Alex’s CFL Tuesday Takes – February 27, 2018
Published: Tuesday, Feb 27th 2018, 2:02pm
by Alex Dormuth (@RealAlexD)
Well, we’ve hit the real slow part of the CFL offseason. Teams for the most part are done making big moves and finding good CFL news is getting pretty hard to find. We’ve been pretty lucky for the past 3 months as there has been no shortage of CFL talk across the league, especially here in Riderville. Now it appears that the Riders are done signing free agents and will set their sights on prospects in open tryouts and look ahead to the CFL Draft, which will be held on May 3.
I love the make up of this team. There is a great mix of vets and young guys and this team is set up both to win now and to be successful for years, but there are still some holes and questions surrounding this team.
Who will be the starting Left Tackle? Bruce Campbell is a free agent and has a 2 game suspension to start the season. New addition Travis Bond is a natural guard and guys like Terran Vaughn and Jarvis Harrison are unknowns.
Answer: For the first 2 games, Travis Bond. For the remainder of the season, Bruce Campbell. Campbell will re-sign with the team soon and all of a sudden, there is too much starting talent on the O-Line that forces a trade before the draft.
What happens with the Linebackers? Chris Jones has done a good job of stocking the team with plenty of Canadian LBs, but are any of them starters now that Henoc Muamba was released?
Answer: They will have to be. Derrick Moncreif has the lead on the SAM position, Sam Eguavoen will likely start at WIL. A committee will be used at MLB with Sam Hurl and Cameron Judge. Kevin Francis will also see plenty of time on the field this season. Unless Chris Jones finds an absolute stud MLB at a mini-camp, we will see a Canadian there to keep the ratio.
Who fills the void of Kacy Rodgers at Cornerback? I’ve seen fans clamoring for Jerrell Gavins from Ottawa and I’ve also seen panic setting in by other fans saying we don’t have anyone.
Answer: Rodgers’ replacement is already on the roster. Taylor Mays or Melvin White will be named starter. Worst case scenario, Duron Carter can fill in at any time and do this again
Where will the other few free agents the Riders have end up? OL Bruce Campbell, LB Cameron Ontko and DT Eddie Steele are the remaining Riders from last year currently without a contract.
Answer: As mentioned above, Bruce Campbell will be back here in Riderville. Cameron Ontko will end up in Ottawa IF an injury happens to someone on special teams and Eddie Steele will land in Winnipeg.
*** A special thank you goes out to everyone who joined us on the first Piffles Rush Bus this past weekend. We took a bus from Regina to Saskatoon to see the Saskatchewan Rush beat up on the Calgary Roughnecks 10-6. It was my first Sask Rush game and if you’ve never been to an NLL game, GO! It was an electric atmosphere and I can’t wait to get to another game!
And another big thank you to our sponsors for donating prizes and helping us out with making this trip possible: Dairy Queen on Elphinstone St. and Sask Drive in Regina, Tall Grass Apparel, Kathy Fezchyn of Royal Lepage Regina Realty, Coney Island Poutine Cafe, Specklebelly’s Brewpub and Victoria’s Tavern. Everyone had a great time and we will definitely look at having more bus trips in the future! ***
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