Posts
Typically you can count on a couple lulls in the CFL year. One is the
March-April period and one is in the post Grey Cup until the New Year period.
Well apparently 2017 did not get that memo. This past week was a whirlwind of activity
on all fronts. From team sales, to big trades, to coaching searches, to the
schedule coming out, this week had pretty much everything under the sun except
somebody facing criminal charges (man I hope I didn’t just jinx things). So let
me try my best to get you caught up:
Chris Jones Extends
Given how the season played out it was little surprise to anyone that
the Riders and Jones agreed on a one year extension that runs through 2019. The
same fans that not that long ago were calling for his head are now rejoicing at
this news (typical day in Riderville). While he had a pretty rocky and at times
borderline crazy start, our patience with Jones had been rewarded as he has
taken a last place team, blow it up and rebuilt them to contender status in 2
years. More importantly he has built a strong core of this team that should
keep us contending going forward. This bigger news for me was that Jeremy
O’Day, John Murphy and Mike Davis (who in the spirit of full disclosure I had
to google who he is and what he does) also signed extensions keeping them with
the Riders through 2019. Murphy had been speculated as a potential GM candidate
in Montreal. This gives us much needed stability at a time when our recruiting
efforts are finally starting to bear fruit. At this point last year I was
gravely concerned as we had essentially Holley and Eguavoen to show despite
scouting half of continental the US in means both legal and not so legal. Now
guys like Jones, Butler, Moncrief, Antigha and James are playing prominent roles.
The future looks bright… well technically it’s a whole lot of black on a count
of Jones but you get my point.
Jackson Departs
We are now in search of a new QB coach as Jarious Jackson is moving to
BC to be their OC. It’s certainly a loss for us particularly at a time when we
will hopefully be moving forward with a young QB. It’s also the first big
departure from Jones’ core coaching group which has been together since
Edmonton.
NFL Interest
I have a full list of NFL workouts below but a few have some Rider
implications. Duron, Kacy Rogers and Jeff Knox drawing interest is not a huge
surprise. AC Leonard and Nic Demski are a bit more of a surprise (by the way
despite a decent year I’m still not completely letting go of my Leonard
hatred). The name that did surprise me was Brandon Bridge. At this point I’m
not putting too much stock in it because its with the Giants who historically
invite half the CFL draft class to minicamp but sign next to no one (Brett
Jones is the only exception I can think of and he’s an exception to a lot of
things)
Quarterback
Two plus years of anticipation came to halt this week as James Franklin
was traded to Toronto… not here has had been assumed since Jones took over. It
was the first major domino in a complicated QB web this offseason. I’ll have a
full breakdown of the implications of this on Monday but to those of you still
clinging vainly to the hope that Franklin doesn’t sign in Toronto, let me just
say this for now. Toronto doesn’t give up a Canadian OL they just spent the #10
pick on if they aren’t damn sure they can secure Franklin. I honestly did not
think we would be getting Franklin anyway. I bet we were interested but we
didn’t seem to be in a “get him at all costs” mode where other teams are.
Coaching Carousel
The Alouettes coaching search is all kinds of fantastic (at least for
non-Alouette fans). The 2 leading candidates (DeVone Claybrooks and Mark
Washington) have both withdrawn from consideration (in other they wisely
surmised they want no part of the Kavis Reed dumpster fire). That leaves such
quality candidates as Gary Crowrton (to which Bomber fans in particular respond
with a HAHAHAHAHA), Marcel Bellefeuille (to which I respond HAHAHAHA) and
Kerwin Bell (and if that name doesn’t immediately make you laugh please search
him on Youtube… go on, I’ll wait. Now its your turn to go HAHAHA). By virtue of
the 2 greatest words in the English language: de fault, someone will get this
job. Its not looking for the Als though.
June Jones returns the Ti-Cats. He also made some great comments about
the potential of Johnny Manziel in the CFL… and by great I mean somewhere
between outright lies and drug induced nonsense.
Esks DL Coach Casey Creehan left to become the new coach at Lyon College
BC let go OC Khari Jones, STC Marcello Simmons, DL coach Robin Ross, WR coach
Marcel Bellefeuille (I’d forgot Bellefeuille was in BC but I assure you their
offensive sucktitude and his presence can’t be a complete coincidence). Khari
Jones is an intriguing name for a team suddenly in need of a QB coach.
NFL Watch:
Brandon Zylstra (Edm) – Works out for NY Jets, Minnesota, Detroit, Indy,
Arizona
Roy Finch (Cal) – works out for Buffalo and NY Jets
Stefan Charles (Edm – draft pick) – works out for Green Bay
Craig Roh (BC) – works out for Minnesota, Chicago
Kacy Rodgers (Ssk) – works out for Minnesota, NY Jets
Jonathan Mincy (Mtl) – works out for Minnesota, Cincinnati, NY Jets (expected
to work out for 12 teams)
Derel Walker (Edm) – works out for Minnesota
Nic Demski (Ssk) – works out for NY Giants
Louchiez Purifoy (BC) – works out for Cincinnati
Ronnie Yell (BC) – works out for Chicago
Brandon Bridge (Ssk) – works out for NY Giants
Duron Carter (Ssk) – works out for Arizona
Chris Ackie (Mtl) – works out for NY Jets
Gary Peters (Edm) – works out for NY Jets
Kenny Ladler (Edm) – works out for NY Jets, Cincinnati
AC Leonard (Ssk) – works out for Cincinnati
Diontae Spencer (Ott) - works out for Cincinnati
Jonathan Rose (Ott) – works out for NY Jets
DaVaris Daniels (Cal) – works out for NY Jets
Jeff Knox (Ssk) – works out for NY Jets
Tevaughn Smith (Edm draft pick) – works out for NY Jets
Shaq Richardson (Cal) – works out for NY Jets
CFL Ins and Outs
Saskatchewan
Out: LB Beau Landry, DL Zach
Minter, LB Cameron Ontko (released)
Landry and Ontko were midseason injury replacements only. Minter had his
season cut short but was very underwhelming in the time he did play.
Calgary
In: DL Derek Wiggan, FB William
Langlais (contract extension)
BC
In: DL Gabe Knapton (trade with
Montreal)
Out: WR Chris Williams (trade
with BC)
Edmonton
In: K Sean Whyte, RB CJ Gable,
OL Colin Kelly (contract extension), OL Mason Woods (trade with Toronto), QB
Eli Jenkins (free agent signing)
Out: QB James Franklin (trade
with Toronto)
Winnipeg
In: OL Stanley Bryant (contract
extension), OL Cody Speller, DB Abu Conteh, WR Brendon Thera-Plamondon (free
agent signings)
Hamilton
In: OL Everton Williams, OL
Braden Schram, OL Kay Okafor, WR Jacob Scarfone, DL Jake McEwen, DL Ryan
Muller, QB Dane Evans, RB Storm Johnson, RB Rajion Neal, LB Lucas Wacha, LB DJ
May (free agent signings)
Ottawa
In: QB Trevor Harris, FB
Brandon Gillanders, LB Jean-Phillipe Bolduc (contract extension)
Toronto
In: QB James Franklin (trade
with Edmonton)
Out: OL Mason Woods (trade with
Edmonton)
Montreal
In: WR Chris Williams (trade
with BC), DB Mikael Charland (contract extension)
Out: DL Gabe Knapton (trade with
BC)
2 comments:
The one year extension for Jones is a good thing & the right length. It gives him another year to at least get to the Grey Cup. Anyone who thinks that will be easy in the West I guess assumes the Riders will improve while everyone else stands still. I think BC will improve & Jennings bounce back. The other 3 clubs all have excellent QB's, which is the #1 thing you need to win a Cup. Personally I'm not sold on Bridge & Glenn is a year older & not the guy to take us to the Cup. Should Jones fall short of expectations by year 4, the Riders would have to evaluate his salary structure & the amount of power he wields. Bottom line, he is paid big money to get a CUP - nothing short will do.
The Jackson departure once again shows that Hervey doesn't hold grudges vs Jones et al, which he has said all along. Yes he canned all the assts before the expiry of their contracts Jan 1, 2016. But he said he wanted to clear the deck for the next coach, which turned out to be Maas a week or so later, so that would have happened anyway. Jones traded more with Hervey than anyone in 2016 - 7 or 8 trades I think.
Some fans have still not given up on Franklin. But when do players NOT sign after their neg rights have been traded? Adams signed 3 days after his trade to Mtl, Durant 6 days later & within sight of FA opening. Lastly Reilly signed Jan 31/12 with FA days away. According to Lalji & at least one other source the Riders never were on Franklin's radar. Lalji tweeted Dec 3 that the relationship with Jones & Franklin was not positive. Probably a good reason no trade offer was ever made by Riders to Esks. Despite one Rider fan who expects Franklin to be traded to the Riders for Bridge, time to throw in the towel.
The less said about the Als mess, the better. Whoever ends up coaching them will be looked upon as a survivor rather than a top choice. While Kavis twiddles his thumbs, some of the good assistants who the new coach may have a shot at will be gone too. How many interviews do you have to do, especially in the CFL where everyone pretty much knows everyone else?
I was one who was ambivalent about Minter. We STILL NEED A DOMINANT DT. Is James the guy - maybe. But there may be a number of good DT's come up in February. What would Jefferson be like if he had a half decent DT next to him? Where would the RIders be stats wise in sacks, pressures etc. if not for Jefferson? At the bottom, that's where - we're nearly there with him.
You are bang on, teams don't give up things in a trade for neg rights for a pending FA unless they sure they can secure that player. PLenty of examples as you have listed.
DT is a big need. I'm thinking we look to draft there. I'm a huge James fan but I don't think we should stop looking. You are right even one more strong presence on DL and who knows what mayhem Jefferson is capable of.
Post a Comment