Jack B. Bedell
CFL.ca
With training camps in full swing all over the league now, the 2009 season is officially underway. Unlike many CFL fans who can’t wait for the regular season to get here, I have to admit I really enjoy pre-season. After a long off-season, news is finally flowing fast and furious from each team, and the level of competition is as intense as it gets for roster spots.
One of the most interesting aspects of the CFL pre-season is definitely the brevity of training camps. Unlike their NFL counterparts, whose pre-seasons last a month and a half, CFL teams have just over three weeks to cut their rosters down from 60+ camp hopefuls. Every part of the process of building a team is accelerated. Camps just opened, and all eight teams are already prepping for pre-season tilts on Wednesday.
With only two pre-season games, players have precious few opportunities to show their stuff in game situations, and coaches have just as few chances to see how their players’ practice abilities transfer to the field with the bullets flying.
New players struggling to make a name for themselves can be derailed by minor injuries if they can’t stay on the field. Veterans have a hard time staying on top unless they perform at their expected levels in limited reps. (If you asked Brad Banks right now, I’m sure he’d agree!)
Combined with constant player movement, new arrivals and sudden departures, the tempo of camp makes for a real boiler plate. Some players get hot; some get put on the hot seat.
Here’s my quick list of what’s cooking in camp so far.
WHO’S HOT
1) Donovan Alexander — After coming over in a trade from Montreal, Alexander has been a hit with the Roughriders defensive coaches. Fast and diligent in his preparation, he’s played himself to the top of the charts in the Riders defensive backfield so far in camp.
2) S. J. Green — With Jamel Richardson out with an illness, Green has proven himself to be more than a big body in the Als’ camp this week. He moves well out of the slot for a man his size, and has the hands to be a real chain-mover in Montreal’s offence.
3) Stefan LeFors — He’s definitely come as advertised to the Blue Bombers, a professional, consistent leader. LeFors made enough of an impression during his first practices with the Bombers; the team sent Ryan Dinwiddie packing.
4) Maurice Lloyd and Kitwana Jones — According to a friend in the Eskimos’ secondary, this defensive duo have brought a pace and attitude to Edmonton’s camp that’s infectious. Just what the doctor ordered in Titletown.
5) James Robinson — The speedy receiver has been impressing teammates on both sides of the ball in Argos camp with his precise route running and soft hands. Robinson has shown up in Mississauga looking to be more than just a special teams contributor in Toronto this year, and that has to have Kerry Joseph and the new coaching staff smiling.
WHO’S ON THE HOTSEAT
1) Brad Banks — Als’ offensive coordinator Scott Milanovich is already on record this summer saying his quintet of QBs is the strongest he’s seen in Montreal to date, and that puts a little pressure on Banks to perform to his abilities if he wants to fend off Adrian McPherson, Chris Leak, and Ricky Santos for the back-up role behind Anthony Calvillo.
2) Jeremaine Copeland — With Nik Lewis, Ken-Yon Rambo, Brett Ralph, and Ryan Thelwell already entrenched, and the emergence of young players like Jabari Arthur on the horizon, Copeland will be in a real dogfight to stay in the mix for balls in the Stamps’ offence this season. The next three weeks will be critical for him to establish his value and to lock his spot down with the Champs.
3) Jamal Robertson — As the ranking incumbent RB, Robertson might have the inside track for the Argonauts’ starting role, but he’s sure to be pushed mightily by new threats Tyler Ebell and Jarrett Payton.
4) Alexis Serna — Right now, it’s Dan Giancola pressing Serna for the Bombers’ boot. You can bet others will be airlifted into town if the second-year kicker can’t put the kicking competition to rest in the next two weeks.
5) Ian Smart — With Stefan Logan plying his trade in Pittsburgh, Smart has a shot to establish himself as more than just a kick returner and second-down back this summer. He’s in the middle of a crowded audition, though, with Damian Sims, Martell Mallett, and Andrew Harris all in the running.
LONGSHOTS
A couple of new players facing big odds who just might stick are the Als’ DB Blue Adams and the Riders’ KR Casey McGahee. Both youngsters have great motors and are fleet of foot. They’re also both in the mix against vets, but have shown well so far in camp.
UP NEXT
I’ll recap the first set of pre-season games and take a quick look at how some of these training camp battles are shaping up as we move into week two of camp.
Until then, that sound you hear will be the thump of 2009 kicking off. Take care.
