If there was any special teams player in the CFL that would scare an opposing team as much as Owens, it has to be the Stampeders’ Larry Taylor.

Taylor finished second behind Owens in both kick return yardage (1,008) and combined return yardage (1,778) in 2011 and he was actually able to best Owens in a special teams statistic, finishing with 232 field goal return yards to Owens’ 105. The Boatmen will have to be on guard on special teams to ensure that Taylor does not break any big plays as he torched the Argos for 216 return yards in last season’s opener.

In last weeks game Taylor showed no rust as he put up 146 combined yards against the Alouettes in a winning effort. Taylor’s day broke down to 77 yards on punt returns and 55 on kick returns to go along with one reception for 14 yards.

It will be crucial for The Argonauts to limit Taylor in the return game, as it will make life difficult for Stamps Quarterback Drew Tate. This is Tate’s first year as a CFL starting quarterback, so giving the Stamps poor field position will be a focal point for the Boatmen.

One would think that after a season in which he was named East Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and an East Division All-Star, Chad Owens would have nothing left to prove.  However, matched up against the second best return man in the CFL, Owens will want to make his presence felt.

Owens ended the 2011 season first in kick return yards (1,750), punt return yards (754) and combined return yardage (2,609), becoming the first player in professional football history to record back-to-back 3,000 yard seasons.  The WR/KR has had plenty of success in his career against Calgary, tallying over 266 combined yards in a week 16 win over the Stamps in 2011.  This week he will be looking to build on this success and give the Boatmen a needed edge over a hungry Calgary squad.

Last week against the Eskimos, Owens was his regular self, making a significant impact on both special teams and in the passing game.  New Argos Quarterback Ricky Ray seems to have found a nice weapon in the dangerous Owens, as they connected for 100 yards through the air.  Owens set a personal best with 324 all purpose yards adding 110 kick return and 105 punt return yards to his receptions.  This was only the third time in CFL history that a player has had a 100, 100, 100 game.  It will be interesting to see if Ray continues to look for Owens against Calgary.

To say the least, Owens is the x-factor for the Toronto Argonauts, given his potential to break a long return and swing the momentum in the Argonaut’s favour at any point in the game.  Fans should be keeping an eye out for the Flyin’ Hawaiian this Saturday.