Raheem Wilson’s been around 25 years. His candy of choice for 90.
“Growing up, I was a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups guy,’’ reports the Calgary Stampeders’ first-year defensive back.
“I am still a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups guy.
“And I’ll always be a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups guy.
“I love them.”
Well, if there’s anything more flat-out delicious than digging into that scrumptious combination of Hershey Co. chocolate and peanut butter, it’s biting off an interception.
“Man, after the first game, three picks from Tre, one from Smitty, seemed like everybody was grabbin’ ‘em,’’ laughs Wilson.
“So you’re kinda like: ‘Where’s my candy?’
“Funny but (Thursday) I wasn’t even thinking interception. I’m just thinking to make sure on every play that I’m doing my job. And the ball just came to me. Honestly.
“But I was happy to get it.”
Wilson’s pick was one of four on the night by the Stamps during Thursday’s 26-16 victory, three via the fast-knitting defensive secondary.
Wilson and Robertson Daniel are in their first years as Stampeders, Tre Roberson, DaShaun Amos and Royce Metchie their second.
Blend in a couple of long-standing local warriors the quality of Brandon Smith and Jamar Wall, as well as a 10-year CFL vet in Courtney Stephen and the makings of a solid group are very much in place.
“With guys like Smitty and Wall constantly teaching us young bucks about the level of communication it takes to be a great defence we understood the high degree of expectation, almost immediately,’’ says Wilson.
“We’re still learning, still growing and (Thursday) was the result of the preparation that’s demanded here.”
For DB coach Joshua Bell, the evolution of a secondary that lost it’s starting safety, Tunde Adeleke, an all-star corner in Ciante Evans and the veteran presence of Emanuel Davis is starting to take shape.
“You like to see them consistently progress,’’ he says. “This week, schematically it was a good game for us. Not to say that the opponent was easy but their schemes leaned towards what we do well.
“A good match-up, like for a boxer.
“We’ve been executing at, oh, a 65% level, I’d say. This week we got up to 80-85%. Most of the plays we made were ones we should’ve. On Raheem’s interception, he did a damn good job of setting that up off watching film and taking the coaching pointers. Rob’s, same thing.”
That example being set by those two old hands – Smith and Wall – is immense. In fact, Daniel likens Smith to Pat Morita’s mentoring character for a young Ralph Macchio in the 1984 feel-good flick The Karate Kid.
“Having Mr. Miyagi around,’’ says Daniel, with a grin, “is a great thing.
“When you’ve been playing the game that long, there are certain things you can explain, you can say, that just clicks with everyone.
“There are certain times when a coach will say something and you’re just: ‘Huh?!’
“But then you have a guy who’s played 10-plus years saying the same thing to you, because he’s been on the field, because he’s been through it, it just makes more sense.”
For his part, Smith continues to enjoy showing the new guys the ropes.
“They’re definitely catching up to speed,’’ estimates the 12-year man. “they’re buying in, doing what it takes to fit in and play Calgary Stampeder football.
“I’m proud of them. Raheem moves around from position to position and he’s still able to hold his own, be assignment-sound. That’s not easy.
“I’ve been here awhile, as everybody knows and I’ve seen my share of DBs come through. This group enjoys the process and that’s important because it is a process. It’s not an easy defence we run. We ask a lot of our secondary here. So you have to tip your hats to these young guys.
“We’re getting our share of picks right now. As long as everybody’s playing well, just doing what they’re supposed to, they’ll get their turn.”
Right now, the Stamps are the runaway CFL interception leaders, with 12, five of those courtesy of the habitually light-fingered Roberson.
“Everyone’s going to get their candy in the secondary,’’ promises Daniel. “Everyone’s going to make plays.
“As long as QBs keep throwing it nothing’s going to change. If you’re going to run a quick game, we’re going to jump it, wait ’til you double-move us. After you double-move us, we still don’t care.
“I’d say it’s coming together. At least as far as the outside eye. As far as the inside eye, meaning the guys actually playing, we all feel we’ve got a lot of room for improvement.
“But it’s coming along.
“And the interceptions? Yeah. When you get one, it is pretty sweet.”
Sweeter, even, than wolfing down that pastiche of goodness that Hershey’s has been rolling out since 1929.
“Oh yeah,’’ replies the past, present and always Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup guy, Raheem Wilson.
“As much as I love my Cups, I’ll take an interception over a Cup. Any day of the week.”