Murray McCormick
The Leader-Post
REGINA — It may be hard for Jordan Sisco to heed the advice of Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman when it comes to this weekend’s CFL evaluation camp in Toronto.
Taman suggested that players taking part in the camp relax, have fun and act like they have been there before. Sisco, a fourth-year receiver with the University of Regina Rams, is taking part in the camp for Canadians eligible for the 2010 draft on May 2.
“It’s my last interview before I get to play in the big leagues,” Sisco said. “There is a lot of pressure but it’s good to have that there. It keeps me working hard. It makes me want to go to the gym and get in that extra set. It has done good things for me.”
The evaluation camp starts Friday when the players arrive in Toronto and participate in team interviews. Saturday and Sunday are taken over with a series of speed and agility drills.
Sisco is among 58 players invited to the camp. He may have an advantage over some of them because he has already been through a similar scenario at the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando on Jan. 23. Sisco, 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, said being scrutinized by scouts is different from playing in a game.
“In a game, you don’t know if anyone is there because they’re all in the stands,” said the 21-year-old Sisco. “At this thing, they are going to be standing right beside you on the sidelines watching your every move.”
Taman is looking forward to the weekend because it gives him a chance to meet with the players.
“Their ability and testing is fine but it doesn’t show how they play the game like the film does,” said Taman. “My philosophy is I never let a guy’s stock go down because of this. I will let one go up. More importantly, it’s a chance to meet the guys and get a feel for how they react to things. It’s important piece of the process but it’s not the piece.”
Taman said they will interview approximately 20 players during the camp.
“They shouldn’t come into the interview and act like a clown,” said Taman. “That will drop them a little bit. When they do their drills they have to show that they can function. That means they can’t drop every ball because you’ll go back to the film and wonder what did we see? It’s all relative. They have played 10 to 11 college games and to me that is the ultimate weight bearer.”
The draft class of 2010 is believed to be a strong one. The Argos have the first pick in the CFL draft. The Riders have two first-round picks — second and fourth overall. Taman said there isn’t a specific player they have targeted.
“Right now, we’re still formulating our lists,” said Taman. “We have some guys identified but we’re still evaluating.”
Ten of the top 15 players identified by the CFL’s Central Scouting Bureau are expected to be in Toronto for the camp. The other five are red-shirt juniors who have another year of college football eligibility remaining. Under NCAA rules, those players aren’t allowed to attend the evaluation camp and still maintain their college eligibility. Fifty-four of the players taking part in the camp are from CIS programs.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies have three players taking part — defensive backs Jon Krahenbil and Grant Shaw and offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld. Krahenbil is from Fort Qu’Appelle and Neufeld hails from Regina. Shaw is from Edmonton.
“It’s exciting to be there and to be around all of the guys,” said Sisco. “Still, I want to get it over with so I sit back and just work out. Then I can see what happens in May.”
Courtesy: www.leaderpost.com
