Esks.com
CFL.ca Staff
EDMONTON – The CFL Board of Governors voted to approve several rule changes on Wednesday in Toronto, several of which have the potential to create substantial change in 2015.
A faster-paced, less predictable and more exciting product is always the end goal in these discussions, and Edmonton Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey says all three of those things are in store as a result of this off-season’s changes.
Hervey answered the media in response to the Wednesday’s events, and we’ll provide some of his answers in a Q&A.
Q: Some fans consider some of these rule changes to be radical. What’s the purpose of the changes?
“When we all got together and we had the discussion about the direction of the league and how to improve the league, there were many things that were tabled and brought to everyone’s attention and it was narrowed down to what we felt would improve the CFL game – the game flow, the reducing of penalties, and more importantly our fans.”
“Our fans are looking for an exciting game and we felt that something needed to change. These changes are a product of that, and we feel that over the long haul they’ll improve our game.”
Q: Which change do you see having the biggest and quickest impact on the field in 2015? Is it removing contact between the receiver and the defensive back after five yards?
“That’s the biggest one that you’ll see. It’ll allow the athletes to be athletes. You’ll get a chance to see the skill of the wide receivers and the defensive backs at its best. We want to get rid of the clutching and the grabbing that you witness on the field and our game has turned into. We want to give the receivers an opportunity to run free if they can, and give the defensive backs some limited space in which to create contact.”
“Our fans are coming to enjoy offence. They want to see the ball thrown down the field. When you watch our game . . . guys are getting grabbed eight, nine, and 10 yards down the field. We want to eliminate that and give the opportunity for big plays to happen in our game.”
WATCH: CFL VP of Officiating Glen Johnson comments on the results of Wednesday’s vote
