Esks.com
There’s sometimes a misconception in the Canadian Football League that you only develop your Canadian talent and your American talent needs less time. It’s true the import talent will dominate the starting 24 spots on a football team and some do step in right away.
Plug and play has many risks to it in the Canadian game. Imports are usually quite shocked when they step on to the field and realize the nuances of the CFL are much different than the American game.
For an import receiver, they’ve only known one thing playing in the United States. You’re stationary on the line of scrimmage.
When an import receiver comes up to the CFL, they’re usually shocked by the “waggle.” Or simply put; the unlimited motion where receivers can hit the line of scrimmage with running start.
Travis Moore knows a thing or two about the receiving game in the CFL. He’s the new receivers coach of the Edmonton Eskimos.
He says import receivers are familiar playing the wideout position but playing in the slotback position is a very foreign concept.
“Coach (Kavis) Reed made a great point when he asked me “How many American receivers do you remember who actually came up here and started in the slot and is an All-Star?” Moore said. “I said one came to mind and that was Allen Pitts.”
Moore knows Pitts well; both were teammates with the Calgary Stampeders. Moore himself is a former CFL All-Star and two-time Grey Cup winner.
His short time as an assistant coach in the CFL has proved to be very fruitful. He spent the previous three seasons as the receiver’s coach of the B.C. Lions. When you look at the 2013 Lions receiving corps, you’ll see Emmanuel Arceneaux, Shawn Gore, Nick Moore, Courtney Taylor, and Ernest Jackson. All young receivers who were coached by Travis Moore who are expected to make a big impact in the Lions offence this season.
Head coach Kavis Reed says hiring someone like Moore was a priority in the off-season for his teaching ability and his connection with young receivers.
| Chambers talks Coach Moore |
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“I think that’s the reason we fit so well together is because he understands who I am as a person, and what I bring to the table, and my background so he knows what buttons to push.” – Receiver Shamawd Chambers on Travis Moore |
“We have guys that are not too far removed from the game, and guys that can that can relate to younger guys who aren’t task masters,” Reed said. “Travis falls into that he can relate to the other guys exceptionally well. He’s developed a lot of young talent. Shawn Gore, (Marco) Iannuzzi, Akeem Foster, he’s done a tremendous job with them.”
The Eskimos boast a couple of up and coming receivers in Nate Coehoorn who’s entering his third CFL season, and second-year pro Shamawd Chambers.
Chambers was the sixth overall selection in last year’s CFL Draft. He made a good first impression playing in 16 games last season, starting in 11 of them. He caught 37 passes for 390 yards and scored two touchdowns. Chambers says he has much respect for Travis Moore. In fact, Chambers spent time with Moore before last year’s CFL draft and says the developed a good bond.
“We really have a lot in common so we had a lot of time to talk during the off-season about who I am as person,” Chambers said.
“I think that’s the reason we fit so well together is because he understands who I am as a person, and what I bring to the table, and my background so he knows what buttons to push.”
Don’t sell Moore short on his ability to coach veteran receivers. Both Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce thrived under Moore.
On the Eskimos, he has the good fortune of working with perhaps the CFL’s best game breaker in Fred Stamps. Add Cary Koch and eventually Adarius Bowman to the mix and Moore has a lot of weapons to work with.
Coaching has changed over the years. Players are much more temperamental and simply yelling and screaming at them doesn’t work anymore.
There are still times when coaches will need to get the attention of a player and yelling still has its place when warranted. Chambers says what makes Travis Moore a great coach is he’s personable with his players.
“You can’t deal with every player the exact same way, especially when you’re a position coach.” Chambers explained.
“You have so many different personalities and if you want to get the right amount of rise out of a certain player and you want to push him in a certain way.”
Moore is helping to integrate his receivers in a brand new offence and his philosophy is simple as far what his group needs to do.
“Play as a unit,” Moore said. “I have some unselfish guys which I love. Just go out there and compete and try to make every play.”
And hopefully make more star receivers in the process.
