2011 Canadian Football League is open for business. Familiar names that headed North: -Rod Wright, signed withe Saskatchewan Rough Riders -Courtney Bryan signed with the Calgary Stampeders -Toronto Argonauts have the CFL rights to Pat White -Brandon London signed in Montreal Players to watch for a CFL to NFL move: -Jovan Olifaye Tackle BC Lions http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=86117&draftyear=2009&genpos=og -Solomon Eliminian LB BC Lions http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/45789.html -Steve Black Wr BC Lions (Terrel Owens nephew) http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=68622&draftyear=2009&genpos=WR -Shomari Williams DE/OLB Saskatchewan Rough Riders (solid sack seer numbers) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj76bSlKiSo&feature=related -Jon Cornish Calgary Stampeders Running Back -Chima Ihekwoaba DE Montreal Alouettes. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=114225&draftyear=2010&genpos=DE -Ahman Green signed in Montreal -Leroy Vann signed in Montreal -Chris Leak signed with Saskatchewan -Steve "burner" Turner, legit 4.3-4.4 guy coming back from an Achilles for the argonauts. -Fmr Gator Brandon James also landed in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos, he will be fun to watch. -Taurean Allen Cb Calgary Stampeders, in line to start he is a legit 4.4 guy, if you can cover a Wr who has a running start before the ball is snapped, you are probably a good cover guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJOuK5mPh9g http://www.cfl.ca/article/draft-profile-cornerback-taurean-allen I've studied the CFL fairly intensely, with these prospects they all, save for Oliafaye, play positions that easily translate to the NFL, Cb, Wr, Lb, Qb on occasion, interior Dlinemen, Offencive Linemen, have massively difficult transition to make to the NFL, which is one of the reasons why I did not list all of them who probably could go South as they say, it is impossible to predict who can make that jump, and who cannot for those positions. There will be other names added as the season kicks off, BC has stockpiled 6 Qb's with Mike Riley and and fmr Cal Bear Kevin Riley two names that could surprise if Travis Lulay should be injured Wally Buono developed Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia and Casey Printers along with Dave Dickinson, all 4 were NFL Qb's. Coaching prospects: Back to Back Grey Cup Champion Marc Trestman remains a NFL Coaching prospect BC signed fmr Bill Belicheck Defencive Line coach Randy Melvin. In 2010 ESPN3 offered the games free in HD remains to be seen if they will offer the same service this season, with the NFL labor issues there was some thought that ESPN would broadcast actual games if the lockout lingers into the 2011 season. Western Conference: Calgary Stampeders Saskatchawan Rough Riders BC Lions Edmonton Eskimos Eastern Conference: Montreal Alouettes Hamilton TiCats Toronto Argonauts Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Blue Bombers GM, Joe Mack, is a fmr NFL Scout who recruits NFL type players to come to Winnipeg which means they are worth a watch for players such as fmr Tennessee Vol Rico McCoy. Rosters can be found here: http://www.cfl.ca/page/tm_rosters Season kicks off June 30th. Edited to add a player
ESPN3 had the games all season, just log into ESPN3 and they will show up on the menu. And the usual suspects places offers them as well,
Josh McDaniels brother, Ben McDaniels is a guest coach for the Rough Riders: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/01/ben-mcdaniels-resurfaces-in-saskatchewan/ Randy Melvin is an interesting name, he is 52 and probably hit the wall in his NFL Coaching Career, will be interesting if Belicheck's ex Dline coach decides to try and become a CFL HC.
http://scratchingpost.thespec.com/2...st-and-why-those-questions-are-important.html Fmr USC Qb Mitch Mustain talks about his drug arrest as he tried to make the Hamilton tiCats. On a side note, did not realize BC and Calgary more or less run Tedford style of offense, he was a one time CFL Coordinator who migrated south, which is why BC signed Kevin Riley, who knows it made Jeff Garcia into a NFL Qb.
Well, Ahman Green was cut prior to the Al's Training Camp opening, he had a bad hamstring. Rod Wright on playing in the CFL: http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/052511aac.html
No surprise, he could do well in there, he has a big arm but and it is a huge but, he will not have much time to pick up the Eskimos Offence, and the game favors mobility in Qb's and I'm not sure how mobile he is. Cadogan was a good prospect coming out of PSU, his knock was short arms but not athletic abilities.
http://www.bclions.com/article/training-camp-report-day-2_ Jovan Oliafaye played LG/LT and will play RT this yr, he is 6'5 and 330 or so, Wr Steve Black is going to be a beast in the CFL and Wr Shawn Gore had a look at Packers Training Camp in 2010, Joe Henderson is slated to be a 3-4 OLB/DE this yr but is probably to small for what they like in Miami.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/06/boyd-giving-the-runaround Cory Boyd is a Running Back whom I thought would fit what they like to do on offence, his talent was never really in question his was more a case of motivation.
He was compared to CJ Spiller in Draft 2010 but he had a raft full of personal issues, glad to see him try his luck in the CFL his speed should fit will into the wider fields, that is if he makes the team.
Well, on the surface Pryor would seem to be a good CFL Qb, and Saskatchewan has the most rabid fan base in the CFL, "but" Pryor would have been far better served going to the Alouettes as Mark Trestman is seen as a Qb guru type and there is little doubt he would have eyes for the NFL in two or three yrs. His inaccuracy is also a problem.
CFL reaps reward of NFL lockout: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports...eders/reaps+reward+lockout/4917939/story.html This is interesting from a CFL to NFL standpoint: Wally Buono's Roster has put more fmr CFLers into the pro bowl and on NFL rosters, then any other current CFL Coach, so when he says the same thing about Olifaye that he said about Cam Wake, the man clearly is talented do not know if Olifaye makes it down to Miami, and do notice Wally B does not wish to really discuss either Sol-E or Olifaye leaving but he knows they are talented enough to do just that in 2012,. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Drive+game+derived+from+life/4909135/story.html#ixzz1OhCCC8w1
Brandon James update for U of F fans: http://www.edmontonsun.com/2011/06/09/jamess-offence-catching-on
I KNEW he would end up playing somewhere: http://communities.canada.com/calga...eking-to-have-washington-cleared-to-play.aspx Tony Washington the talented but flawed tackle from Abilene Christian, will wind up playing in the CFL and good for them and for him, wish him nothing but the best of luck.
Another fmr player makes it to BC: http://bclions.com/article/bryant-the-boxer-makes-his-mark-at-lions-camp i'd guess he was the one behind the FIU/Hurricanes brawl?
Found this site: http://www.canadianfootballtalk.com/ Which is long overdue for the CFL, one of their problems is the game is not seen as a yr around affair, mostly because they do not market themselves as an all around affair, but with the amount of tryout camps in the US and CFL to NFL and NFL to CFL crossovers, such a site is needed to keep news in the headlines.
Tony Washington did make it into Calgary: http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2011/06/18/lefko_on_stamps/ Good for him, he had been playing in the Arena League in TX for $400 a week, so even a the rook practice squad paycheck in the CFL, 44,000 or so will be a double in his pay, if he makes the team and starts that will also grow, remains to be seen what he can do as he is behind the curve in learning the offense and the CFL game. Other news: Brandon London caught a nice TD in the Alouettes preseason game, maybe he found a home.
The more I watch their games and how things work in the League the more respect I have for the CFL game. As for fmr Dolphins, another name surfaces: http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/550028--ticats-lose-exhibition-opener-31-12-to-argos What football fans should realize is, Americans who try to make it in the CFL face the hurdle not only of being good enough, they have to be one of the best 24 Americans on the Roster, they really have their work cut out for them in trying to make the jump, take C Williams for example, he could be a fine Returner but may not make the team due to the Ratio of Canadian players and American players.
http://www.cfl.ca/article/cfl-back-on-nfl-network-for-2011-season NFLN will carry the opening couple of weeks of the CFL, the BC v Montreal Opening Day game should be really good, a match up of great defense vs great offense.
ESPN3 to carry every game, "free" in HD, on their website: http://espn.go.com/espn3/index/_/sport/football Starting june 30th at 7 pm featuring the BC Lions vs Montreal Alouettes.
Joe Thiesmann on the CFL, Mark Trestman and the NFL: Funny thing is, the CFL used to be like that, NFLers playing out the string by heading to the CFL, now those types can't make a team, witness Ahman Green, he was cut before TC even opened. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/06/24/unplugged-theismann-on-the-cfl-nfl-and-mark-trestman/
Season Opens Tonight!!!!! BC v Montreal coverage: http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork Certain Coverage: http://espn.go.com/espn3/index Let's get it on!!!!!!
Great game last night, BC has a tonne of talent but it is so young they are making to many mistakes and costing opportunities. Travis Lulay is a CFL star in the making, he had a great duel with Calvillo last night. Waiting on the ratings numbers.
http://www.thespec.com/sports/ticats/article/559325--table-set-for-williams-to-show-his-stuff Really liked his game in preseason 09, hope he does well.
Coach Buono appeared on the Finsiders to talk about the CFL and Wake: http://thefinsiders.com/podcasts/2011/wally-buono-bc-lions-head-coachgm Wpg is surprising everyone, as are the Eskimos, Wpg is especially surprising as they lost their Supplemental Draft #1 pick Kito Poblah. Negative surprises have been the TiCats 0-2 start along with the Riders 0-2 start, soon there will ledge climbing in Saskatchewan and Hamilton already benched Qb Glenn once, they look terrible. Montreal just looks like a machine so far this yr, very much like the old 49ers team with Joe Montana just dissecting Defenses, only it is Anthony Calvillo who is holding the scapel.
Highlights from last week: [video=youtube;8okA1O6KzqQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okA1O6KzqQ[/video] [video=youtube;zWeKzFZTJZ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWeKzFZTJZ4[/video] [video=youtube;N_pyCidQ5-A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_pyCidQ5-A[/video] [video=youtube;_e1Oj_2eVp4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e1Oj_2eVp4[/video]
BC, of course, is off to a 0-3 start, my goodness. Rumor has it Rider fans' bosses are nailing windows closed before they do something drastic
Week 4 Highlights [video=youtube_share;rlWk98FymEA]http://youtu.be/rlWk98FymEA[/video] [video=youtube_share;TqFuNYBjmWA]http://youtu.be/TqFuNYBjmWA[/video] [video=youtube_share;POWNN2flbws]http://youtu.be/POWNN2flbws[/video] [video=youtube_share;3sGYKd7ADYo]http://youtu.be/3sGYKd7ADYo[/video]
I refuse to thank you for posting video of Chris Williams smoking my Lions and dropping them to 0-4. Matt ODonnell signed in the NFL, not sure where offhand as I believe he just is not the prospect he thinks he is,
Mike Benevides really needs to be let go, I did some NFL fan style number crunching on my BC board it turns out this defence is worse then the 09 defence that was legendarily poor, 136 points is 30 pts more then the next worst Defense, same story in 09, only Rich Stubler's presence made 10's Defence rock solid. Removed Stubler and we fall back to 09 levels, with the addition of DT Taylor? And give up more long plays then any Defence in the league? How does this man still have a job?
I guess Wpg Dline Coach Harris literally collapsed on the practice field and died sometime later. Wow.