15 position battles you need to know about

TORONTO — While training camp is a sign for fans that the 2016 season is near, it’s go-time for many players across nine Canadian Football League camps.

This time of year is all about competition in the CFL and many heated battles are already well under way.

At least two teams have not yet determined their opening day starting quarterback, as the Lions look to challenge young Jonathon Jennings while the Ticats have a void to fill left by injured quarterback Zach Collaros.

The Eskimos have at least three key positions to fill on a defence that suffered key losses following last year’s Grey Cup Championship.

Chris Jones and the Riders have named no other starters in Saskatoon than quarterback Darian Durant.

As the calendar turns to June, roster spots and starting jobs are up for grabs. We look at the top 15 position battles you need to know about as camp progresses.

1. Quarterback, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Jeremiah Masoli vs. Jeff Mathews

Not knowing when franchise pivot Zach Collaros will return to action, whoever wins the battle between Jeremiah Masoli and Jeff Mathews gets the keys to a legitimate Grey Cup contender right out of the gate.

Why is this matchup in particular so intriguing? For one, if the Ticats are going to compete at a high level then one of Mathews or Masoli will have to carry their weight in a talented offence.

Furthermore, both are intriguing quarterback prospects with long-term upside. Masoli was a college star and showed well in back-to-back playoff games in 2015, while Mathews is only 24 years old and the favourite of Head Coach Kent Austin early when Collaros went down last season.

Whoever can start for the Ticats on June 23 is getting an excellent opportunity.

2. Quarterback, BC Lions

Travis Lulay vs. Jonathon Jennings

Whoever starts in Vancouver, you know the Lions are in good hands with either Jonathon Jennings or Travis Lulay.

Jennings exploded onto the scene as a starting CFL quarterback but despite a strong start to his career, Wally Buono and the Lions are making the 23-year-old earn the job. That’s a good thing for his long-term growth.

The only reason Jennings even has to battle is because of Lulay, a 32-year-old former Most Outstanding Player who’s entering 2016 fully healthy for the first time in a while.

Jennings offers excitement and upside while Lulay is the steady veteran hand who’s done it all before. It’s a win-win for the Lions.

» RECAPPING A BUSY DAY 1 OF TRAINING CAMP

3. Left tackle, Montreal Alouettes

Jacob Ruby vs. Philip Blake

One of the most pressing questions in camp, who will move into Josh Bourke’s spot at left tackle? The perennial CFL All-Star held down the spot for nearly a decade before departing to the Argos this off-season, meaning the O-line will have a strange new look in 2016.

Philip Blake is a regular proven starter for the Als and would at least provide familiarity at the position while Jacob Ruby gets his feet wet at guard.

Ruby is an athletic and towering 6-foot-7, 315-pound glimpse of the future, the 24-year-old just a year removed from becoming a late first round draft pick by the Alouettes.

With Anthony Calvillo and Jacques Chapdelaine manning the offence and a multitude of big-play receivers joining them, that unit is expected to be much improved in 2016 — but it starts with the O-line, anchored by the left tackle. No pressure…

4. Quarterback, Montreal Alouettes

Brandon Bridge vs. Vernon Adams; Rakeem Cato vs. Tajh Boyd

We stay in Montreal, where Kevin Glenn’s job as the Alouettes’ starting quarterback appears to be safe but the battle on the depth chart behind him gets tricky.

Rakeem Cato broke out in a big way as a 23-year-old starter last year but is in risk of losing his roster spot as he battles with Tajh Boyd. Cato still shows promise while Boyd is another young prospect in the system, a former college star at Clemson who fits the CFL mold.

Brandon Bridge and Vernon Adams have roster spots all but locked up and appear to be Glenn’s understudies — but only one can be next in line as the team’s quarterback of the future. Bridge looked good in his first career start late last season, while Adams was acquired for the steep price of a first round pick.

Don’t be surprised if the battle between Bridge and Adams extends long beyond camp.

5. Running back, BC Lions

Anthony Allen, Jeremiah Johnson, J.C. Coleman

Lions rookie running back J.C. Coleman (BCLions.com)

The Lions’ offensive backfield will be a strange sight come late June, when someone other than Andrew Harris gets the primary workload as the team’s starting running back.

Anthony Allen and Jeremiah Johnson are the big name candidates and have proven their abilities as starting CFL running backs in the past. Allen broke out in 2014 with the Riders and is still only 27 while Johnson led the league with nine rushing touchdowns.

J.C. Coleman, just 22 years old, is the darkhorse here. He’s a former Virginia Tech running back who’s wasted no time flashing his speed and big-play ability in Lions camp.

6. Defensive halfback, Edmonton Eskimos

Deion Belue vs. Cord Parks

Aaron Grymes’ departure left one of a few holes on the Esks’ championship defence this off-season, and filling the defensive halfback position is a high priority for Jason Maas in training camp.

Deion Belue spent last season on the Esks’ practice roster following three NFL practice roster stints and a college career at Alabama. The 24-year-old has the speed after running a 4.49 at Alabama’s pro day back in 2014, making him a fitting replacement for Grymes.

Still, while Belue might be the favourite, he’ll face plenty of competition, including from an experienced veteran cover man in the recently-signed Cord Parks. Parks used to play corner for the Lions and will also look to track down the job.

7. Kicker, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Brett Maher vs. Cody Mandell

If you don’t believe kicking can impact a game, just look at what Justin Medlock did for the Ticats last year and how the Bombers’ kicking struggles cost them. Kicking and punting matter, especially at Tim Hortons Field where it’s not for the faint of heart.

Austin said there are plans to add more to the competition, but so far Brett Maher and Cody Mandell have put in strong camps with the Ticats as they make an early bid for the chance to kick.

Results in live game action during pre-season may be the biggest difference for these two, or anyone else the Ticats choose to bring in.

8. Safety, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Graig Newman, Dan West, Matt Webster

It appears that much like he did in Edmonton, Riders head coach Chris Jones will fill his starting safety position with a Canuck. He has plenty of suitable options, including Graig Newman, Dan West and Matt Webster.

Newman arrived as a free agent acquisition and may have a leg up on the job, but 29-year-old West will make a strong push. Also in the mix is 24-year-old Webster, who played regularly over the final seven games of the season and didn’t look out of place.

It’s a pivotal starting point at an important position for Jones on defence, making the Riders’ safety position one of the most intriguing battles of camp.

9. Defensive end, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Louis Richardson, Trent Corney, Adrian Hubbard, Shayon Green and others

This year’s second round pick Trent Corney has a steep hill to climb if he’s going to start on the Bombers’ defence as a rookie, but if he can show enough in camp it’s possible.

Who fills the rush end position opposite Jamaal Westerman is the biggest question in Bombers camp this week and there’s a stable of names competing. Adrian Hubbard and Shayon Green are both 24-year-olds who will compete for the job, while Louis Richardson is a veteran name in the mix.

Whoever fits in, the Bombers are hoping to get lots of production from the position as they form one of the CFL’s most dominant defensive lines, starting with Euclid Cummings and Keith Shologan in the middle with Westerman on the outside. Stay tuned.

10. Returner, Calgary Stampeders

Skye Dawson, Tory Harrison, Reggie Whatley, Lache Seastrunk, Roy Finch

The Stamps have tried some bigger names at the return position in camp such as Lemar Durant, but so far five candidates appear to have emerged for the chance to return punts and kicks in Cowtown this year.

Dawson and Harrison have done it before and proven they can handle the responsibility, while the others have the skills necessary to make some noise in the return game.

Head Coach Dave Dickenson is hoping to get more out of his kick return unit this season.

11. Linebacker, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Samuel Hurl vs. Ian Wild

Samuel Hurl knows training camp will be key in his bid to start (BlueBombers.com)

While Matt Bucknor and Chris Randle spark a heated battle for the starting cornerback position, an even bigger battle appears to be in progress for the middle linebacker spot between Ian Wild and Sam Hurl.

Hurl was brought in a year ago to address a hole at the position while the Bombers added Wild partway through the season after his stint in the NFL.

Either way the Bombers are in good hands and both will likely play, but it’s a head-to-head matchup to keep an eye on throughout camp.

12. SAM linebacker, Edmonton Eskimos

Kenny Ladler vs. Tyler Thornton

Ed Hervey built a Grey Cup-winning defence on the strength of American scouting. Now after losing some key names he’ll look to replenish it the same way.

While Deion Belue looks to win the halfback position and Terrell Pinson (23) and Devin Arrington (27) compete for Dexter McCoil’s old spot, a pair of 23-year-old rookies are battling to fit into Otha Foster’s previous position at SAM linebacker.

Kenny Ladler spent the last two seasons as a safety with the Buffalo Bills following a collegiate career at Vanderbilt while Tyler Thornton ran a 4.41 coming out of Azusa Pacific.

All in all the youth movement continues in Edmonton and the competition is fierce as always.

13. Running back, Edmonton Eskimos

John White, Akeem Shavers, Shakir Bell, Joe McKnight, Greg Morris

Sticking with the City of Champions, the Eskimos will also spend the next couple of weeks determining who will be their starting running back.

Last year it was a revolving door at the position but the running game was productive nonetheless, playing a role in the team’s 103rd Grey Cup Championship. John White was the starter going into camp but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury; Shakir Bell looked like a rising star at one point; while Akeem Shavers ended up starting the Grey Cup.

White returns to the fold looking to bounce back from one of football’s most devastating injuries, while Shavers and Bell are also young options (26 and 24) that have a legitimate chance at the starting job. Adding his NFL resume to the competition is 28-year-old Joe McKnight, a speedy and dynamic back who spent time with the Jets and Chiefs from 2010 through 2014.

In short, the Eskimos have four backs in the prime of their careers — all capable of starting. However only one will get that assignment, while also at stake for these players is a roster spot.

14. Running back, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Curtis Steele, Matt Walter, Terrance Cobb

Could Terrance Cobb end up taking the Riders starting running back job? (Riderville.com)

Chris Jones has said it’s Curtis Steele’s job to lose but he better not get too comfortable. Steele has proven to be an effective runner and a solid blocker and contributor on special teams, giving him a leg up on the starting running back position in Regina.

That doesn’t guarantee he’ll be the one taking hand-offs from quarterback Darian Durant, however. National Matt Walter has speed to burn and could fit the role nicely, while 26-year-old Terrance Cobb is a 220-pound bruiser with NFL experience.

Expect more competition throughout camp as Steele and the other backs will be tested.

15. Defensive end, Ottawa REDBLACKS

Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, Nigel Romick, Andrew Marshall, Kendall Montgomery, Ladarius Owens, Cory Henry

With Justin Capicciotti and Shawn Lemon in Regina now and Aston Whiteside still recovering from injury, the list of potential replacements is a very long one.

National Arnaud Gascon-Nadon is a favourite to get playing time after signing with the REDBLACKS via free agency, while Nigel Romick (25) and Andrew Marshall (25) will offer competition as Rick Campbell and Marcel Desjardins likely start at least one national at the position.

Also in the mix are internationals Kendall Montgomery (27), former Auburn Tiger LaDarius Owens (24) and Cory Henry (25).