Former QB Burris stresses patience in camp with new batch of rookies

TORONTO — If anyone has found himself in just about every scenario possible when it comes to training camp, Henry Burris would be a perfect candidate considering his decorated 17 years in the Canadian Football League making stops with the Stampeders, Roughriders, Ticats and REDBLACKS.

The three-time Grey Cup Champion began his professional career in Calgary following his college career at Temple University. The native of Spiro, Okla. went on to pass for 63,227 yards and 374 touchdowns, good for third on the all-time list.

Speaking to Davis Sanchez on this week’s episode of The Waggle presented by Sport Clips, Burris opened up on experiences he endured through training camp and the obstacles for first-year players to overcome.

Episode 109: Grindin’ through camp w/ special co-host Henry Burris

We’re right in the thick of training camp and we have a special co-host with James away! Long-time star CFL QB Henry Burris drops in to talk about the struggles of camp and what he sees across the league for the 2018 season.

“The biggest adjustment and the biggest change as a rookie, it’s more mental, whereas you get older the mental part leaves and it becomes more physical,” Burris told Sanchez. “Sometimes, depending on how old you are, you’re going to camp already with pain and soreness from the year prior.”

Sixty-nine players had their dreams come true when they were selected in the 2018 CFL Draft, and as Smiling Hank explains, they’re bound to experience a whirlwind of emotions as they get put through the paces of their first professional training camp.

“There’s a lot of anxiety running around,” said Burris. “They’re readying to get on the field. There’s loss of sleep because they’re just ready to get out there to start playing to show truly what they’ve got.”

Behind those draft picks come the undrafted Canadians and the first-year players coming up from south of the border who are only given the three weeks of training camp to not only pick up a new game on a new field but also impress their respective coaching staff enough to be kept around.

“Usually for the rookies, it’s difficult unless there’s an injury,” Burris said. “Unless there’s a new coach coming in who are looking to start young, the veterans are already entrenched in certain positions. Therefore, the playing time is limited.”

James Wilder Jr. went through the paces of a rookie before breaking out as the Argos starter in Week 12 last season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Looking back on the 2017 season, the eventual Most Outstanding Rookie in Argos’ running back James Wilder Jr. didn’t crack the starting 12 for Toronto until Week 12 against Edmonton, which saw him burst onto the scene with 257 combined yards. A few months later, Wilder would be named Most Outstanding Rookie and be crowned a Grey Cup Champ.

“You’ve got to trust players, number one,” said Burris. “That’s why when you mention the fact that rookies, they make their biggest impression during the season because it takes that long just to get to know somebody. Not only on the field but off the field.”

Meanwhile, in the Hammer, Ticats’ Richard Leonard made an immediate impact for his squad right out of training camp. In Hamilton’s Week 1 matchup against the Argos, Leonard blocked a kick and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown. By season’s end, the defensive back was tied for the league lead in pass knockdowns (13) and fumble recoveries (3), was second in interceptions (7) and ranked 11^th in total tackles (72).

With the regular season inching closer, the window of opportunity is quickly narrowing down for many players to make their mark and impress their coaches, however, as Burris states, it’s a time to familiarize yourself with the game and playbook. Nonetheless, it should make for an exciting conclusion to the pre-season schedule.

For more on Sanchez’s conversation with Henry Burris, and insight and analysis going on around the league, listen to the latest episode of The Waggle.