Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS
TORONTO — The first day of training camp was a welcome sight for CFL fans on Sunday as teams from across the league took the field for the first time in 2017.
While players and coaches hope that these are the days that lead to a Grey Cup Championship six months from now, there’s so much to do between now and opening kickoff.
As coaches install new systems and difficult personnel decisions away, the first steps are now being taken. We take a team by team look at what went down on a busy Day 1:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian returns to the field for his eighth season in orange and black (BCLions.com)
Back for another season, the CFL’s all-time wins leader in Wally Buono said the first few of days of practice are about installation — getting new players on the right page when it comes to the offensive and defensive playbooks.
It was an all-business approach in Kamloops, B.C. Sunday as the Lions reported as a team for the first time in 2017. The team took strides last season but no one, including Jonathon Jennings, is about to rest on last year’s accomplishments.
“It’s a new year and that can be a good thing and a bad thing,” said Jennings. “If you dwell on what you did last year and you’re content about that, you’re not going to get any better, you’re going to be the same and we’re not going to win a championship.
“We have a good base line from last year but we have to get better.”
Kicker and punter Swayze Waters wore orange and black for the first time for the Lions while the biggest questions will be who starts at safety and WILL linebacker. Mike Edem was traded last month and Adam Bighill left for the NFL in the off-season.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Wally Buono on filling Adam Bighill’s spot at WILL:
“We’re not trying to replace Adam Bighill, we’re just trying to find the next good football player that can play that position. We have guys that have been with us for a year or so, who want the opportunity, we’re definitely going to give them the opportunity and at the end of it hopefully we’re going to find a good player.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
No transactions to report
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Marcus Howard was all smiles for the Eskimos on the first day of training camp in Edmonton (Esks.com)
Position battles captured the essence of Day 1 at Eskimos’ training camp as Jason Maas forecasts a competitive three weeks for his team leading into the regular season.
While receivers battle over the spot vacated by Derel Walker this off-season, another spot opened up on Sunday when Brandon Zylstra reportedly left the field accompanied by team trainers.
Last year’s second round pick Arjen Colquhoun was present and lined up at safety for the Eskimos, while a notable absence was this year’s first-round pick Nate Behar, who remains without a contract.
Sunday also marked the first full day for offensive coordinator Carson Walch running the offence. Walch’s promotion allows Jason Maas to take a greater overarching role on the coaching staff.
WHO STOOD OUT
International receiver Bryant Mitchell, who’s fighting for both a starting job and a roster spot with the Eskimos, enjoyed a solid first day at camp while Travon Van and 2017 draft pick Kwaku Boateng also drew solid reviews.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Head Coach Jason Maas on the excitement of getting back on the field:
“I love competition. I love watching our guys compete every day and working towards a goal. Six months of figuring things out and putting it on paper and now we get to see what we’ve done all off-season. I think we played fast, we competed hard on both sides of the ball. That’s what I focused on — there’s a ton of competition and guys are working hard and doing it the right way.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
Two days after signing Forrest Hightower, the Eskimos announced the addition of 2016 second round pick Arjen Colquhoun, who made it to camp in time for Sunday’s first practice.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Dave Dickenson praised his team’s effort level on the opening day of training camp (Stampeders.com)
A total of 81 players took the field on Sunday at McMahon Stadium for the first two practices on the opening day of training camp. The group includes 49 players who spent some time on the Stamps roster in 2016, six newcomers who have experience with other CFL clubs and 26 rookies.
Bo Levi Mitchell praised his team’s laser-sharp focus as the Stampeders come to camp honed in on the task of redemption following last year’s Grey Cup upset.
A couple of veterans took the field on Sunday with a slightly different look. All-Star defensive lineman Micah Johnson has ditched No. 93 in favour of No. 4, while second-year receiver Juwan Brescacin has swapped 83 for 82, the number he wore in his first two seasons at Northern Illinois University.
Although he didn’t practise on Sunday due to injury, another numeral switch was necessitated by Quinn Smith’s reassignment from the defensive line to the offensive line. Instead of No. 90, Smith will now wear No. 69.
At 21 years and 172 days, defensive back Tunde Adeleke is the youngest player in Stamps camp while the elder statesman is 33-year-old offensive lineman Dan Federkeil, who is 35 days older than defensive end Charleston Hughes.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Head Coach Dave Dickenson on his team getting back on the field:
“It was a good practice. Guys were definitely competing and flying around. It’s probably one of the sharper first practices I’ve seen in the last few years. I’m trying to condition them and getting them ready to understand that, in Calgary, you’ve got some thin air. Overall, it was a great start.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
The Stamps added three rookie internationals to the roster on Sunday – defensive back Patrick Levels, linebacker Jameer Thurman and offensive lineman Antoine McClain.
Released were international receiver Darius Davis, international linebacker D’Nerius Antoine and international offensive lineman Nick Ritcher.
National defensive lineman Junior Turner and national offensive lineman Quinn Smith were placed on the injured list.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Sunday marked the second training camp for Chris Jones at the helm of the Riders (Riderville.com)
The quarterbacks were the centre of attention, as one might have guessed, when the Riders took the field at the University of Saskatchewan’s Griffiths Stadium on Sunday morning. Five quarterbacks are vying for the chance to start including long-time veteran Kevin Glenn, former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Vince Young and Canadian pivot Brandon Bridge.
Chris Jones said his QBs faced their fare share of challenges on a windy day in Saskatoon while he threw everything he could at them defensively — but all of them made plays while Young showed improvement from the team’s three-day mini-camp last month.
Riders additions Bakari Grant and Derek Dennis couldn’t participate after being required in Calgary court for the Mylan Hicks case while veteran punter Josh Bartel sat due to an undisclosed injury.
Also absent were nationals Marc-Olivier Brouillette and Aaron Milton, who announced their retirement from professional football on Saturday leading into camp.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Chris Jones on the addition of Duron Carter:
“We don’t look at things negatively, we try to be as positive as we possibly can. Duron knows the score, he knows what he’s got to do. He’s a young man that some people say he’s misunderstood and some people say he’s a bad guy. All I do is say ‘hey, you’re a football player on our football team, there are certain rules we have to abide by, all we want you to do is go out there and be a good person and be a good football player’.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
SIGNED:
- International wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood
- International defensive back Warren Gatewood
- International defensive back Cedric Hill
- International defensive lineman Ja’Boree Poole
ADD TERRITORIAL JUNIORS:
- National offensive lineman Logan Ferland (Regina Thunder)
- National running back Logan Fischer (Saskatoon Hilltops)
MOVE TO SUSPENDED LIST:
- International offensive lineman Derek Dennis
- International wide receiver Bakari Grant
RETIRED:
- National safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette
- National running back Aaron Milton
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Weston Dressler aims to build on a strong first season in Winnipeg heading into 2017 (BlueBombers.com)
Redemption and cautious optimism were on the minds of Bombers players on Sunday as the team took the field for the first time in 2017. The last time they were together, of course, they had fallen in dramatic fashion to the BC Lions in the Western Semi-Final — but in all, 2016 was a season that Mike O’Shea and the rest of the team can build off.
Eighty-eight players took the field on Sunday, not including the four members of the Winnipeg Rifles whose territorial rights belong to the Bombers. Kevin Fogg and defensive tackle Ian Marouf were on the field but did not participate on Sunday — Fogg is coming off off-season surgery while Marouf, a 2017 draft pick, is also nursing a lower-body injury.
For those keeping a close eye on the competition, reports indicate that Kyle Knox took first-team reps at middle linebacker while Gerrard Sheppard lined up at slotback and Jake Thomas at defensive tackle alongside Drake Nevis.
WHO STOOD OUT
Players who jumped off the page on Day 1: receivers Weston Dressler, Darvin Adams, Matt Coates and Gerrard Sheppard, defensive end Tristan Okpalaugo, linebacker Maurice Leggett and defensive back Robert Porter.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Andrew Harris on the importance of building off last season:
“There’s definitely some (sense) of redemption. I know we started slow (last year), but we put it together midway through the season and we started to get some traction. Obviously we fell short last year, but just building off what we did last year is crucial. Having all the same guys in that locker room and in that huddle is definitely beneficial.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
No transactions to report
– With files from Ed Tait (BlueBombers.com)
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Ticats veteran linebacker Simoni Lawrence understands that no job is safe in training camp (Ticats.ca)
The opening at kicker was the talk on Sunday morning at training camp as the Ticats revealed the three kickers who will compete for the the job. Kent Austin said he’s looking for one person to fulfill the duties of place kicking, punting and kickoffs.
On a sunny day at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Stadium, Zach Collaros commanded the Ticats’ offence with stern leadership while new defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold got his hands on the defence in practice for the first time following the departure of Orlondo Steinauer.
The Ticats also learned Sunday morning that they’ll be without offensive tackle Jake Olson, who announced his retirement, as they head into 2017 with what will be a new-look offensive line. Austin called Olson’s retirement a surprise, adding that it was likely motivated by family matters.
Who starts at right tackle for the Tabbies will be one of camp’s biggest questions.
WHO STOOD OUT
Zach Collaros looked sharp and healthy by all accounts, which is always welcome news after the quarterback missed the first portion of last season following his torn ACL.
Dominique Ellis took snaps at SAM linebacker and could be a leading candidate to take the departed Rico Murray’s spot.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Linebacker Simoni Lawrence on competition in camp:
“I’m one of those guys where I know nothing’s guaranteed. When I came in this league there was an all-star linebacker, former defensive player of the year, and there was a great team leader — they were both star linebackers and I got my job from a defensive player of the year. So there’s nothing guaranteed, and I learned that early in my career. I’ve got a whole bunch of all-stars, but the way I got my job was taking it from an all-star.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
The Tabbies announced Sunday that the football club has signed five international free agents, including placekickers Sergio Castillo, Ryan Hawkins and Craig Peterson, quarterback Cody Keith and offensive lineman Palmer White.
The following players have retired:
INT – OL – Jake Olson
INT – RB – Jeremy Stewart
NAT – WR – Matt Uren
The following player has been released:
NAT – DB – Tyler Storie
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Argos rookies and veterans got their first sense of how Marc Trestman will run the ship in Toronto (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Rookies and veterans alike got to see for the first time what a Marc Trestman practice is all about — and the players were up to the task. The first-year Argos head coach praised their conditioning on the first day of camp at Toronto’s York University.
Marcus Ball was certainly a welcome site for the Argos back in his familiar No. 6, while an all-Canadian starting offensive line also caught the attention of reporters throughout the day.
Another welcome site: veteran receiver S.J. Green, who was on the practice and available in full for the Argos coming off major reconstructive knee surgery last summer.
The mood was cautious optimism surrounding Trestman and co. on the first day of camp.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Recently-signed Marcus Ball on the new-look Argos:
“The culture’s here, honestly, we just have to put the ‘W’s on the board. With the coaching staff we have and the players that we have, it’s there. The rings are there. It’s just a matter of putting the ‘W’s on the board and putting everything together.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
The Argos officially signed linebacker Marcus Ball, who won a Grey Cup with the team in 2012 before departing to the National Football League.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
SirVincent Rogers and Jon Gott meet during the REDBLACKS’ first day of training camp (Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS)
For the first time since returning to the league in 2014, the Ottawa REDBLACKS were without Henry Burris leading their huddle as the torch is officially passed to Trevor Harris.
Optimism is high for the 2017 REDBLACKS, who received their Grey Cup rings on Friday six months after their victory over the Calgary Stampeders last November. But for Rick Campbell and company, there’s still plenty of work to be done and questions to be answered.
Competition at receiver will be deep as Juron Criner, Diontae Spencer, Kenny Shaw and Tori Gurley look to fill the voids left by the departed Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams. And even more change is slated for the secondary, which lost three key starters in Forrest Hightower, Mitchell White and Abdul Kanneh.
For Campbell, the focus for the REDBLACKS on Sunday was on letting go of last year’s victory and hitting that reset button as the team begins its pursuit of a second straight Grey Cup Championship.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Rick Campbell on the REDBLACKS’ depth at receiver:
“It’s going to be a good competition, there’s some good depth out there. The coaches were even noting it in practice. That’s going to be good for us — good for competition and good for depth.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
SIGNED:
– International defensive back Armageddon Draughn
HT: 6-4 | WT: 195 lbs | Age: 23
Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA | School: Tuskegee
RELEASED:
– International defensive back Albert Louis-Jean (Boston College)
– International running back Marion Grice (Arizona State)
– International linebacker Darien Harris (Michigan State)
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Darian Durant led his first full practice as the Montreal Alouettes’ new pivot (Montreal Alouettes)
The sun was peeking out from behind the clouds as Montreal Alouettes’ head coach Jacques Chapdelaine whistled in the official start to the 2017 football season Sunday afternoon. Players with the goal of making the team took the field for the first time at training camp at Bishop’s University’s Coulter Field.
Chapdelaine was very satisfied with the work turned in by his players on camp’s opening day, while quarterback Darian Durant was allowed to address the team before his first practice leading the huddle.
Receiver Danny Anthrop continued to perform well and he set the tone for the 2017 training camp. He gave the fans in attendance a first reason to cheer at the start of the one-on-one drills as he made a spectacular diving catch. Drafted earlier this month, Alex Morrison also scored some points when he made a nice catch on a Durant throw.
Tiquan Underwood was able to get separation from Jovon Johnson and haul in a nice reception as well, while Jacory Harris, who’s vying for No. 2 in the quarterback order behind Durant, threw a bomb to Seydou Junior Haidaira who made a nice catch on the sideline.
The many fans in attendance were able to meet players on the field after practice, pose for pictures and get autographs.
WHO STOOD OUT
In his first full practice as a Montreal Alouettes, Durant turned in a calm Day 1 performance, picking out his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. The two-time Grey Cup champion also proved that he was in-sync with his new offensive line, frequently running through difficult snap counts that kept the defence on its toes.
On the offensive line, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain also had a strong showing. Now entering his ninth season with the organization, the centre will be looked upon to provide leadership on a line with many fresh faces.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Jacques Chapdelaine on the Alouettes’ late-season turnaround in 2016:
“I think it is important that the guys realize that I really didn’t initiate that. [The players] really created that big turnaround themselves. All [the coaches] do is to provide structure and guidelines. The players are still embracing it as you can see the tempo was exceptional for a first practice.”
KEY ROSTER MOVES
The Alouettes added the following players to the roster:
JaDerrick Farrow (I), DB, Kennesaw State
Jonah Hodges (I), RB, California
Ventral McMillan (I), DL, Tennessee at Chattanooga
Jalen Rogers (I), DB, Hawaii
Donald Unamba Jr. (I), DB, Southern Arkansas
Tarik Bennett (I), DL, Brockport
Player released:
Tony Pulu (I), DT, Texas A&M Commerce
