Looking ahead to 2014 I like what I see with the Edmonton.
Receivers: A healthy Bowman will give the Esks arguably the best 1-2 at receiver with Fred Stamps.
Cary Koch and Marcus Henry round out the 4 import receivers that should be dressing on game day.
From the Canadian Receivers Nate Coehorn quietly had a very good season at WR with over 600 yards receiving. Shamawd Chambers entering his 3rd season now should be in the starting line up and although he was great on special teams his rookie year and even last year cutting his special teams duties and allowing him to concentrate on his job as a receiver.
The only Question mark is Matt Carter. It is now or never suddenly he is entering his 6th season suddenly it could be never for him in EDM with a new HC and Carter a FA and other FA young Canadian receivers who have progressed more than Carter.
The OLine will benefit from the return of Orrin Thompson, if he cannot return from his injury they had several good import OTs and Jones can surely find another if needed. The important thin will be to have that starter in place coming out of Training camp Matt O’Donnel also will benefit from focausing on one position as a starter coming out of Camp. Projected as a RT and played very well there last year he shoul lock down theat RT spot for years to come giving the ESKS a lot more flexibility with an All Star calibr Canadian RT.
As for the interior several draft picks over the years will be whooped into shape by OLine coach Kris Sweet.
Important to have that Unit in place coming out of Training camp.
RB. They have commited to Sct Back Hugh Charles now whether Jones will want a Power back to chage up the scat back Charles we shall have to wait and see. I always though that if EDM would have stuck with just Hughs and the Addition of Boyd mid season in 2012 that could have been a dynamic duo. They should have just shut Messam down until he was healthy or for the season. If not White was a solid player and the esks did not loose anything with him and Charles both scat backs
Kalvin McCarty has become a great H-Back receiver in the CFL. The Canadian RB can play Special teams as well and should be part of a Package of two back offense to keep defenses on their toes.
Boyd is still probably a long shot because there are so many import RB available. Jones was in the locker room when Boyd was in Toronto so we will see if Jones will give him another shot
QB. Starting position is set. The back up situation needs to be set. It is time for Joseph to retire. Crompton, Nichols, and Harris
Kickers/Punters I think they should go with two seperate players to handle the duties. That will be something they will to to get a handle on in camp whether they stick with the two Canadians they have or possibily bring in an import Kicker or other Canadian Kickers to win a job.
The ESKS are not alone in this situation. The last two Grey Cup winners had a Place Kicker a Punter and a strong legged Kick off guy. both teams needed an import to fill one of those slots but it is important enough to use a DI spot.
Returners The Kavis Reed ERA saw a mix and match of return men.
Edmonton's best punt returner was Cary Koch and their best Kick Off returner was Hugh Charles. Although both will probably be starters it will be well worth them playing double duties splitting the return duties.
In doing this they will not need to use a DI spot for a specialist to return.
This is Chris Jones specialty so he will keep the guys who fit his scheme and find guys to add from everywhere and anywhere. He has got a sharp eye for talent and with the Argos he found some new imports to the CFL that were all stars first year round.
Pat Watkins was his golden find in Toronto and between Jones and Steinhuer in Hamilton, Watkins former DB coach Watkins will have three teams going after him hard.
The ESKS biggest strenth lies in Canadian DTs All Star Laurent will need to be resigned to go with Steele and Don O also rotating in is another all star to go with Laurent import Almondo Sewell.
From there Jones will fix whatever is wrong
BIG change in receiving core. First need is a tight end like NFL uses. Average size 6’ 9 265 can catch anything and punish dbs
Secondly A small receiver with burning speed and GREAT HANDS Brian Kelly! Welker!!! Will Bowman play 4 games or go the big time for 8 games. Koch sorry bad deal there. Maybe the Canadian receivers will do better but I doubt it. Never know
Big chances i receiving core needed
I do agree, like other teams, that they need a true TE.
what montreal did with Lavoi in 2012 made them impossible to stop in the red zone. Hamilton was just beginning a nice chemistry on offense for years to come with Delahunt a true TE at UConn. Ottawa quickly catching onto how successful an offense can be with 4 wide and a real TE drafted both.
Look out for more of these 6’5" type guys to start to develop in the CIS.
Winnipeg and Saskatchewan got a couple of good ones Carl Fitzgerald out of Saint Mary’s and Spence Moore out of MAC. Both big with the TE skill set still listed as FBs, which needs to change. Problem is no offenses were prepared to use them properly out of the recently common 5 wide.
Ottawa also drafted another first rate real TE out of Robert Morris Tyler Digby. Two star athlete in football and Lacrosse a DI player for sure ended up at Robert Morris the only DI school that would let him play both. Currently playing indoor lacrosse for the stealth says he is going to play both.
Oh and Toronto Argos also drafted one in Owen Wilson out of Rice but he plays in the NFL.
So they will be coming. Tough to get a good import TE to come to the CFL with NFL teams carrying 3 on their roster to go along with IR guys and PR guys who usually get elavated to the roster at some point.
Bowman will need to stay healthy no doubt Coehorn and Chambers both have evolved a lot quicker than most Canadian receivers. Especially those from the CIS.
In the CIS the DB play is so much of a gap from the CFL, so much so that their are no starting CB/HB Canadians in the CFL plus most CIS QB do not have the arms that they see from the CFL QBs. A lot of adjustment. a few catch on quick but most take time ie. Jabari Arthur broke out las yer his 6th in the CFL
I agree Steve that the improvement lies with a healthy Bowman and would add with Chambers and Coehorn for improvement also as long threats given that Koch is gone. So long as Howard can also remain health he can serve as a good presence inside at the slot.
The offence needs more than just Fred Stamps for the passing game of course, and it has been plagued the last two seasons by a lack of a long threat and a short passing game on which the defences have ganged up to stuff.
I’m not sure why Akeem Foster had such a decline in performance since 2012, but he’s young enough still to regain his form perhaps? Was it injury? The Esks have Foster at wide receiver, but can he still stretch the field or would he perhaps be better as a big guy like Howard on the inside?
Thank goodness Matt Carter is gone - he was not very good and I see little reason for him to be on the team in Ottawa but he’s their problem now.
As it standse now
3 import starting Receivers, Stamps, Bowman, and Henry. Henry much underatted IMHO but with Koch gone and if Bowman stays healthy should be a solid 3.
Canadian Receivers younger side and growing fast Coehorn, also underated, Chambers came on the second half of the season, and Akeem Foster upgrade ocer Matt Carter.
Also agree true TE are needed around the CFL. in 2012 Lavoi really showed the value of having a good one that can block, catch, and run after the catch. Ottawa swept him up as well as John Delahunt, and drafted two sport star Tyler Digby who is playing NLL Lacrosse in Vancouver but is expected to be in REDBLACKS TC.
Around the rest of the league they are hard to come by Ottawa may be willing to deal.
Three teams were smart enough to see the future and draft true TE. Toronto 2012 Luke Wilson from Rice as a redshirt Junior in 2012 problem is that he was too good and is a key part of the Seattle Seahawks offense.
Winnipeg Carl Fitzgerald from Saint Mary's Saskatchewan Spencer Moore from MAC
Both will need to develop like many Canadian Olineman and REC but both are true TE
Both Winnipeg and Saskatchewan are doin just that with them. I will be watching them and I could see both coming on the second half of the season into offensive packages.
Other than that there are not really any in the league at this point. Darryl Stephanson on the shorter side at 6'2" has done well in the time he did play TE in Hamilton and this could give him a whole second shot at being a relatice offensive player in the CFL
Converting Canadian LB/DE, who stand at about 6'4" to TE may be something we see alot of. Most are great athletes but are usually given the role of special teams and back up Will LB and sometimes MLB. Hamilton is talking about moving Prime from MLB but at 6'1" not really the size needed.
Also I forgot Montreal has on there roster. Martin Bedard has been the Als Long snapper and special teams player but while he was at UCONN he was also a pretty good TE. I noticed he is now listed as a FB on their roster so perhaps they are thinking the same thing. He has been in the CFL for about 4 years now so a good possibility to be able to go back to his other position.
Current Long Snapper Listed Jared Zaleski also playe TE at SFU, mostly as a blocking TE. He did play a year of Juniors after SFU whaer he did work on his receiving skills. So the Als have the potential players to play a ture TE to replace Lavoi
I took my first look since last season at the roster, and wow do we have good depth at every position but perhaps LB.
Check out the offensive line with some serious goon-looking types on it with overall vast improvement compared to last year, and the defensive line looks stacked again with some bad-a's too.
Definitely I like where we stand now compared to this time last year.
For me the biggest positive thing I see is actually having a good coach. I thought we always had talent on this team but it wasn't utilized to its full potential.
I would be willint to bet that the Jones is directly responsible for many of the imports that have been brought in. Like an old time CFL coach/GM like Jim Popp jones has been known to have a rolodex of imports to fill positions. In Toronto it was the DBs.
Also I forgot Montreal has on there roster. Martin Bedard has been the Als Long snapper and special teams player but while he was at UCONN he was also a pretty good TE. I noticed he is now listed as a FB on their roster so perhaps they are thinking the same thing. He has been in the CFL for about 4 70-487
years now so a good possibility to be able to go back to his other position.
Current Long Snapper Listed Jared Zaleski also playe TE at SFU, mostly as a blocking TE. He did play a year of Juniors after SFU whaer he did work on his receiving skills. So the Als have the potential players to play a ture TE to replace Lavoi
Bedard was listed at FB last season and yet was not used. I suspect it had a lot to do with not getting an OC until mid season. Now that Shonert is returning as OC and AC is on the staff officially and used Lavoi a lot as a red zone target so they could finally go that route with Bedard.
Montreal also had a rookie from Sherby who was a Lavoi clone. He only caught 2 passes but again likely something they did not get into the offensive playbook.
Steve, anosh est probablement un nouvel inscrit du Pakistan qui a simplement reproduit ici un commentaire qui avait été mis ailleurs sur ce forum. Il testait sa nouvelle boîte aux lettres.
