Gascon-Nadon DE and Plesius MLB dominainate Vanier Cup

Two of Hamilton's Draft Picks just dominated MAC leading the Laval Defense. Plesius was the Top D player in the country this season and Gascon-Nadon was the top D player in the Vanier cup. Although they may be considered rookies next season they both played there max years of CEGAP and MAX years in CIS so they are already in their Mid 20's. Will they be able to make immedite impacts next year for the Ti Cats. Gascon-Nadon could be a key player in the Dline rotation at DE and Plesius if he does not get an invite to an NFL training camp should be at the top of his game in the CFL to prove that he is indeed the best. The big Question is will Plesius be able to step in and start at MLB for Rey Williams who best seems suited to play at the WIL LB spot. Gascon-Nadon will join former Laval Teamate Antione - Fortin, who will be in his second year with Hamilton to make the DE spot not only young and full of potential but also as a Ratio spot in the lineup.
You can see that both Gascon-Nadan and Plesius were at a much higher level than any other player on the field. Kyle Quinlan who was that guy all season who was playing at a different level than everyone else met two defenders for the first time all season that were at his level.

If both players show up for Training Camp the Cat D will have taken a big step forward. Assuming they can make the leap to compete successfully with other CFL talent. We would be able to play 3 Canadians on D leaving us with only having to play 2 on the o-line (plus 2 receivers). With Hage's future in doubt (injury wise) this would reduce the urgency in finding his NI replacement.

If Plesius is the real deal at mlb, he will be a huge improvement over Williams - who although makes a lot of tackles - does so mostly 5 or more yards down field and seldom makes any for no gain.

Has the kicker for Laval been drafted by any team as yet?
He looks awesome and may be a good player to draft.

Boris Bede is in his second season (sophmore). I agree, he should be drafted once he’s eligible, he was booming kicks and placing them well.

The TSN commentators mentioned that since he’s from France, he would be considered an import, which may impact him being signed. However, the depth he was getting on kickoffs was insane.

Hmm, that’s interesting. Because I would think that Bede would be considered a non-import for the same reason Josh Bartel is considered a non-import. But yes, Bede’s punts and kickoffs were impressive.

Plesius and Gascon-Nadon did impress, and it was good to see those two Ticat draft picks do as well as they did. But unfortunately, I don’t think Ticat draft pick Carson Rockhill did so well in the Mitchell Bowl against the Mac D. Hyped-up RB Steven Lumbala could not get far against that D. And it’s funny how Lumbala, one of the top prospects who are draft eligible in 2013 could not get far against Mac D, but a running back considered a backup, had about 250 rushing yards against that same D. I know that the Laval O line helped make it easier for Boutin to get all those rushing yards. But Lumbala not getting far against Mac does not look good on Rockhill.

That “commentator” ( :roll: ) was Rod (I know nothing about football in general, and the CFL specifically) Black. If Bede is an import because he is from France, then why isn’t Josh Bartel an import because he is from Australia?

:oops: :oops:

You get my drift. Don’t believe ANYTHING that RB says. He is a specific kind of tool which I am too polite to describe in detail.

Well, if Black said that (and I believe you when you say he did), you’d think that considering the number of times he mentioned where Bartel was from, he would have thought of that. :slight_smile:

I don’t think it was Black. Regardless, don’t get your knickers in such a twist. I’m only reporting what I heard.

RB can get anyone’s knickers in a twist (he is a specialist). :stuck_out_tongue:

You can “think” it wasn’t RB, however I specifically remember hearing him say it at the time, whilst thinking that it really did prove his “toolness”.

:wink:

While it is encouraging that they had such an impressive effort in the Vanier cup, I`m reserving my enthusiasm for when these two players strap on the pads in the CFL.

Many a great college player (north and south of the border) have failed when pitted against the pros.

That is so so true but now with them having such a great Vanier cup game seen by many a Hamilton fan that may have been at or watched the game on TV with hometown college Mac in the game. It will certainly cause a lot of excitement.
Also the level of play and player has become much much better even over just the past 5 years. Top rookies at least are coming in much more prepared to make an impact right away. Although there still will be some that will have to go through that three year period of growth the is an upper group that are now playing in the CIS that were never there before.

Fair enough. One thing that Ticat fans really should know is that they shouldn’t get too excited about incoming hyped-up players unless/until they do well on the field. But it’s preferable to see them do well in the CIS, in championship games in particular, than to see them not do well.

cflsteve wrote:

"That is so so true but now with them having such a great Vanier cup game seen by many a Hamilton fan that may have been at or watched the game on TV with hometown college Mac in the game. It will certainly cause a lot of excitement.
Also the level of play and player has become much much better even over just the past 5 years. Top rookies at least are coming in much more prepared to make an impact right away. Although there still will be some that will have to go through that three year period of growth the is an upper group that are now playing in the CIS that were never there before."

I hear you, Steve. I, too, have been encouraged by the continual improvement in the level of talent coming from the CIS. Here's hoping these two players truly can "bring it" to training camp and eventually, hopefully, to the coming CFL season.

Indeed. By looking at the top CIS drafts in the last few years, some of them have had minimal impact in the CFL and are not even playing anymore. Hopefully Plesius and Nadon work out well for the Cats.

:thup:

For me...the play of these two guys in the Vanier was the only bright spot for me. I was hoping Mac could repeat as champions....or at least make a good game of it.

And as for these two guys...I sure as hell the Ticats don't do something stupid and trade them away or cut them after camp. Even worse...develop them for two years and then let someone else sign them as free agents.

(I'm still bitter with how the Ticat season went and he fact that the argos are currently leading in the Grey Cup....blech...I almost threw up saying that)

Duane Forde was in the booth with him and said that he went to school in the states before transferring to Laval so im assuming he played some football there but I could be wrong.

The import rule is in place more for the reason of US players. It was explained why Bartel is not considered an import and as I do not no the official wording it was along the lines that there is no pro organized American/Canadian Football league in Australia. France although it has a league I am not sure in it considered a pro league or a semi pro league or how that would affect the Laval kickers eligibility as an import or none import. It may come down to the interpretation of the rule.
The CFL would be wise if possible to interpret the rule in a way in which he would be considered a Non import and become eligible for the Canadian Draft. It would certainly be in the best interest of the CFL as someone mentioned he was booting kick offs much deeper than any non import currently in the CFL. Swayze Waters, and Import is currently the only one who was able to do this. I saw one of Waters kicks hit the goal post and this kid looks to be kicking them deeper than Waters.

The import rule defines an import as someone who was not born in Canada and has had football training as a youth outside Canada. (Slightly more complex than this, but close enough. The exact definition is documented in the CFLPA CBA, if you’re interested.) Bartel was not born in Canada, but never played football as a youth, so he qualifies as a non-import. If Bede played football as a youth in France, inspired by NFL Europe perhaps, then he would be classified as an import.