Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
On the acquisition of Ricardo Colclough
The Ticats announced on Thursday that the team has shipped fullback Darcy Brown to Edmonton in exchange for defensive back Ricardo Colclough and a sixth-round draft choice in 2015.
Head Coach George Cortez spoke of Colclough as a versatile addition to the Ticats defensive backfield.
“He’s played off-and-on for [Edmonton] this year,” said Cortez. “In his last role – we would call it the dime – he was in the substitution packages.”
“He’s got some experience at a variety of levels and we think it gives us an opportunity to bring in a guy and possibly upgrade ourselves.”
With regards to the player Hamilton sent the other way, Cortez thanked Brown for his service to the team and indicated that he had been a longtime target of the Eskimos.
“Edmonton kept approaching us about him, and they finally got around to actually deciding to do something,” said the coach.
“Darcy did a nice job while he was here through the years, and we wish him luck.”
Burris ready to go after lightened load
Henry Burris will be under centre on Saturday after being held from practice on Tuesday as a precaution.
Burris returned to head the first-team offence on Wednesday and has featured consistently in training since.
Cortez confirmed that backup Quinton Porter had seen the lion’s share of the ball on Tuesday and had controlled the no-huddle series to lessen the burden on Burris.
But the coach was adamant that his starting pivot would be at full strength come Saturday night.
“Quinton got more reps [than usual],” said Cortez on Thursday. “He got pretty much all of the first team reps on the first day back when Henry wasn’t taking any reps. He got the two no-huddle drives in the last two days.
“If we’re trying to make sure that Henry is good to go, we’re trying to eliminate unexpected, sudden movements.
“We’re always concerned about a guy that has to miss a day of practice. But he (Burris) seemed to practice well yesterday, so I have less of a concern than I did on Monday.”
Three “good runners” for the Eskimos
Cortez reiterated on Thursday that Edmonton possesses a number of running threats of which his team will have to be aware on Saturday.
The Ticats coach believed the Eskimos’ three tailbacks to be slightly different in style, but equally competent as CFL-calibre rushers.
“Unless they change, they’re dressing three tailbacks, which you would assume means that they want to run the ball,” said Cortez of Edmonton.
“All three guys have been good runners in the league. Two of the guys are more power guys, and the other guy is probably more of a slasher-type guy. But all three are good running backs.”
The coach did suggest however that Jerome Messam may still be in the process of readjusting to the CFL, after attending training camp with the Miami Dolphins this summer.
“Obviously, Messam has just come back into the league,” said Cortez. “I’m guessing from what I read that he wasn’t getting a lot of work in Miami, and I’d say that it’s kind of looked that way.”
