CHARLOTTE, NC — Mark Kilam knows the importance of football in Alberta.
The now head coach of the Edmonton Elks spent more than a decade with the Calgary Stampeders, winning three Grey Cups and contributing to one of the most successful runs in league history.
True. Hamilton hasn’t re-signed any on the CFL list, Argos 1 & Stamps 5. There is still just over 3 weeks to go. What we all don’t know is how close teams are to signing players, are there verbal agreements etc… Also some teams may send off signed contracts to be registered with the league in bunches.
This year it appears a bunch of teams are also looking at trades more than in years past. BC has been actively exploring trades & has to make some decisions on their receivers, what with having a quartet at, or looking at, $200K plus - not doable with the Rourke contract. We’ve already seen big trades involving the Stamps, Elks, Argos & Als. I would not be surprised if we see a few more. And when veteran players are released, they aren’t unemployed long - Dillon Mitchell & Stanback recent examples
You know the Elks better than I do. But of the 28 FA’s still o/s, my list would say you have to sign 9 - Bratton, Foucault, Gray, Hutter, Tevin Jones (assuming Lewis is gone), Morgan, Oakman, Richards, maybe Prukop. That’s not to say the rest should be let go but, for me, those are the key guys.
Some CFL fans are super obtuse and whiney, but fans in Edmonton take the bitching and complaining to new heights.
Mark Kilam makes a key point in this article, “We’re really proud of the Jordan Maksymic hire on offence because he has a ton of experience developing high-end quarterbacks … showing an ability to mold his offence to different skillsets and abilities."
This isn’t hockey folks, in football coaching REALLY matters!
Kilam is clearly saying Maksymic will fit the offense to Dual-Threat QB Tre Ford’s skills and abilities which means a Smashmouth RPO Horizontal Spread offense which shifts the supporting personnel. It is bloody obvious!
If you need confirmation just look at the Tre Odoms-Dukes SB 6’3 216 signing and ask does he seem like a CFL TE type? Answer: YES!
Name:DeVontres Dukes College:South FloridaNumber: 18 School Bio/Stats Link:HERE Height: 6-3 Weight: 216 Position:Pos2: SS/OLB ← LB mentality Class/Draft Year: rSr/2021 40: 4.74 ← Not Fast 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16 <-Strong Upper Body Broad Jump: 10’02" <-Strong Legs
Full expect OC Maksymic to smashmouth defences with a big powerful O Line & Receivers to give Ford, Rankin and Leake running room to suck in the defense.