It’d be an understatement to say that Emanuel Davis is having a season to remember in 2015.
The Ticats halfback has been lights out all season long, making life difficult on opposing quarterbacks and receivers with his airtight coverage and ballhawking instincts.
Through 14 games, Davis leads the CFL with five interceptions, 10 pass knockdowns and three interception touchdowns. Leading in all three of the major takeaway categories for a defensive back, Davis is building a strong case for recognition as the league’s defensive player of the year.
Not only has the third-year defensive back been a turnover machine, but he’s been a consistent defensive contributor across the board, ranking third on the Ticats in tackles with 43.
“It’s all really been a blur,” said Davis, when asked to reflect on the season thus far. “I know I lead the league in picks as of now, but I’m just trying to keep working and keep the success going; the season’s not over yet.”
It’s the Manteo, North Carolina native’s third season in the league, but the first of his five interceptions this season was also the first of his CFL career. In two previous seasons with the Ticats, Davis was a defensive starter but was far from the star he’s become in 2015.
With 43 tackles this season, Davis has already surpassed his career-high total of 41, while his fumble recovery in Week 4, his sack in Week 5 and his forced fumble against the Stampeders in Week 15 were all career-firsts.
It’s as if a lightbulb suddenly came on in Davis’ game and everything slowed down for him; but according to the man they call ‘Chop’, the improved play is a result of a deeper commitment to his craft and a new dedication to being a professional.
“Last year I had a reality check when I got my job taken,” explained Davis. “It was due to things that I wasn’t doing as a professional. This year during the off-season, I thought about the things that I had to do to be a pro first and foremost, and then [what I had to do] to help my team out.”
According to Davis, when he lost his job in August of 2014, he took a step back and re-evaluated how seriously he was taking the job. Not often one to arrive early or stay late, he began to make changes to his routine and committed to being one of the first players to arrive in the morning and one of the last ones to leave.
“With a guy playing in my position, I should have been taking that part of it more seriously and I’ve been doing those things this year,” explained Davis.
Ticats defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer has noticed the changes his starting halfback has made, noting that Davis was never lacking for raw talent.
“I think he wasn’t all-in in the process of being great [before],” said Steinauer, “he had the tools and that’s why he’s still around, but he has a much better understanding of the CFL game and our defence.”
The change in Davis’ work ethic was so significant that it was the first quality mentioned by Steinauer when asked about his high level of performance this season.
“Chop is a hard worker, he cares about football,” said Steinauer, “that’s what he wants to do and he’s committed to it.”
Steinauer added that players have to be receptive to hard coaching and that Davis has been rewarded for his response to the tough love he’s received from Steinauer and his defensive assistants, James Stanley and Marcello Simmons.
Other than a more concerted effort to be great, Davis benefited greatly from the Ticats training camp this season, in which he was moved all over the field on defence. The time at different positions broadened Davis’ understanding of both the Ticats defensive scheme and the CFL game as a whole, and that added awareness has helped make him the league’s most dangerous defensive back.
“I like to think of myself as a sneaky corner,” said Davis. “I like to blend things together and throw the quarterback off as much as I can.”
As a player who prefers zone coverage over man coverage, the third-year corner prefers to sit back, give opposing quarterbacks false reads and then capitalize when they take the bait and throw his way.
“In zone I get to play around with my looks a lot more and give offences false reads,” explained Davis. “I like zone because I’ve got a little more freedom within the defence.”
When asked what his number one strength as a defensive back is, Davis acknowledged play recognition as his number one attribute.
“I feel like if I see it [a play] once, when I see it the again I have a beat on it,” Davis explained, “I pick up little tendencies from previous plays and that helps me make plays.”
As Davis himself pointed out, the season is not over yet and a number of important games remain on the horizon. With the season wrapping up, his ability in play recognition becomes magnified as the Ticats face teams for a second time.
The team success remains priority number one, but if the third-year halfback continues his exceptional level of play for the final five games of 2015, he may just be in line for recognition as the CFL’s best.