailbacks who run sort of more upright; both have (had) great speed for big backs, and some power that goes with their size; but neither is an overly physical runner to me - not pure power runners and not like they go looking to smash mouth run over defenders, but they can when they have to; but patient backs who can hit a hole with power & speed and both break-away threats. Wilder's just over 7 yards/carry average this season is off the charts outstanding; if he could get close to that again in a full CFL season where he gets well over a thousand yards or leads the league in rushing he might go down as an all-time great CFL RB talent (and up there with the likes of Symons, McQuay, Fenerty, Jenkins as an all-time great Argo tailback talent). We shall see - love to see a full season ... or 3 or more, in an Argo uniform, out of this guy !

[Jon Gonzo]

I have no doubt that Wilder will get some sniffs. RB is a different position though, and at 25, he may be more interested in starting as opposed to the potential of another position on a practice roster? I could see one more crack at that. Take the $400,000 a year, see how it pans out, and then return at 27-28.

Most NFL Teams draft RB's high and play them soon thereafter. The guys with the newspaper clippings.

It has to be a dream for him though.

The comparison to Robert Drummond is obvious. Both running styles mixed grace with power. Both were big men for the position, and both ran with an upright running style. Another similarity is that there was /is very little motion in the run, and had a look of smoothness -- until contact.

And that's the violent part (;

One difference is that one was drafted in the 3rd Round of the NFL Draft, and played 36 games with 3 TD's. The other (Wilder) went undrafted and never dressed for a regular season game. So Drummond had a more impressive resume coming in.

Of course, it goes without saying, that Wilder has a long way to go to match Drummond. Like, 4 Grey Cups. But he shows much promise, and he'll have to stay healthy and stay put.

[doubleblue]

Wilder might (but I doubt it) get an NFL shot again - based on his famous NFL name and coming from a top notch Div I program; but not on what he's done in the CFL - NFL scouts don't give a rat's @$$ about CFL RBs.

As far as comparison to Drummond - very similar in that they are big and tall tailbacks who run sort of more upright; both have (had) great speed for big backs, and some power that goes with their size; but neither is an overly physical runner to me - not pure power runners and not like they go looking to smash mouth run over defenders, but they can when they have to; but patient backs who can hit a hole with power & speed and both break-away threats. Wilder's just over 7 yards/carry average this season is off the charts outstanding; if he could get close to that again in a full CFL season where he gets well over a thousand yards or leads the league in rushing he might go down as an all-time great CFL RB talent (and up there with the likes of Symons, McQuay, Fenerty, Jenkins as an all-time great Argo tailback talent). We shall see - love to see a full season ... or 3 or more, in an Argo uniform, out of this guy !

I don't know about the NFL not wanting to sign CFL RB's. The Argo one's you mentioned except for Symons (maybe he was better than most of the others) plus Cedric Minter all went down south and were never any good afterwards. But just about any CFL RB that has a great year goes down for a shot at the big money. Can't blame them. Messam, Charles Roberts, Mike Pringle and the back out in Regina come to mind. But there have been others. Jon Cornish is one of the few good ones that stayed put.

So I think Wilder Jr. will give it another shot even just to please his Dad. A half million US for even a backup RB and special teams position a year would probably take him 4 years or more in the CFL to equal it.