Checking Down: The fun has only begun

TORONTO — With rookie camps lifting off across the country on Wednesday morning, football season is officially under way.

CFL.ca has the latest on recent signings, injuries and position battles going into camp.

All of that and more in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal

BC LIONS

When Manny Arceneaux showed up at Lions camp eight years ago, he didn’t feel like he belonged (BCLions.com)

– It was 2009 when Emmanuel Arceneaux showed up at his first CFL training camp not knowing who Geroy Simon or Paris Jackson were. Arceneaux and other Lions’ vets recall their first camp (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– The Lions have officially inked their both of their first round picks from the 2017 CFL Draft, Danny Vandervoort and Junior Luke.

– With rookies set to take part in training camp, the Lions have added three new international receivers in R.J. Harris, Corey Jones and Maurice Morgan (BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Esks pivot Mike Reilly leads what’s expected to be one of the CFL’s top offences heading into 2017 (CFL.ca)

– Eskimos defensive end Odell Willis says the team’s personality and identity have shifted from the defensive side of the ball to the offence, where last year Mike Reilly threw for nearly 6,000 yards (Esks.com).

– Speaking of Reilly, how good was the Esks’ pivot in 2016? According to TSN stats guru Derek Taylor, Reilly was the unluckiest quarterback last season with 85 per cent of his interceptable throws intercepted — yet he still threw only 12 picks (Derek Taylor, TSN).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

 

– For returning veterans, Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson says there will be plenty of competition and no guarantees (CFL.ca).

– While Bo Levi Mitchell’s job is safe, three quarterbacks are battling for second fiddle on the Stamps’ depth chart including recently-added Ricky Stanzi (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

– Junior Turner and Quinn Smith remain out for a while, but other than that the Stamps expect most of the other injured Stampeders will be full-go by the second pre-season game (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

As a young kicker in 2016, Tyler Crapigna showed he can be a long-term answer for the Riders (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– With Tyler Crapigna at kicker and Josh Bartel punting the ball, the Riders’ special teams have continuity going into the 2017 season (Riderville.com).

– For the first time since 1989, the Riders’ broadcast team on CKRM will be without long-time colour analyst Carm Carteri, who has been replaced by Luc Mullinder (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

– Following the Stampeders and the Eskimos, the Riders have revealed their hype video for 2017 titled ‘This is Rider Pride’ (CFL.ca).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

 

– Middle linebacker and nose tackle could be two contentious position battles, among others, throughout Bombers’ camp (John Hodge, 3 Down Nation).

– With his new-look roster about to hit the field, Bombers GM Kyle Walters says there are very few holes across the board for his team (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– In the span of just a year, Mike O’Shea and Kyle Walters have gone from talk of job security to undeniable leaders of the future. Jeff Hamilton looks at what’s changed for the Bombers’ leadership (Jeff Hamilton, Winnipeg Free Press).

– The Bombers have tweaked their roster ahead of training camp, announcing four signings including 34th overall pick and kicker Felix Menard-Briere (BlueBombers.com).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Ticats first round pick Connor McGough has agreed to sign with the team ahead of camp (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

The Ticats have officially inked their entire 2017 CFL Draft class, just in time for the rookies to join the rest of the team on the field on May 28 (CFL.ca).

– Ticats fourth overall pick Connor McGough could team up with Justin Capicciotti at defensive end, Justin Dunk writes (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– Based on two seasons of monitoring 24 players digitally, the Ticats are altering their practice schedules with hopes of decreasing injuries (Steve Milton, Hamilton Spectator).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Argos’ GM Jim Popp continues to re-shape the roster with three new pivots (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)

– The Argos have added three new quarterbacks on the eve of rookie camp, including former NFL pivot McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Argonauts.ca).

– Former Argos defensive end Ricky Foley says he’s in talks with multiple CFL teams, according to Justin Dunk (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

REDBLACKS’ first round pick Evan Johnson has a new contract just in time for rookie camp (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)

– The REDBLACKS have gotten all but one of their rookies under contract in time for rookie camp, which officially kicked off Wednesday (CFL.ca).

– With rookies and quarterbacks on the field in the nation’s capital, Trevor Harris, Drew Tate, Ryan Lindley and Brock Jensen are among those taking part leading up to Sunday’s official start of training camp (OttawaREDBLACKS.com).

– While the REDBLACKS receive their rings on Friday, Head Coach Rick Campbell will waste no time turning the page immediately afterwards (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Kavis Reed heads into his first training camp as general manager of the Alouettes this week (Montreal Alouettes)

– In a compelling read by Herb Zurkowsky, Kavis Reed recalls his journey from med school hopeful to CFL general manager (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– A first-time CFL GM, Reed has wasted no time changing the Alouettes’ identity and doing things his own way (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).