Barker looking for Argo draft picks to ‘take advantage’

CFL.ca Staff
With files from Argonauts.ca

TORONTO – Jim Barker is happy with the Argonauts’ draft but is now looking forward to the next step.

The general manager has done his job by selecting the players he wanted. Now it’s up to them to take advantage of the opportunity.

“They all have a little role cut out for them and it’s up to them to come in and show that they can fill that role,” Barker said in an interview with Argonauts.ca.

Finding value in later rounds is very important in a draft. Once all the perceived top-end talent is off the board, teams mining for talent can feel like they showed up late to a gold rush.

When it came to the second round, Barker believes that players started falling in his lap. That’s when he was able to draft defensive lineman Daryl Waud, a projected first rounder.

“We didn’t think Daryl would fall to us in the second round and he was a guy we actually talked about in the first round, just because of a need,” said Barker. “But to have the top guy who’s on your board at the time of your pick and fill a need is pretty nice.”

Note: Daryl Waud has since signed a contract with the NFL’s Washington Redskins, according to the Washington Post.

Some were surprised when Toronto used the third-overall selection on offensive lineman Sean McEwen considering he may return to the University of Calgary for one more season. Barker is hoping that McEwen realizes the opportunity he presently has with the Argos and takes advantage of it.

“He hasn’t made a firm decision. Hopefully as he thinks about it, he’ll realize that this is the right opportunity for him right now,” explained Barker. “To be able to step in and have Jeff Keeping, Tyler Holmes, Chris Van Zeyl and Wayne Smith around you, it’s like a dream come true for a young, Canadian player. Hopefully he takes advantage of the situation we have here and decides to play.”

One of the factors that attracted Barker to choose McEwen was his desire to be a coach one day. Barker says that McEwen reminds him of current offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch and is impressed by his ability to reach a three-technique and potentially play guard.

Barker understands that McEwen may end up being a futures pick, but says it has never been the team’s expectation for any draft pick to come in and play immediately. McEwen shares Barker’s excitement about being drafted but is still juggling with the choice of going back to school.

“Hearing (head coach) Scott Milanovich’s voice on the phone was a surreal experience but at the same time something that I felt that I’ve worked hard for and deserve,” said McEwen “In terms of deciding on my immediate future, that is something that I will have to sit down with my family and discuss. Both academics and pro football are huge parts of my future.”

Finding similarities in players that you may draft can be comforting. Like McEwen and Himebauch, third-round pick Cam Walker also reminded Barker of someone from the past, his old college roommate Clay Matthews Sr. But sometimes the line between past and present can become blurred, and Barker is looking forward to Walker being groomed by Ricky Foley.

The rest of the Argos’ draft class rounds out with a pair of receivers (Matt Norzil, Kevin Bradfield), a long snapper (Dan MacDonald) and a running back (Dillon Campbell).

Norzil was ranked as one of the most athletic receivers in the draft but fell because of injury concerns. He missed most of the last two seasons but Toronto is hoping he can stay on the field and make an impact.

A local talent, Bradfield grew up watching the double-blue even throughout his time at the University of Toronto and is excited about the possibility of suiting up for his hometown team.

MacDonald is a Guelph-alum, just like the team’s current long-snapper Jake Reinhart. He will now battle the former Gryphon for a starting gig.

Campbell starred at Wilfrid Laurier and posted the second-fastest 40-yard-dash at the CFL Combine amongst running backs. He scored 13 touchdowns in eight games and was named the 2014 OUA Men’s Football MVP.