Last spring and summer there were some 21 CFLers who tried to make the jump to the NFL, along with a couple of Canadian CIS players, the Dolphins had 3 of them, Lumbala, Mullen, Tsoumpas, none stuck, though they tried to finesse Lumbala into sticking around Miami for a possible practice squad slot. Lumbala headed back north and signed a two yr deal in BC. Here is the foundation of the Dolphins interest in the CFL: http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports...eron-wake.html And VP of Player Development Mike Murphy is the son of a CFL HoF Coach and GM Cal Murphy who is now a scout for the Colts. Well, enough of the background stuff, let's look at this yr's crop of Option Year players and guys who will garner interest in 2011 or 2012: This year: Without question, the cream of the crop is Phillip Hunt of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: [video=youtube;8r7XKd3Gaew]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r7XKd3Gaew[/video] Still, being CUSA DPOY meant..nothing to the NFL, Hunt had an invite to the Browns Training Camp and was waived, signed quickly by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers he had 3 sacks in limited duty in 09, and in a full season had 16 but was not really in the running for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award as Wpg was 4-14 this year. [video=youtube;EpxfziO2JJY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpxfziO2JJY[/video] Starting out 2:20, watch Hunt, #53, the Lions Olinemen tries to cut block him, he leaps him, they had a veteran running back waiting to block him, Hunt simply disposes of Jamal Robertson and easily sacks the BC Lions Qb. Hunt is very very quick, you see it time after time, when he is asked to passrush he simply flashes by the Tackle's face and is quick enough to even avoid double teams, but for all of that what really surprised me about Hunt is how fundamentally sound a DE he is, always keeping his outside arm free and keeping himself alive on plays. Conuficus back in 08 had this to say about him: http://forums.thephins.com/showthrea...9-Phillip-Hunt But like Cameron Wake, Hunt's trip to the CFL has allowed him to expand his game, he is not very easily pushed off of a play by sheer force, he can however lose his balance. [video=youtube;I3r1Iduy2bk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3r1Iduy2bk&feature=channel[/video] Hunt also set a Wpg record for sacks in consecutive games with 10 straight games with a sack, the real issue as far as the Dolphins are concerned, is where would he fit, if at all, in our Scheme? 6'1 and 244 is not exactly prototype numbers for what Ireland and Company look for, however, Hunt is 24 and he could fill a sort of jack of all trades roll with us, specialist passrusher, special teamer, maybe play either OLB position if he can bulk up, which is another thing I've noticed about his time in the CFL, Hunt has sharpened his game more than his physique, time in a full time NFL strength and conditioning program would work wonders for his career, or could, either way though, if Ireland doesn't see a value in that sort of role Phil Hunt will take his talents elsewhere as if Wake was like having an extra third round pick Hunt would be best viewed as a mid 4th rd type of pickup if he develops further you can have a poor man's Dumervil and coming out in 09, he drew favorable comparisons to the Seahawks Daryl Tapp. If one cares to watch the video, you will see most of the talent that will come available from the CFL to the NFL in a single game highlight, Hunt, his running mate DE Odell Willis, Yonus Davis whom if you like Stefan Logan, you will like Yonus Davis, the other really solid possible CFL to NFL jumper is: Cory Boyd: [video=youtube;E3UVnudTSYA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3UVnudTSYA[/video] [video=youtube;1X4Dgesu3sU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X4Dgesu3sU[/video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3r1I...eature=channel Though I question whether his style of running will translate to the NFL, he easily avoids Eric Berry in that clip, and he is physical, but he was dinged up in the CFL every other week it seemed like his fellow big play creator in Toronto, Chad Owens was on the Jags practice squad for three seasons, he never could break through, but the Flying Hawaiian could wind up on a team that can have a roster slot for a Returner only type of player. Weston Dressler, a sort of Wes Welker clone of a slot back, re-upped his deal with Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Finally, BC's Emmanual Arceneaux, from a HBCU and a one time track athlete: [video=youtube;spWZ9zDX-co]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spWZ9zDX-co[/video] Manny is in his option season, he on occasion was an explosive playmaker for the BC Lions, as in the fastest most physical Wr on the field, but, and it is a huge but, his hands are wildly inconsistent, and he does not return kicks or play special teams, his only real path to a roster is land on a bad team, or land on a practice squad, CFL wr's have the bad habit of rounding off their routes instead of breaking them off crisply and Manny A is no different. For fun, here is a clip of Yonus Davis at SJSU: [video=youtube;k1xodd_M0NE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1xodd_M0NE[/video] He signed for 43k and Wally Buono gave him a shot, he succeeded and now he is stuck in a low dollar contract for at least another season, with the CFL to NFL option window closing, Davis is sure to take advantage of it in 2012 he is lightening quick probably quicker than Stefan Logan. I blogged this entry as well, preferred the yourube links to contain just click the arrow button and watch rather than a simple link to click on. All in all, maybe 4 guys this year are worth a look in the NFL imho, but all 4 are really good prospects who maybe have flaws in their games, but not huge holes, another name to watch is the Alouettes' Larry Taylor, he spent most of this season on the Jets practice roster until recently being released, he led the CFL in total return yards in 09 but 2010 is basically a wash for him.
I think the Ref's had money on the Riders, that was a horribly called game they pretty much kept the Riders in it. Have to pull for the Alouettes, I think the Riders were jobbed. As for the prospects, surprised at the dearth this year, not that there is a lack of talent per se, more the guys who maybe can make the jump are not inline to do so this time around. Yonus Davis if he stays healthy looks like a stud Returner, Solomon Eliminian also looked like a possible, when he hits guys they know feel it, he is sort of the Ray Lewis of the CFL.
How about Adarius Bowman. Minor drug charges his draft year sent him to the CFL and I just recently heard he was released by Winnipeg. What happened? He seemed like a good prospect with all the right measurables.
He was on my radar this year, and I thought highly of him: But he was waived about 2/3rds into the season, by the Wpg Blue Bombers, his hands were just atrocious Tone. When he caught the ball he was a beast, but to many drops sank him, they even tried moving him to Slot Wr and he still could not get things right.
Well I can provide some info on Bowman as he played for Winnipeg. As Padre mentioned , his hands were simply awful. Not just awful , but dropping passes at the most inopportune time as well . Big , down the field plays. Really, really inexcusable. Didn't exhibit any mental toughness , never fought through things , challenges , never stepped up. Nothing indicates he can play at the NFL level , nothing. He would have to rebound , improve significantly if he is able to become an adequate CFL player. Padre it seems you are a neighbour with your CFL and now Phillip Hunt knowledge , hopefully it isn't as cold where you are . Winter arrived last week , the sudden swoop that leaves no doubt you are in for a deep freeze for too many months is like a bitterly brisk slap in the face.
Which is one of the things that causes a chuckle whenever someone just says "oh, they will go to the CFL". As if things are easier by magnitudes in the Canadian Football League..quite the opposite..there is none of the pampering of Athletes in the CFL that you see in the NFL. Was freezing just watching the Stamps and Riders play, couldn't imagine what it was like on the field. Mid 60ish, partly sunny, it has been a mild late fall this year.
Thanks for the update fellas. I saw some nice highlights of Bowman but I didn't realize there was so much bad in between the highlight reels. A shame really, but wasn't he a projected 2nd or 3rd rounder in the NFL draft before the drug charges? Either way I was rooting for the kid.
He'll get a chance , maybe even from an NFL team , he needs to significantly change his approach and conviction for him to play anywhere imo.
Well, I think maybe another CFL team takes a shot with him with the hope that walking the streets unemployed lifts the motivation factor. That is a Dolphin Scout at the Blue Bombers training camp, with so many FA's, Hefney, Hunt etc they are doing their due dilligence. Overlooked player: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=67615&draftyear=2007&genpos=OLB Odell Willis, a marginal prospect though, maybe he can stick in the NFL, maybe not as lining up across from Phil Hunt had to have helped him out, he finished #3 in the CFL in sacks with 11.
Manny Arceneaux is making a classic mistake: A fmr Track Star in college, he is working out like a mad man to get into top shape for tryouts that typically happen in late December for CFL to NFL jumpers, but his problem was not his speed, it was his hands the band work is all good but job #1 is catching the ball and that High School facility does not have a Jugs machine. CFLers work out for team scouts and front office types in late December so they have enough time to travel around for workouts and then hope to be signed to futures contracts and added to practice squads once the NFL season ends. I'd love to know if Phil Hunt is doing the same thing in preperation for working out for NFL teams.
BC's ROY Solomon Eliminian is also in his option year: http://www.montrealgazette.com/spor...s/wisdom+Solomon+Elimimian/3888022/story.html I see him as more of a Weakside OLB in the 4-3 than a ILB in the 3-4, but he is sort of the CFL's version of Ray Lewis, he would hit guys and they looked like they were hit with a taser, but at 6'0 225 pds, he does not fit into the 3-4. http://nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=57434&draftyear=2009&genpos=OLB [video=youtube;7V9teWhMR6A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V9teWhMR6A[/video] Granted a tiny youtube highlight loop "but" he was hitting guys like that all yr long, he put Cory Boyd out for maybe a month.
http://www.teamradio.ca/news/arceneaux-looking-to-nfl/ Well, Wake and Logan both are in the top 5 of their positions in the NFL, Wake is #1 in sacks Logan is Top 5 in return yards. Mallet has bounced around practice squads, and RGM is back in the CFL, 50% success rate, but when they succeed they REALLY succeed. CFL Wr's and Olinemen have the toughest jump to make, that 1 yd cushion means they do not get off of the jam as easily in and Olinemen have to play at a different game speed which means it is a crap shoot whether or not they can swing it. Db's, Rb's, Lb's, De's, Qb's have an easier time of it as the skillset is holographic. I wonder if they take a look at Cory Boyd as well?
Phillip Hunt has two offers to come in for a work out so far: Vikings would be a bad fit, if I had to guess the other team would be the Bills. Cory Boyd may make some sense for at least a camp look, maybe more if we are adding Running Backs this offseason: http://www.thestate.com/2010/08/13/1415973/once-again-boyd-perseveres.html Hungry football player, his physical talent was never in doubt it was the upstairs in the head that was his issue. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=17344&draftyear=2008&genpos=RB
http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=344987 That is a surprise, Fantuz was something of an institution in Riderville and TBH, not seeing him making the jump, his teammate Weston Dressler, a sort of Wes Welker clone who set all sort of Mtn West Receiving Records would have been a much better bet to make the jump.
Well, we are not alone in the CFL sweepstakes: http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=62125 The Jets were actually more aggressive than the Dolphins were at bringing CFLers into training camp but the only one who stuck was Larry Taylor and he was a practice squadder until released halfway through the season.
All of which I have seen from him in the CFL, and what I meant when saying "he is not Cam Wake but he is more polished a DE" Hunt does maintain gap control he does have a knack for tipping passes (even at 6'1) he does split double teams and does surprisingly quickly, and he can line up virtually anywhere, whether his football IQ is sufficient to do that in the NFL is a different story. Hunt in a word is a really crafty player. This I agree with somewhat and disagree with somewhat, Hunt can play in space, but he does lack bulk, as for quickness only he and Cam Wake have I seen get down in that weird 4 pt sprinters stance, head down, backside up in the air, and have success with doing so in the CFL, that particular talent is what catapulted Wake into his passrushing specialist role in 09 as he would literally blow by Tackles around the corner, Hunt could do that as well but he is such a compact player that he never had to develop the sort of rubber ankles that Wake had when he arrived, whether that means NFL tackles will simply push him over remains to be seen. But I do like his arsenal of moves, swim, rip, speed, Hunt is a crafty player. He would be the cat who if the ball doesn't come out of the pocket quickly comes out of nowhere to get the sack, if there were a mass of defenders where the Oline formed the pocket, Hunt would pop out of it and get the sack or pressure.
[video=youtube;tkbV9PFK1DE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkbV9PFK1DE&feature=player_embedded[/video] Well now, the Vikes are looking at: Andy Fantuz the CFL Canadian POY Manny Aceneuax Phillip Hunt
Just a blurb Pads... News of some CFL players already having tryouts ( Pitt Andy Fantuz ) but nothing from Hunt as of yet. "We had some conversations with Phil and his agent, and they hummed and hawed over it, but they've decided that he's going to check out opportunities down there," said Hodgkinson, adding that if Hunt signs with an NFL club he cannot return to Canada -- even if there is a work stoppage -- until the NFL club releases him. "We respect his decision and he has every right to do that... we'll see what happens."
http://nflbuzz.yardbarker.com/ Well, that is the second team that looked at Phillip Hunt, surprising really, have to wonder if the Vikes Stadium issues diverted their workout of him?
Odd about the patriots showing interest. Nice thing about CFLers is as long as their signing bonus is close to what they would make in the CFL, it makes sense for them to give the NFL a shot.
Hmm, hopefully he knocks it out of the box as he is a real character. And in the larger picture, this is the 3rd yr in a row that the 21st is when Ireland has these workouts in that time frame which sort of tells me that background evaluations have been done on the 60 guys on the roster and practice squad.
http://nflbuzz.yardbarker.com/ Interesting, typically CFLers make the rounds and workout for teams, then when they are finished teams make offers to them and they choose the offer that best matches their needs.
Well, we had first crack at Manny A, when there are that many teams interested though he will land an offer and a signing bonus.
http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...aserio-talks-about-finding-talent-in-the-cfl/ The Patriots are actually behind us in this area which is an advantage that I hope Ireland pushes even further and signs a couple more CFLers to at least come into Camp. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010...workout-i-definitely-impressed/#ixzz18UJabEP6 Interesting that no CFLer can be signed until the NFL season is over.
Matt O'Donnell, while not a CFLer he plays in the CIS (sort of the Canadian version of Div I): He is 6'10 and 340 pds, last yr the Browns took a look at Joel Reinders who was a 6'8 Tackle with little football experience so do not be surprised if such a project Left Tackle winds up in a NFL camp.
[video=youtube;fJEbb-pIvH4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJEbb-pIvH4[/video] Well, if we have a rebuild of the backfield I'd like to see him get at least a look, granted he operating behind a zone blocking scheme in the video, his overall game though, is quite good.
Hmm that makes 5 teams, Vikings, Patriots, Browns, Eagles, Texans, he will get an offer as Ricky Foley had 3 workouts and landed in Seattle for 100k in a signing bonus, I hope we take a look at him as well as our OLB depth is just not that deep.
Well, here is the "top Ten" that can be signed on January 3rd: http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/dave_naylor/?id=347244 Bourke would be interesting as he plays T, but CFL to NFL Olinemen are rarer than any other position.
I remember Chad Owens at Hawaii and I remember him at Jacksonville. I liked him in college and I liked him at Jacksonville. I thought he could use some development at the NFL level but he didn't get it. I remember proposing in I believe 2006 that Miami trade David Boston for Chad Owens. A lot of people laughed. David Boston never did anything again. Owens obviously hasn't starred at the NFL level since then but he has at the CFL level and he could make a Stefan Logan type return to the NFL. I thought I remembered Miami having some interest in Owens at one point or another.
Thing with Owens: -He heads directly upfield, many CFL Returner types run horizontally and use the wider field to their advantage, the Flying Hawaiin's time in the NFL shows. -Wants a 6 figure signing bonus -has no Practice Squad eligibility left Pity the Dolphins had Stefan Logan in 07 and let him walk.
