CFL Draft Preview: Hamilton Ti-Cats

Canadians Under Contract: 31

One Word Description of Current Canadians: Mixed-bag (yes I know that’s actually 2 words)

Early Round Track Record: Luck has certainly not been on their side despite the fact that they had the top choice more often than any other team in the past few years. They haven’t drafted that bad but all their highly touted picks are either out of football (Barker), not in the CFL (Guigere), a bust (Bauman) or currently with other teams (Rottier, Bekasiak). The only first rounder they have left to show is Darcy Brown… and the fact that they felt they needed to use a first rounder on him is laughable. They could easily have got him in the 2^nd or 3^rd round.

First Pick: 1^st Round 3^rd Overall

Number of Picks: 6

Strengths: They have tremendous depth at Cdn LB (which is odd since they start 3 Americans at LB). They have a solid receiving tandem in Fantuz and Stala. They have some very good Cdn special teams players which should not be discounted. 

Potential Pipeline: WR Samuel Guiguere (exploring NFL options), OL Moe Petrus (college)

Needs: The fact that they have just 6 Canadian OL under contract should be causing some concern in Steeltown. It will be their top focus. Lesser needs include depth at DB (since they start a Cdn at corner) and someone to do kickoffs and punts (because Luca Congi sure as hell can’t!)

Bold Prediction: Hamilton’s first 2 picks will be O-linemen and will take punter Brett Cameron in the 5^th Round.

Riders Make Roster Moves

The Riders made a pile of moves today, cutting a bunch of people you’ve probably never heard of and signing a bunch that you will never likely come to know. Such is life in the offseason. That said there were some very notable moves.

Released were Dario Romero, Clint Oldenburg, Justin Wilson, Alvin Bowen, Jamal Fudge and Matt Williams.

Romero is the most notable (and likely the only name you recognize). I was actually hoping for this move for a while. To be fair I don’t think signing Romero in the first place was a bad idea. He did his job and was an improvement over Chunky. To his credit he was one of the few you actually still played like he cared when things turned into a gong show last year. But the fact is he’s old, likely to see his production drop in year 2 here (see Simpson, Barrin), took dumb penalties and could be replaced for half the price. The last point is likely why he’s gone. I give this is one a thumbs up.

Oldenburg is the other big one even though he’s never even donned a Rider jersey. He was touted by Taman as a young Dan Goodspeed and essentially penciled in as our new starting OT. Apparently he has old injuries that just won’t hold up to the rigors of pro football anymore. It’s too bad since by all accounts he sounded like a good guy. But it leaves a gaping hole at tackle that would give Burris’ teeth a run for their money. I guess Canadian Patrick Neufeld is the next logical guy but who knows what Taman has in store. I’m sure he has another failed attempt up his sleeve.

Wilson and Fudge actually played a game last year but you likely don’t remember them. Like me you are likely still trying to repress the memories of most of last season.

Bowen and Williams you will fall in the “we never knew ye at all” category unless you happened to see them in the Florida mini-camp videos.

Signed were DBs Macho Harris (love the name), TJ Rushing and Talmadge Jackson (hey we already have a T Jackson at DB so they better cut one of you. Also signed was QB JT O’Sullivan. While I’m looking forward to seeing the DBs compete, I honestly hope this O’Sullivan thing is a joke.

O’Sullivan is 32, has never played the Canadian game, holds the NFL record for most teams played for at 11 and the best thing I could find about his crazy NFL career is that when he was the start in San Francisco he threw 11 interceptions, fumbled 11 times and was sacked 32 times in starting 8 games.

So again… this is a joke right?

Sadly with Taman it is not a joke. He’s probably serious. (Shakes head in disgust)

CFL Draft Preview: Edmonton Eskimos

Canadians Under Contract: 32

One Word Description of Current Canadians: Rebounding

Early Round Track Record: Mixed bag. It’s where the core of their O-line has come from (Hinse, Wojt, Mitchell) but there have also been duds like Warren Keane and Brian Bulcke (who was a great choice but is now in Calgary with very little for Edmonton in return).

First Pick: 1^st Round 2^nd Overall

Number of Picks: 4

Strengths: D-line is a huge area of strength with Ted Laurent, Jermaine Reid, Etienne Legare and the newly acquired Don Oramasionwu. They have good depth at OL (given the addition of Rottier) and decent depth at DB as well.

Potential Pipeline: N/A

Needs: Even though they added Nate Coehoorn in the first round last year, they are still fairly weak at WR (with apologies to Andrew Nowacki… actually no, no apologies) and will look to add there. They will also probably be looking to add an offensive tackle. Tillman also tends to always be looking 2-3 years down the road so it wouldn’t surprise me to see a pick or two that the Esks will have to wait a year for.

Bold Prediction: Eric Tillman will make a minimum of 3 trades during the draft (or in the minutes before the daft).

CFL Draft Preview: Montreal Alouettes

***Don't forget to get your picks in for the First Annual Rider Prophet Draft Contest. Details here***

Canadians Under Contract: 30

One Word Description of Current Canadians: Solid 

Early Round Track Record: Jekyll and Hyde. They done some great things like draft Shea Emry (as good a Canadian LB as there is) and Kristian Matte (a future star at tackle). They have also done some things that make you think they are on drugs like using first round picks on the likes of Richard Yalowsky (whose knee was shot long before the draft) and Brody McKnight (a kicker they didn’t even need and may never see).

First Pick: 2^nd Round 11^th Overall

Number of Picks: 6

Strengths: Building an all Cdn O-line with late round picks. Montreal’s starting 5 consist of one 2^nd Rounder, three 3^rd Rounders and one 6^th Rounder. Given the immense priority O-linemen get in the draft, to build an elite O-line with that many late round picks is remarkable! They also have a deep stable of back-ups along the O-line. Good base of LBs and DBs as well.

Potential Pipeline: K Brody McKnight (college), OL Phillip Blake (college), DL Vaughn Martin (San Diego)

Needs: They current have only one Cdn Receiver on the roster so they need to add a few at that spot. Also look for them to build depth behind defensive starters Emry (LB) and Boulay (S).

Bold Prediction: Jim Popp incites widespread riot when he fails to draft at least one player with a French sounding name.

Saturday Trivia Challenge: Draft Edition

Two new trivia challenges for you today. Since the CFL Draft will soon be upon us, both are draft related trivia.

The first tests your knowledge of the Riders' Draft Picks. Can you name the first players taken by the Riders in CFL Drafts since 2000?

http://www.sporcle.com/games/rider_prophet/saskatchewan-roughriders-first-draft-picks-since-2000

The second is harder and deals with all CFL teams. Can you name the last 25 players to be taken first overall in the CFL draft? (If you get more than 10 you deserve a medal)


http://www.sporcle.com/games/rider_prophet/cfl-draft---first-overall-picks

I'll be back Monday with continued CFL Draft analysis and likely some more on the Odell Willis saga.

Odell Willis Arrested

When it come to omens, your prize offseason acquisition getting arrested less than a month after joining your team certainly ranks among the more ominous ones.

 It appears that Odell Willis either over celebrated being shipped out of Winnipeg or tried to drink away the pain of being shipped to the lowly Riders… either way he was arrested on the weekend and charged with DUI in Atlanta. Evidently Mr. Willis never paid attention to this…

That catchy beat sure put me on the right path.

Anywho, Willis has a court date set for May 22. The Riders issued a public statement that pretty much says they have no statement… privately I bet their statement rhymed with duck.

For now it’s just a waiting game until May. This could end up being a minor inconvenience that is soon forgotten or it could end up being disastrous if legal issues or border issues render our star acquisition as useful as Stevie Wonder’s eyes. Regardless it’s not good. Just for one why can’t some other team have the legal issues to deal with? We’ve more than hard our share as a franchise!

What will be interesting to see is how the Riders’ Code of Conduct is applied in this case. I mean I know its innocent until proven guilty but DUI isn’t one of those charges that the cops investigate and charge a susect after the fact. If he got charged with it odds are pretty good he did something he shouldn’t have and even if he is able to play this season the Riders will need to do something. If Willis was a marginal or inkown player like Hakeem Hill that “something” would likely be a release. But since Willis is our prize high priced start acquisition I have a hard time believing they give him anymore than a stern taking to.

If Willis does make it to Regina he will now need a chauffeur and Media Consultant and PR Guy have recommended it be me. That would be like sitcom material right there. “Look Odell, for the last time!! I can’t drive you to swaggerville!! It doesn’t exist!!”