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Insight and Analysis April 30, 2015

Checking Down: Mini-camp season winds down

Mat Smith/REDBLACKS

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — Three of the final four mini-camps took place throughout the week, while the Toronto Argonauts are holding a rookies-only mini-camp this weekend in Florida. With that, only the May 12 CFL Draft stands in the way of training camps officially opening.

We check in around the CFL for the week’s storylines in the latest edition of Checking Down:

BC Lions

  • Following months of speculation, BC Lions fans can take some comfort from this weekend’s mini-camp in Surrey, B.C., where quarterback Travis Lulay participated in full.

General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations Wally Buono raised a little bit of concern a month ago when he said Lulay’s participation at the three-day passing camp would be neither guaranteed nor essential — but the 31-year-old, who played in only two games last season, put those concerns to bed by not just participating this week but looking pretty good doing it.

Also participating although not feeling 100 per cent was running back Andrew Harris, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury later last season. He expects to be in tip top form come the regular season, however, and that’s good news for Head Coach Jeff Tedford’s offence.

For more on the Lions’ passing mini-camp this week, visit BCLions.com.

Edmonton Eskimos

Goltz is a veteran backup CFL quarterback, and will likely compete for the third spot on the depth chart behind second-string QB Matt Nichols. National defender Davis has spent time with the Ticats and Stampeders. Finally, Jones was a special teamer with the Lions in 2013 after spending some time in the NFL.

An extension for Head Coach Chris Jones, while speculated, has not yet been announced.

Calgary Stampeders

  • CFL VP of Officiating Glen Johnson’s CFL tour moved west this week, as he visited the Calgary Stampeders’ headquarters to talk about the off-season rule changes with the team’s front office personnel and the media.
  • The Stampeders’ Alanna Nolan has been keeping tabs on current Stamps players throughout the off-season with Skype interviews, but this week she checked in with a former Stampeder instrumental in the team’s 102nd Grey Cup victory: Shawn Lemon. 

Lemon recently had his first off-season workout with his new NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while he hopes to stick in Steeltown, he says he’ll be following the Stampeders’ progress closely this CFL season.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

  • 2015 has been an off-season of change for the Bomber defence, and on Monday the team created more shockwaves with the release of Jason Vega. Also released was national offensive lineman Steve Morley, moves described by GM Kyle Walters as cap related.
  • As Global‘s Russ Hobson reports, the cuts continued on Thursday as the team aimed to get under the roster limit heading into training camp, releasing 12 more players, most of which attended the team’s mini-camp last month.
  • The Bombers will be making a major football announcement on Friday at noon ET, which SportsCentre reports will involve an extension for quarterback Drew Willy: 

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

  • The Hamilton Tiger-Cats held their mini-camp this week at McMaster University’s Ron Joyce Stadium as a mix of rookies and veterans participated. Among the top storylines was Kent Austin’s focus on coaching players on the rule changes, as officials showed up at camp for Wednesday’s final practice.
  • The Ticats may have suffered a substantial blow to their national depth, Hamilton Spectator reporter Drew Edwards reported this week, as Linden Gaydosh and Spencer Watt may miss the entire 2015 season after sustaining Achilles injuries.

Speculation is that the injuries occurred during off-season workouts, as neither player participated at this week’s mini-camp.

Toronto Argonauts

  • Born in the U.S., legendary Argos running back ‘Pinball’ Clemons is now a Canadian by choice. He became a Canadian Citizen on Tuesday along with his wife Diane almost 26 years after arriving in Canada with pro football aspirations.
  • Pinball isn’t the only past Argo running back in the news this week, as former great Bill Symons was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He’ll be honoured alongside Roberto Alomar among others, after amassing more than 6,500 yards from scrimmage and 44 touchdowns throughout an illustrious career.
  • As rumours of Toronto Argonauts ownership talks heat up, the league released a statement this week on the discussions.
  • The Argos are the final CFL team to hold a mini-camp this off-season, as rookies only will take the field from May 2-4 in Florida. It’ll be an important week in particular for rookie defensive backs and receivers, who could be competing not only for roster spots but ultimately the opportunity to start.

Ottawa REDBLACKS

 
Montreal Alouettes