Edmonton Eskimos' Arkee Whitlock, centre, runs the ball as Calgary Stampeders' Tim Johnson, left, and Miguel Robede chase him during first half CFL Western semi-final football action in Calgary, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacdougalLarry Macdougal/The Canadian Press
If Arkee Whitlock was easily discouraged, he would have walked away after his debut with the Edmonton Eskimos in the second week of the 2009 CFL season.
Whitlock didn't buckle then and won't now, even with the Eskimos staggering to a 1-5 start.
Through six games in a season in which precious little has gone right, the 26-year-old running back from Rock Hill, S.C., has been one of the few bright spots for coach Richie Hall's Eskimos, amassing 577 rushing yards on 90 carries.
As Whitlock proved after a disastrous debut against the Montreal Alouettes 13 months ago, being down doesn't necessarily mean out.
"I'm very excited this year," Whitlock said. "I think I've established what I'm capable of doing early this season.
"I try to get better as time goes on. I get better with time. Having started fast, it's going to give me an opportunity to have a good season because I'm a harsh critic of myself and I want to get better."
As tough a start as the Eskimos have had, it's no worse than July 9, 2009, when Whitlock started against Montreal in place of Jesse Lumsden, who'd crumpled to the turf with a season-ending shoulder injury in the first quarter against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 1.
Tossed into the fray, the raw rookie dropped two sure touchdown passes from Ricky Ray, had another pass bounce off his shoulder that was returned for a Montreal touchdown and fumbled once. He managed just 29 yards on 12 carries in a 50-16 drubbing from the Alouettes.
Whitlock endured a week-long grilling from reporters, then strapped on his equipment and didn't stop running until he'd rushed for 1,293 yards on 211 carries and earned Edmonton's nomination as CFL rookie of the year.
"I'm a competitive guy," Whitlock said. "Something like that, it's going to make me explode, but in a good way.
"I have a bend but don't break mentality. I've been down before. I don't mind playing under pressure. Having a game like that, it might have been the best thing that ever happened.
"I don't think a game can get worse than that. I've seen the bottom of the barrel. That, it just motivated me to get better. I've come a long way from that day."
Whitlock hasn't broken stride this season. His 577 yards puts him second to Toronto's Cory Boyd, who has 648. Whitlock has three games of 100-plus yards rushing, including a season-high 147 in a 29-28 loss to the Argonauts last weekend, going into Sunday's game against the Calgary Stampeders.
"Arkee finished last year as one of the best backs in the league," Ray said. "He's still making those moves. He's got the ability to make guys miss. Even if we don't block it up right, he'll get yards. Even if you don't do it right, he makes you look good.
"I've been here when we haven't had a running game and all the defence has to do is take away the pass. Now, you can't do that. You have to respect our running game."
Despite several changes along the offensive line, Whitlock is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. A compact five foot 10 and 210 pounds, Whitlock's rushed for four touchdowns. He has yet to fumble and has added 10 catches for 68 yards.
"He's done a very good job," Hall said. "What he's done is develop into an all-around back. His pass protection, his assignment checks and blocking are vastly improved. He's working hard at pass receiving coming out of the backfield.
"He's more than just a ball carrier, and that's what you want. You want the triple threat. When he's in the game, they have to respect that he's going to block well and that he's a legitimate (passing) threat. We already know what he can do running with the football."
Hall well remembers Whitlock's first game, so there's context when he talks about how he's developed.
"He's worked hard as a player and as a person," Hall said. "The thing about it is, we're all going to have our sub-par games.
"One game doesn't define who we are. What he did is he took that Montreal game and he continued to work and to believe. Our players continued to believe in him. We saw what happened his first year and he's followed that up by being even better."
Ask Ray, and he says Whitlock compares favourably to any back he's played with. That's high praise, considering Ray had handed the ball to the likes of Mike Pringle and John Avery in his time with the Eskimos.
"I've played with some pretty good ones," Ray said. "Avery led the league in rushing here. Then, obviously, Pringle.
"Arkee brings a little bit of a different dimension than those guys. He's so shifty. He makes some ridiculous cuts, makes guys miss and picks up a lot of yardage. If he plays up here a long time and stays healthy, he's going to have a really good career."
While that remains to be seen, it's obvious Whitlock has embraced the opportunity to be the go-to guy and a workhorse in Edmonton's backfield and run with it.
"If the team is down and out, I want the ball in my hands," Whitlock said. "If we're at a time in the game where we need something to happen, then I want the ball.
"I have the confidence I can put my teammates on my back and try to carry this team. I've proven I'm capable of being the guy. I love this game and I'll take that challenge."