Ontaria "Pokey" Wilson

[TecnoGenius]

Ontaria looked great, but just for one game.  Before that he looked, well, poor.

But what his CGY performance does is make teams respect him now.  Prior to that they only had to (try hard to) cover Demski/Woli.  Now they have to (legit) cover 3.  That should open things up a tad for the Demski/Woli, as well as one of the other 2 guys.  If one of those last 2 can themselves break out, then we might really have something!

[ichabod_crane]

Having burst onto the CFL scene with a breakout game, I think he deserves his own thread.

I understand his nickname has been "Pokey".  Given to him by his grandmother because he reminded her of a Pokemon character.

Well, I guess you could have a worse nickname than one the infers you "Gotta catch 'em all".

Collaros saw the talent he has and was waiting for him to figure out the CFL and get "up to speed", and Friday night, looks like that time arrived.

Dunigan kept calling him "sticky" after that catch over the middle that was way over his head.  Hopefully by next game, he will have learned "Pokey's" real nickname.  Although sticky isn't bad either, really.

FSU standout, with a shoulder injury, went undrafted and signed with the Chargers in 2023 as an undrafted FA, but didn't make the final cuts.

I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of him over the next couple years, unless he gets an NFL sniff this offseason.  No, I'm not saying one 200 yard game means he's NFL bound, but judging by what Collaros has said about him since the start of camp, there are definitely going to be some eyes south of the border looking this way.

We should enjoy him while we can.

 

So who will be the BANDIT?! For those old enough to remember there was a Pokey and the Bandit Jets goalie duo in the latter 80's. Pokey Reddick and Daniel Berthiaume (not sure of Daniel's last name spelling). Was even posters created with the two in a bandit outfits!!   A play off the Smokey and the Bandit movies!

[blue_gold_84]

Awesome breakout game for Wilson, but now it's time to string together some strong performances.

I think the ceiling is high if he can establish himself. And he's not even 25.

[Jesse]

Ontaria looked great, but just for one game.  Before that he looked, well, poor.

But what his CGY performance does is make teams respect him now.  Prior to that they only had to (try hard to) cover Demski/Woli.  Now they have to (legit) cover 3.  That should open things up a tad for the Demski/Woli, as well as one of the other 2 guys.  If one of those last 2 can themselves break out, then we might really have something!

He didn't though; when Strev got him the ball, we also saw what he could to as a runner.

[LXTSN]

Wilson
Johnson
Wheatfall
Clercius

We have a great group of Rookie WR's this season! Just need to get them the ball!
Josh Johnson has been doing a great job with the dirty work from Bailey's role of last season! I caught a glimpse of him  blocking on that Streveler TD I believe.

[Cool Spot]

So who will be the BANDIT?! For those old enough to remember there was a Pokey and the Bandit Jets goalie duo in the latter 80's. Pokey Reddick and Daniel Berthiaume (not sure of Daniel's last name spelling). Was even posters created with the two in a bandit outfits!!   A play off the Smokey and the Bandit movies!

Wow, I am no spring chicken, but I think this was even before my time!

[theaardvark]

Losing the highest paid WR and a perpetual 1000yard guy/league leader, you'd think our team would be decimated. 

Have to admit, I'm impressed.  As much as our scouts are being lambasted for DL depth, you can't doubt thier DB and WR scouting.

2-0, one of those games missing players earning a full 20% of our $SMS.

Now, if the preseason was 6 games instead of 2...

[Blueforlife]

Props to the scouts,killing it!

Depth at receiver right now is as good as I can remember.  Likely have to go back to the Milt days for a comparison.

Proud of what our young group of receivers have accomplished.  Sky is the limit.  These guys are hungry to keep a roster spot.  Lucky on the scene likely lit a fire imo.

[markf]

And he was well covered on a few of his catches.  the t.d. the db fell on him, ball was thrown short, he turned reached back and made the catch as he was falling backwards.

and showed in an earlier game , extremely shifty with quick acceleration after a catch.

also acts like he has done this before.

I will not be surprised if he goes to the NFL.

nfl not drafting him would not be the first time they blew it assessing a player's talent.

should get offensive player of the week..... macinnes will probably get it, but he had nobody near him for a number of his receptions.

[Blueforlife]

And he was well covered on a few of his catches.  the t.d. the db fell on him, ball was thrown short, he turned reached back and made the catch as he was falling backwards.

and showed in an earlier game , extremely shifty with quick acceleration after a catch.

also acts like he has done this before.

I will not be surprised if he goes to the NFL.

nfl not drafting him would not be the first time they blew it assessing a player's talent.

should get offensive player of the week..... macinnes will probably get it, but he had nobody near him for a number of his receptions.

Would need a massive season to get a sniff in the NFL but it is possible.  Does he have the speed and size for the NFL? I don't follow it so no clue.

[markf]

Would need a massive season to get a sniff in the NFL but it is possible.  Does he have the speed and size for the NFL? I don't follow it so no clue.

same.... no actual clue.

 possible I may have been overly enthused. really like the guy.

Allouettes receiver signed in the NFL after last season. so,it happens.

[ichabod_crane]

Wow, I am no spring chicken, but I think this was even before my time!

https://scottywazz.blogspot.com/2009/09/absurd-goalie-monday-pokey-and-bandit.html

IT REALLY HAPPENED! Was a big rage at the time!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

same.... no actual clue.

 possible I may have been overly enthused. really like the guy.

Allouettes receiver signed in the NFL after last season. so,it happens.

Austin Mack has much better size, historically it's usually the bigger CFL receivers that get the NFL tryouts like McInnis, Schaffer-Baker, Lenius, even trending back to Chris Matthews.  Smaller receivers like Schoen can't even get a sniff, it always amazed me that Dressler got an NFL look, despite his diminutive size.

[TecnoGenius]

Have to admit, I'm impressed.  As much as our scouts are being lambasted for DL depth, you can't doubt thier DB and WR scouting.

Wow, 5 days ago everyone was blasting how garbage our R corps was, and mostly everyone was glad we got a "real" R named Lucky coming back.  Nothing changed on the R roster since that time.

I don't want to be a downer, but just look back and think to how you thought/felt 5 days ago.  Remember the MOS/WFC mantra: even keel, even keel.  Temper this new found enthusiasm!

I'm so happy for Pokey, but (again) it's just one game!  And CGY had no idea they had to respect the guy going into that game.  Maybe he's the second coming of Kenny, but it's way too early to say we're golden in the R corps now.  Teams are now going to respect Pokey and study and plan for him.  It won't get easier, it'll get harder.

Our R corps is still decimated, and having issues.  But now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel with Lucky easing in, and Kenny probably back in a couple/few weeks, and the apparent emergence of Pokey.

Now, if the preseason was 6 games instead of 2...

Then MOS would have rested Zach & the starters for 6 games           

[TecnoGenius]

I will not be surprised if he goes to the NFL.

nfl not drafting him would not be the first time they blew it assessing a player's talent.

should get offensive player of the week..... macinnes will probably get it, but he had nobody near him for a number of his receptions.

That is true: McInnis made 90% of his catches in zone -- some soft, some tight -- but zone.  Pokey was maybe working against maybe 40% zone?  I'd have to rewatch, but most catches were with traffic around.

As for NFL: people, it's just one game!  And Pokey already had NFL looks and couldn't crack an AR.  Even Schoen didn't get any NFL bites after lighting up the CFL for 2 seasons straight.  Waaaay to early to worry about NFL.  At 6' 175lb he's at the low end of what the NFL would consider adequate.