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Can college and NFL star RB Steve Slaton rediscover top form with the Argonauts?
isn't the only former American football star coming north this offseason, as the Toronto Argonauts announced this week that they've signed running back Steve Slaton. While Slaton didn't have as long of an NFL career and doesn't have as much of a social media buzz as the man formerly known as Ochocinco, he may prove to be a more important CFL player. He shone in college at West Virginia, where he's still the Mountaineers' all-time leader in both rushing touchdowns (50) and all-purpose touchdowns (55), and he had several impressive years with the Houston Texans. Yes, Slaton hasn't done much in recent years; he was waived by Houston in 2011 following fumble and injury issues, went to Miami and didn't play much before being released in 2012, and appears to have been out of high-level football since then. Still, he's done remarkable things in the past, and his skill set would seem to be a great fit for the CFL.
Slaton is listed at 5'9'', 199 pounds, which is a bit on the small side for an NFL running back, but he might be perfect in the CFL. He's shown solid ability to gain yards with limited carries, averaging 5.8 yards per rush at West Virginia (including 7.0 per rush in his remarkable 2006 season) and 4.8 in his main season as a NFL starter, 2008 (which saw him rush for 1,282 yards, best amongst rookies and sixth-best in the league). A good yards-per-carry average is critical for a running back in the three-down CFL, as is receiving ability, and Slaton has that too; he notched 50 catches for 377 yards in 2008 and 44 for 417 in 2008. He's quite quick (timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and has solid tackle-eluding ability. He's shown impressive potential as a kick returner, too. Here's a video of some of his highlights with the Texans:
Interestingly enough, Slaton's one of several Mountaineer stars now trying to make it in the CFL. Fellow RB Noel Devine has been with the Montreal Alouettes for the last couple of years (but is now a free agent, and one potentially trying to catch on in the NFL), while QB Pat White signed with Edmonton earlier this offseason. Here's a video of the Three Mountaineers in action together against Maryland in 2007:
While many former NCAA and NFL stars don't make much of an impact in Canada, a big point in Slaton's favour is that he's only 28, differentiating him substantially from many older NFLers trying to make it north of the border (including the 36-year-old Johnson). Yes, teams aren't big on running backs over 30, but Slaton isn't there yet, and he still might have some solid seasons left in the tank. Yes, he might have a tough time cracking the Argos' RB lineup, as they already have proven options in Chad Kackert and Jerious Norwood, or earning return duties, as Chad Owens has been great there, but he might at least be worth a look. We'll see if Slaton's able to find some of the success he enjoyed in the NCAA and NFL in Canadian football, or if he'll be another big name who didn't pan out north of the border. He's certainly an intriguing signing, though, and will be worth keeping an eye on.
