Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — One of the busiest days on the CFL calendar arrived Sunday in the league’s annual roster deadline.
Cutdown day mandates all nine clubs to reduce their roster to 46 active players and 10 more for the practice roster, and as usual there were some big names and unexpected surprises involved.
Bakari Grant, Anthony Parker and Faith Ekakitie are just a few of the big names without a team after Sunday morning, while former all-star defender Abdul Kanneh has a new team after being traded to the Argos.
What were some of the big moves on cut down day and what are the implications? Let’s takes a closer look.
Track all of Sunday’s cuts right here, and keep an eye on CFL.ca for the latest on cutdown day.
Riders release big-name receivers
With Chris Jones nothing should come as a surprise, yet this weekend’s Riders cuts had fans doing a double take. Four big names were axed Saturday, including three receivers in Bakari Grant, Chad Owens and Canadian Rob Bagg.
Grant led the Riders in receptions with 84 last year, hitting career-highs in that category as well as yards (1,033) and touchdowns (5). Owens, while limited by injury in his time with the Riders, is a former Most Outstanding Player and considered a positive influence in the locker-room, while Bagg, entering his 10th season with the team since joining in 2008, was fan favourite of Riderville.
Sunday’s cuts may not significantly alter the course of the Riders’ season, as the offence will continue to lean on the dynamic duo of Naaman Roosevelt and Duron Carter, with Caleb Holley providing that solid third option among pass-catchers. But the release of two internationals will test the Riders’ depth, especially should any injuries occur, with unproven receivers Jordan Williams-Lambert and Shaq Evans waiting in the fray (some have already speculated that Carter could see less time at DB as a result).
Bagg’s release also comes as a surprise given the season-ending injury to Jake Harty, who tore his ACL in camp, leaving Joshua Stanford, Devon Bailey and Denzel Radford as the three Canadian options going into the season.
While Owens is reportedly dealing with a shoulder issue, it’s hard to imagine Grant won’t land elsewhere soon, while Bagg’s services should could also be coveted on a team needing a Canadian receiver (Hamilton immediately comes to mind for the Kingston native).
Kanneh drives down the QEW
Abdul Kanneh doesn’t have to go far to get to his new job, but it’s a new job nonetheless. The versatile defensive back joins the Argos after being traded from Hamilton in exchange for an eighth-round pick in 2019. Kanneh was a CFL All-Star in 2015 and an East-Division All-Star for two years before getting a big payday with the Ticats in 2017.
The move has implications for both sides involved. The Ticats move on from Kanneh after a forgettable first year in which injuries limited him to seven games. It was thought he would play a significant role this year, but Jerry Glanville and June Jones must feel there are other options including Don Unamba, Mariel Cooper and Jumal Rolle.
On the Argos’ side, there’s some risk associated with Kanneh and his contract after injuries claimed most of his 2017 season. But adding Kanneh just before the season could be a coup for Jim Popp and Marc Trestman should he stay healthy, and it starts with his flexibility.
The addition of Abdul Kanneh gives the Argos even more flexibility on defence (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
Kanneh is a physical defender that can play multiple positions, from corner or half to SAM linebacker. His addition gives new defensive coordinator Mike Archer a million options on that side of the ball, especially with Terrence Plummer’s ability to play middle linebacker and Marcus Ball‘s history of playing the WILL.
With Cassius Vaughn, Ronnie Yell, T.J. Heath, Qudarius Ford and Alden Darby also at their disposal, the Argos’ secondary has improved on paper since winning the Grey Cup.
Clarity in the kicking game
The REDBLACKS moved on from Sergio Castillo, who’s coming off a torn ACL, providing some clarity in the kicking game — although Rick Campbell still has some options in that department. Richie Leone is one of the best punters around and can also kick, but if the REDBLACKS can accommodate, he could give up place kicking duties to Canadian Lewis Ward.
Ward was good on all five of his field goal attempts in pre-season, indicating there’s a chance Campbell will deploy both throughout the season, potentially at the same time.
All of this comes after former kicker Brett Maher left to the NFL, opening up competition for the job going into camp. Leone is back in the CFL after a year in the National Football League.
A short-lasting Bond
Travis Bond played a big role as the Bombers’ third American O-lineman last season, but didn’t last long with the Riders after apparently being beaten out by American guard Jarvis Harrison. It was apparent that no one was safe on the Riders’ O-line after their pre-season struggles, especially on Friday night when Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge were both under constant siege.
Zach Collaros was under constant pressure in his first taste of action with the Riders (The Canadian Press)
Chris Jones was openly critical of that unit following Friday’s contest, and it’ll have to improve quickly before the team’s home-opener against the Argos on Saturday, against a D-line that features Cleyon Laing, Dylan Wynn and Shawn Lemon.
Cobb out, Stacy to practice roster
The Riders brought in a trio of former NFL running backs for training camp, with Tre Mason emerging as the early victor after being named to the active roster. Zac Stacy could still see a future with the team as he lands on the practice roster, while David Cobb has been released.
These moves will have early implications in the Riders’ ground game, especially with Marcus Thigpen (suspension) out for the first two weeks of the season. It appears that Jerome Messam will get a heavy workload early in the year, and will work in tandem with talented 24-year-old Mason.
Trent Richardson remains on the Riders’ suspended list but there is serious doubt as to whether he’ll ever be back in the CFL and he doesn’t appear to be an option right now.
Chris Jones is looking to improve on a running game that ranked dead last in the league with 82.1 yards per game in 2017.
Draheim could be Esks’ starting tackle
It looks like Tommie Draheim will start the season as the Edmonton Eskimos’ starting right tackle. This comes after the team released international tackles Chauncey Briggs and Kelvin Palmer on Sunday, opening the door for the fourth-year pro who’s also spent time in BC and Ottawa.
Jason Maas has had to shuffle his O-line following the departure of left tackle Joel Figueroa, who’s considered by some to be one of the league’s top offensive linemen. The Esks will continue to start two Americans up front, with Colin Kelly moving from right to left tackle and the right tackle job opening up for Draheim.
Keeping Mike Reilly safe will be top priority for the Eskimos’ O-line in 2018 (The Canadian Press)
This could impact the league’s top offence from 2017. Despite leading the league in yards last year, the Esks allowed the third-most pressures in the league (134), better than only two non-playoff teams in BC and Hamilton.
Bombers cut Faith Ekakitie
Thirteen months after becoming the first overall pick, Faith Ekakitie has been released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 25-year-old came into camp leaner and hoping to take on a bigger role in 2018, but seemingly failed to impress the coaching staff in his second pro camp. Thus, the Bombers decided to cut their losses.
It may seem early to make such a decision, but with the plan to start two Americans at defensive tackle, and Ekakitie’s inability to make an impact thus far, he was made expendable.
Cory ‘Poop’ Johnson and Drake Nevis are in line to start for the Bombers with Brandin Bryant and Canadian Jake Thomas also in the rotation on Mike O’Shea and Richie Hall’s defence.
Stamps release Colling, Parker
It’s an indictment of the Stampeders’ Canadian content, specifically at defensive tackle and wide receiver, that the club parted ways with Randy Colling and Anthony Parker on Sunday.
Parker was in his eighth year with the club and has been one of the team’s most productive Canadian receivers the last few years, but the strong play of Richard Sindani in camp may have forced John Hufnagel and Dave Dickenson to make a difficult move. The Stampeders also have Juwan Brescacin and Lemar Durant, the latter of which is coming back from knee surgery, while Julan Lynch should be ready to take a step forward in 2018.
After seven seasons with his hometown team, Anthony Parker is looking elsewhere (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
It’s a similar story on the D-line, where Colling has become the second first-round pick from 2017 to already be released. Free agent signing Ese Mrabure joins Junior Turner and Derek Wiggan as options to play alongside American tackle Micah Johnson, making Colling expendable.
Both Parker and Colling should end up on a roster elsewhere before long, as few teams in the CFL can afford the depth Calgary has at receiver and defensive tackle among nationals.
Ticats release Bryant Moniz
June Jones said this week that Vernon Adams Jr. was being shipped out of Hamilton, but some doubt has been cast after the release of Moniz. Jeremiah Masoli and Johnny Manziel are locked in at the top of the Ticats’ depth chart, but Dane Evans outplayed Moniz in pre-season to earn a job as a developmental quarterback.
While we wait on a verdict for Adams, the Ticats’ depth chart has four quarterbacks going into the season, a position where depth never hurts.
REDBLACKS PR Sherrod Baltimore
On a busy cutdown day Sunday, the demotion of Sherrod Baltimore to the practice roster by the Ottawa REDBLACKS was one of the bigger surprises. Baltimore, 25, had a breakout season with the REDBLACKS, recording 47 tackles in 13 games. He emerged as a regular starter and a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball.
It appears Sherrod Baltimore will have to earn back his starting role this season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
This could speak to a couple of things, from a new scheme and defensive coordinator in Noel Thorpe to an injection of talent on that side of the ball. The REDBLACKS have also added Rico Murray, Josh Johnson and Kyries Hebert to their defence, with Johnson being one of the more underrated signings of the off-season.
It’ll be interesting to see what Ottawa’s defence looks like in its first year under Thorpe.
Marshall wins the battle at boundary
Another Riders item, yes, but a lot of eyes were on the position battle at boundary corner in Saskatchewan, where there was a significant void left by the departure of Kacy Rodgers. A verdict has been reached, with Nick Marshall seemingly winning the battle following the release of four defensive backs this weekend.
Marshall is another player changing positions for Chris Jones after a career as a college quarterback for Auburn, pivoting his team to an Iron Bowl win in 2013 and an appearance in the BCS National Championship a year later.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound defender has the physical makeup to play boundary corner for Jones, and put up some production in pre-season action, standing above the rest of the competition.
