Kelly & Rwabukamba Make Solid First Impressions

Ticats.ca
Justin Dunk

While most classes at McMaster University have been over for weeks, the Ticats rookie tutorial session has come to a close after two days of practice at Ron Joyce Stadium.

There were a handful of solid performances put up during the all-rookie sessions.  Among the outstanding individual efforts, receiver Aaron Kelly made big-time catches routine over his first four official CFL practices.

“No matter what level; highschool, college and the pros, you just want to know if you can compete,” Kelly said after wrapping up rookie camp on Friday. “That’s really what I’m trying to come here and accomplish, get the playbook, come out here and be competitive.”

The Clemson product was certainly more then competitive during the first couple days of CFL frosh camp. Kelly made three impressive catches on deep balls on Thursday and made another long catch on a go route Friday, but it was the way Kelly ran some of intermediate and quick breaking routes that has him feeling confident going forward.

“I’ll be able to do anything that coaches ask me to do. I’m just trying to do the things well that coach is asking me to do,” Kelly said.

At 6-foot-5-inches tall, some receivers might have a tough time being smooth and fluid with their route running, but Kelly proved his height is no detriment to his abilities, after running a beautiful comeback route on the sidelines during the last team session of the day.

He burst off the line and forced his defender to anticipate a go route and open his hips to chase. Kelly stopped on a dime, made a smooth pivot and turned towards the sidelines to effortlessly make the reception before going out of bounds.

However, despite Kelly’s early camp success he is still adapting to the Canadian style of football.

“The twelfth man is different as far as reading coverages,” Kelly said. “It’s a more physical game then the NFL game because the NFL game is just five yards and they can’t touch you anymore. You just have to be really good with your hands and be physical.”

The Atlantic Coast Conference all-time receptions leader wants to keep the positive momentum headed in the right direction when the veterans arrive for camp. 

“I just want to keep the momentum going – it’s good to get out here and get your feet under you before the rest of the guys come out here,” Kelly said. “I need to stay consistent and stay in the playbook to know the plays so I can come out and just play.”

Head coach Marcel Bellefeuille took note of the performance so far by Kelly and likes the skills he could bring to the Ticats receiving group.

“It’s a different dynamic we don’t have a lot of length in our receiving corp,” Bellefeuille said. “We need different players to compliment each other and some size will be important to us.”

Kelly will certainly provide stiff competition among the receivers when the veterans arrive for camp, but the battle in the defensive secondary is about to heat up — as quick as the temperature has in early June.

“Every spot is up for competition,” Bellfeuille said.

2010 fourth round draft pick Chris Rwabukamba also made an early impression on his head coach during rookie camp.

“He has very good coverage skills,” Bellefeuille said. “He’s going to be a formidable guy for everybody in the secondary. I like what he’s done here in rookie camp and he’s put himself in a position where we know he can compete.”

The former Duke Blue Devil has been flipped from his customary boundary corner spot in college, to the field or strong side corner position with the Ticats.

“It’s definitely a transition, a lot more space to cover, different techniques, but something I’m getting used to. Coach Chamblin and Coach Cameron are doing a good job teaching me, so I’m trying to learn on the fly,” Rwabukamba said.

After playing his college football stateside, the Windsor native is re-adjusting to the nuances of playing defensive back on the bigger field.

“More field to cover, different route combinations and the waggle is definitely something totally different, but football is football and you go out there and compete and try and make as many plays as you can.”

Rwabakamba will certainly be in the mix to win a starting assignment or backup spot in the Ticats secondary.

“He is a bigger, longer athlete [in person] than he looked like on tape coming out of Duke,” Bellefeuille commented. “He’s going to compete for the job there [at field corner].”

The real test awaits Rwabukamba.

“He’s going to have some veteran receivers with a little more moxie, a little more understanding that are going to do some different things to him in their route running and he’s going to have to adjust to that,” Bellefeuille said.

Impressive performances in rookie camp are nice, but the coaching staff will be looking to see what rookies can increase their level of play when the tempo and pace picks up on Sunday, when the veterans show up to practice. 

“The first thing they all have to do is understand that the speed is going to be a little faster,” Bellefeuille said. “The speed of the practice, on Sunday, is going to dictate where some guys will sink or swim.”

MULTIMEDIA

ROOKIE CAMP NOTES

• Canadian offensive lineman Cody Husband earned praise from coaches during an early inside run session after he blew open a huge hole that sprung RB Conte Cuttino for a big gain.
• All of the import offensive linemen had great days today – Jack Julsing, Brian Simmons and Stefan Rodgers will push veterans Jason Jimenez and Belton Johnson once the full team begins practicing on Sunday. 
• Quarterback Kevin Glenn looked like he was in mid-season form on Friday.  He completed two excellent throws to rookie receiver Chris Williams during team drills.  Williams’ speed stood out again on day two.
• The defence has made stripping the ball from the offence a priority.  It’s not uncommon to see four, five, and sometimes six defenders attempt to pop the ball out of a receiver or running back’s grasp after they make the catch.
• Canadian receiver Blaine Kruger has put together two strong days at Ron Joyce Stadium.  Kruger made a habit of separating from defenders all day long on Friday and caught every ball thrown his way. 
• Rookie kicker/punter Greg Gunderson was accompanied by potential holders Quinton Porter and Jason Boltus while he booted field goals after practice. 
• Receiver Bakari Grant has shown an ability to gain significant yardage after making the catch.  On two occasions, G
  rant caught a quick slant pass over the middle before slicing his way through defenders for huge gains.  Grant stayed after practice to put some extra work in with QB Mitch Mustain. 
• Spectators: LB Ike Brown (knee) and DB Derek Douglas (ankle) did not participate in today’s practice.  Brown will have an MRI tomorrow while Douglas is considered day-to-day. 
• PLAY OF THE DAY: For the second straight day, a Brandon Denson interception stood out.  During team drills, Denson perfectly read and reacted to a Jason Boltus pass over the middle, leaping to make the pick.