Dave Campbell
CFL.ca
Eric Tillman.
Yes, the sound of that name being spoken has made some Eskimos fans shake their heads, shake their fists, and groan in agony.
Fans still have yet to get over the fact that Tillman opted to trade star quarterback Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts.
Edmonton supporters generally get quite familiar with their own players, leading to panic once the said players get sent packing.
Gone alongside Ray are 1,000-yard running back Jerome Messam – who jettisoned to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins -, linebackers Rod Davis and Mark Restelli, who signed with the Montreal Alouettes as free agents, and defensive lineman Greg Peach who moved East to Hamilton.
However, Tillman was able to sign four players via free-agency.
He picked up two receivers in Cary Koch and Greg Carr, and signed promising defensive lineman Don Oramasionwu and punter Burke Dales.
Before free agency officially kicked in, the Eskimos signed offensive lineman Simeon Rottier, and brought back defensive lineman Rashad Jeanty.
But during Tillman’s free agency press conference, he handled more questions about the players who were no longer were members of the Eskimos. The GM stood by his past record.
“It’s amazing how people just want to overlook history,” he said said.
“If you want me to go back to Saskatchewan, prior to the 2007 season we lost Kenton Keith, Jamel Richardson, Fred Childress, and Charley Thomas on offence. On defence, we lost Terrell Jurineack, Nate Davis, Omarr Morgan, and Davin Bush. All starters. At the end of the season we were hoisting the Grey Cup. The next year we lost Reggie Hunt, Fred Perry, and Kerry Joseph and we won 12 games,” he added.
Tillman then went on to use one of his favourite lines.
“Hate me in the off-season, love me in November.”
He doesn’t fear chance. He’s a river-boat gambler and he loves going all-in.
“We’re in a business of change and in a cap era,” Tillman explained.
“This is not the 80s, and this is not the same period where free agency didn’t have an impact. When this organization had the glory years and there were so many people that contributed to it, you could continue to keep everybody here because you had tremendous fan support and you had extra resources. And now, we play on a level playing field. We’re no different now than the National Hockey League, we’re no different than the National Football League; or any other professional sport that it’s a change business. We’re not afraid of change. We expect to be successful.”
The organization should absolutely believe they’ll be successful; as one player doesn’t make a team.
The task will likely be harder though without Ray, Messam, Davis, and Peach in the mix. Quarterback Steven Jyles will start at quarterback heading into training camp. He is going to need a lot of help if this team is going to win games.
What Tillman has done so far is surround Jyles with some familiar pieces. Last month, he re-signed star slotback Fred Stamps. Jyles and Stamps worked together in Edmonton during the 2007 season. Tillman then went on to sign Carr, who along with slotback Adarius Bowman played with Jyles during the 2010 season.
Jyles knows offensive coordinator Marcus Crandell’s offence from back in the Saskatchewan days. In 2010 Jyles actually had the second best touchdown to interception ratio (19-7) in the CFL, and a 100.4 QB rating.
What’s lacking in Jyles’ resume, however, is wins. That’s why the Eskimos are trying to put familiar pieces around him to be successful.
While the receiving corps may look different on the field, Jason Barnes and Jason Armstead are both no longer with the team, Carr and Koch are certainly not a downgrade in the position.
At 6-foot-6, Carr can provide a dangerous matchup for opposing corners. Koch is known for his excellent hands, route discipline and is never afraid to go up the middle to make the tough catches.
Elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball, running back Hugh Charles will have to prove he can be a consistent ball carrier, while Rottier will have to anchor the right tackle spot.
On defence, the signing of Jeanty made Peach expendable. Davis wanted too much money for Tillman’s liking, while Restelli didn’t impress the current coaching staff enough for him to stay.
The club feels that Oramasionwu is a star in the making. Last season, he was able to fill in nicely for the injury-riddled Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
On special teams, the signing of Dales gives the coaching staff the flexibility to keep the kicking position Canadian with either Derek Schiavone or Grant Shaw, or possibly both.
Contrary to what reports may have indicated, Tillman never went after receiver Andy Fantuz; he tried hard for offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte. Both wanted too much money for what Tilllman was willing to spend.
Change can be hard to accept, but Tillman isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions regarding age and salary.
The Eskimos didn’t make the biggest splashes in free agency but Tillman believes in more subtle, depth type moves.
It makes fans nervous when the bigger names are going out that rather than coming in.
June can’t come fast enough.
