Jaime Stein
CFL.ca
With the 2010 Canadian Draft on the horizon, the big question is who will be the first overall pick? That remains anyone’s guess.
As of now, the Toronto Argonauts hold the coveted No. 1 pick and have several holes to fill as Jim Barker begins to re-build the Boatmen. The most coveted position in the CFL when it comes to Canadians is on the offensive line and the name that jumps out for immediate help is Joe Eppele from Washington State.
Eppele is a big guy who can contribute right away, while Baylor’s Danny Watkins or Nevada’s John Bender are attractive, they won’t be available for at least one more year as they have one more year of NCAA eligibility. The Argos need help now.
“I believe his physical stature will enable him to be able to play early in his career, along with that he understands the game,” said Washington State offensive line coach Harold Etheridge.
Another offensive lineman who might be of interest to the Argos – although less so now that he has signed in the NFL – is Waterloo’s Joel Reinders. He has limited football experience, but the former basketball player presents a ton of upside for whichever team selects him.
The last time the Toronto Argonauts had the first overall pick, they selected an offensive lineman from Utah. Chad Folk had an all-star career at centre playing his entire 12 year tenure in Toronto including two Grey Cup Championships.
If the Argonauts decide they want to build depth at linebacker behind Kevin Eiben they have a few options. Shomari Williams – ranked No. 1 by the CFL Scouting Bureau – can play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defence. He is a mature player who would need little time to adjust to the professional ranks.
Williams played defensive end at Queen’s university last season. However, he worked out as a linebacker at E-camp and would likely suit up at that position in the CFL.
Concordia’s Cory Greenwood is an athletic freak and could start right away on special teams. He has outstanding speed for a player his size, but also has the strength to back it up.
“(He) is the type of athlete that only comes around once in awhile,” said Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath. “He has tremendous speed and size for his position. He is very athletic and very fast. He’s also a physical player. He has great coverage skills and he’s very good in man-to-man coverage.”
There is a good chance that both Williams and Greenwood will be selected early – possibly in the top three selections as the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who pick second overall, are looking to rebuild on defence.
“To me they’re different,” said Riders GM Brendan Taman. “Shomari has the ability, we think, to play defensive end as well. Cory, we think, is a true linebacker. Both talented individuals. Both very capable of going very high in this draft and I’m sure they will.”
Another intriguing possibility at linebacker is Joash Gesse from Montreal. He didn’t participate in the field portion of the 2010 CFL Evaluation Camp presented by Reebook because he was recovering from an ACL injury. However, he did test well at a recent pro day and that has his stock on the rise. He was also named the defensive player of the year in the QUFL in 2008.
If the Argonauts decide to go with a receiver, there are three names being mentioned in the top tier. Shawn Gore from Bishop’s had an outstanding E-Camp and not only is he being praised for his skill on the field, but his positive attitude has been mentioned as a contributing factor to his success.
“I think his skill set is unique in the sense that he has great body control. He can run a 4.5. He has a knack to find the ball. Excellent hands. Very polished, very intelligent young man,” said Lions draft guru Mike Benevides. “The last month and a half, two months, he has been on the way up.”
A year ago, BC Lions G.M. and head coach Wally Buono snagged a pair of Bishop’s players in the first round – Jamall Lee and James Yurichuk. This year, he may have his eye set on Gore. Gore vaulted up the draft board following an excellent E-camp and received praise at the time from the BC head coach.
Jordan Sisco has been described as having three main attributes: Speed; Soft hands; and Toughness. The Regina Ram was described by one scout as ‘Saskatchewan tough’ and is a receiver who can go out and make plays, not unlike current Roughrider Rob Bagg.
Concordia’s Cory Watson should also be considered early in the draft. He was the leading receiver on the Concordia Stingers the previous three seasons and is known as an intense competitor who is difficult to bring down and very tough to get off a block.
“I’ve been a huge fan of his for a long time,” said Benevides. “He’s very mature in his body structure and what he’s able to do that way.”
Another player who may be selected in the first round is Rob Maver, a kicker and punter from Guelph. He would be the first kicker selected in the first round of the draft since the Eskimos chose Concordia’s Warren Kean with the second overall pick in 2007.
“Rob is probably as good at all three facets that I have seen in some time,” said Benevides. “I would go all the way back to Duncan O’Mahony to see a guy with all three skill sets. He has a complete leg.”
Taking a look at some of the other positions available, Manitoba’s Eddie Steele continues to impress scouts. The defensive tackle is strong and has good lateral quickness.
“Eddie is a tough, tough hombre,” said Benevides. “He’s quick; he’s able get off a block. He’s got a nose for the ball. Physically, he is probably where he needs to be to compete. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Running back Matt Henry, also from Manitoba, is an excellent blocker and has an outstanding work ethic. He is also athletically gifted and should be one of the first running backs selected. One of the few concerns about Henry is that he broke his femur in three places in the 2007 Vanier Cup. It was a gruesome injury, but he has battled extremely hard to return to the field.
At defensive back, Laurier’s Taurean Allen carries some swagger like a good cornerback should. He exhibited a ton of speed and athleticism at E-Camp and that helped improve his draft stock.
“He works extremely hard on and off the field and he can flat out cover people,” said Laurier head coach Gary Jeffries.
In addition to his ability to play cornerback, Allen can also return kicks and punts.
Another intriguing possibility at cornerback is Ludovic Kashindi from Sherbrooke. He sustained an injury while training this past off-season, but has loads of potential. He is someone who may fly under the radar. However, one scout told me that he felt that Kashindi was the best defensive back in the draft because his skill set was similar to Allen’s and Hamid Mahmoudi’s, except that Kashindi had more height.
Finally, Bishop’s Steven Turner turned heads at E-Camp with his blistering 4.31 speed in the 40-yard dash. He is listed as a receiver but he may be coveted more for his abilities as a kick returner. He remains a bit of a wildcard for the draft and could go early if a team is drafting for potential, but there is also a chance that he falls to the later rounds as teams target players who fit a specific position better than Turner.
“Steve is one of those guys that can score any time he touches the football,” said Bishop’s head coach Leroy Blugh. “He possesses tremendous speed and great work ethic.”
Unlike in 2009, where Simeon Rottier was the consensus No. 1 pick, this year the draft board is wide open. That’s good news for the teams like Edmonton and Hamilton do not have a pick in the first round because there will still be a lot of talent left at No. 9 and No. 12 respectively.
“It just goes to show how good the players in our country are becoming,” said Benevides. “I think (football) is only improving and I think that’s a credit to the amateur football coaches and organizations and I’m proud of that because I see how hard they work.”
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Offensive Line:
Ryan Bomben (Guelph) – An excellent conditioned player who is versatile enough to play DL and even as a TE; he blocked two field goals last season
Kristian Matte (Concordia) – Raised eyebrows by not participating in one-on-one drills at E-Camp, but remains an athletic player who is described as intelligent on the field
Defensive Line:
Brian Bulcke (Stanford) – Competitive and hard working lineman who missed last season due to injury
Christopher Greaves (Western Ontario) – Moves well for a big man and has a great personality
Chima Ihekwoaba (Wilfrid Laurier) – Athleticism is unreal to the point that it was described as Cam Wake like by one scout
Running Backs:
Pascal Fils (Sherbrooke) – Displayed both agility and speed as top CIS running back in 2009; can play on special teams
Anthony Woodson (Calgary) – Great athlete, but injuries remain a concern; father played in the CFL
Linebackers:
Giancarlo Rapanaro (Wilfrid Laurier) – Outstanding athlete who is both smart and physical
Chris Smith (Queen’s) – A versatile defender who can cover at linebacker, but also has the ability to contribute in the secondary
Receivers:
Nate Binder (Tusculum College) – Laid back personality but solid college career south of the border in a pass-happy offence; didn’t compete in one-on-ones at E-Camp due to injury
Charles-Antoine Sinnotte (McGill) – Hard working player who runs good routes and has great hands but lacks speed
Spencer Watt (Simon Fraser) – Unbelievable athlete who is very fast but has undeveloped football skills; has a ton of potential
Defensive Backs:
Hamid Mahmoudi (Montreal) – Arguably the best cover cornerback in the CIS last year along with Taurean Allen, but undersized at 5’8”
Cauchy Muamba (St. Francis Xavier) – Possesses swagger like Taurean Allen and should br
ing some size to the safety position
Nick Poloniato (Bishop’s) – A ballhawk in the secondary at Bishop’s, he put his speed on display at E-Camp
Special Teams:
Grant Shaw (Saskatchewan) – May be the best pure kicker in the draft; also plays defensive back
The first two rounds of the draft will air live on TSN on Sunday, May 2nd at noon eastern. For complete draft coverage visit CFL.ca/Prospects
