CFL Draft 2014 Team Preview: Calgary Stampeders

Picks: 8 picks, first selection is 7^th Overall

2013 Draft Assessment: While other teams were leery of Brett Jones’ interest in med school, the Stamps took a chance anyway and ended up getting the steal of the 2013 draft at the #16 spot. As a rookie Jones started every game at centre and was named a Western All-star and Most Outstanding Rookie. That alone made the draft a huge success. In addition to Jones, the Stamps also drafted red-shirt junior OT Brander Craighead who is signed for this season and could help with depth along the OL and athletic DE Ben D’Aguilar who could see his role expanded in his second CFL season.

Potential Pipeline: n/a

Current Strengths: Overall depth is among the best in the league but three specific things jump out at me. First is the talent at RB. Clearly Jon Cornish is an elite RB (regardless of passport) but the Stamps are also blessed with Rob Cote who is unheralded but among the best blockers in the game (and can contribute offensively when called on) and Matt Walter who adds needed Cdn depth behind Cornish. Second is the O-line. Last year they allowed the least sacks and gained the most yards rushing. The likes of Jones, Gott and Federkeil are getting it done. Lastly is kicking. Paredes has been as accurate as they come and Maver is a solid punter. Having both ensures brings piece of mind even if one gets hurt.

Current Needs: As good as the OL has been, depth has to be a concern. Outside of Brett Jones, no OL started every game last year so their depth was tested. With Tsoumpas retiring and J’Michael Deane going to Ottawa they need others to step up. They have guys like Wilson, Peach, Erdros and Craighead already in the mix but given that only Wilson has seen significant playing time they will not hesitate to bring in more talent on the OL to ensure it stays among the best.

There is a need on defense as well. The Stamps’ depth at OL and RB mean they only need one Cdn starter on D but with Eric Fraser (last year’s starting safety) gone its unclear where exactly that will be. The could make it on the DL where they have Mace, Turner and D’Aguilar but Mace has been injury plagued so they would want more depth if that is their plan. They could keep the safety spot Canadian but I don’t think even the Stamps believe that the combo of Jeff Hecht and Keenan MacDougall is enough to instill confidence so they would want more depth there if that is the plan.

Prediction: Calgary’s first pick should be very telling as to their plans in terms of the ratio. I fully expect them to draft a defender in Round 1 and if that is a DL then their plan is likely to start a Cdn at DL (most likely scenario). If it’s a DB then their plan is keep the safety spot Cdn. After that Calgary will look to stockpile O-lineman as they always do and will take advantage of the luxury their current depth gives them in terms of drafting the best player available regardless of position

CFL Draft 2014 Team Preview: Saskatchewan Roughriders

The CFL Draft is just over a week away so it seems like a fitting time to look at how the reigning champs stack up headed into the draft.

Picks: 6 picks, first selection is 8^th Overall

2013 Draft Assessment: There was both good and bad to last year’s draft for the Riders. The bad was that 6 of their 7 picks came in the 5^th round or later. The good was that in-spite of that, they were actually pretty successful. In the 5^th round they grabbed both Levi Steinhauer and Spencer Moore who earned significant playing time early. The jury is still out on Cory Watman. The Riders claimed he was the most pro-ready OL in the draft but in-spite of a rash of injuries along the OL, Watman was never used much. For now he’s good depth at OL and if he can live up to his draft day hype then 2013 may prove to be a decent draft year after all.

Potential Pipeline: n/a

Current Strengths: The strength of the Riders by far is the O-line. The combo of Labatte, Picard, Best and Heenan are among the league’s best. Also keep in mind that Heenan is already an impact tackle in only his second year in the league. Getzlaf is consistently among the most productive Canadian receiver. Bagg is an impact player (as long as his knees hold up). After working through some early career struggles, the Riders are glad they stuck with Milo (especially when you consider the craptacularness of the 2 kickers taken before him in the 2011 draft). Foley remains a force at the DE spot. They also have a solid group of gritty role players like McHenry, McCullough, Hughes, Woldu and Steinhauer which is the backbone of any successful team.

Current Needs: Offseason took its toll on the once vaunted group of impact Canadian defenders the Riders boasted. It also took its toll on the overall depth. Gone are 4 Canadians that played in the Grey Cup including 2 starters… and good ones at that. The Riders still have 7 solid starters but now need to build the depth behind that and replace the impact players that were lost. A healthy Sam Hurl will help. As will the offseason additions of Josh Bartel and David Lee. I guess one could include Shomari in that group but until we find a spot he can actually hold down I’m holding off.

Any position on defense is priority number one. The Riders may also look to build depth at OL and WR but will hold off until later rounds to do so given that they are currently set there.

Prediction: The 8^th overall pick will be used on whoever happens to be the best available defender left at that spot. Be it DE Dylan Ainsworth, LB Beau Landry or DB Adam Thibault (who could all still be available). At lot depends on how things shake out with picks 4 through 7.

Second round pick will likely be used in a similar fashion… though if a decent O-lineman slipped that far I could see Taman forgoing need to and taking him as has been his style.  Also, Taman likes to trade picks so I fully expect the Riders to make a draft day trade involving the swapping of picks.

CFL Draft 2014 Team Preview: Toronto Argonauts

When you consider how terrible the Canadian content of the Argos was under Adam Rita, it’s amazing how much it has improved. Jim Barker deserves a lot of credit for how he has built up the non-import talent on the team.

Picks: 8 picks, first selection is 6^th Overall

2013 Draft Assessment: The short term payoff was minimal but long-term, this may yet prove to be a solid draft class for the Argos. They used their top pick on offensive tackle Matt Sewell who surprised a lot of folks by returning to school. But he is now signed as is third round pick WR Natey Adjey. They are very high on second round pick Jermaine Gabriel who say playing time in 2013 but should see a larger role this season.

Potential Pipeline: LB Cory Greenwood (Detroit), TE Luke Wilson (Seattle)

Current Strengths: Depth along the O-line is pretty solid with the likes of Keeping, Van Zeyl, Koch, Holmes, Smith and new additions Sewell and former #2 overall pick Scott Mitchell. Andre Durie is one of their key offensive weapons and Spencer Watt is quietly developing into a decent receiver. On the defensive side they are strengthened by their big offseason acquisition Shea Emry. They already have James Yurichuk to provide depth. The sudden retirement of Jordan younger last year pretty much forced the Argos into playing Matt Black at safety. He surprised some people by proving serviceable. The Argos are very high on Jermaine Gabriel who may take over that spot this year. Either way, given that they already start 4 Cdns on the OL along with Durie, having 2 Cdn spots on D solidified gives them plenty of ratio flexibility.

Current Needs: All aspects of their D have been deeply impacted this offseason. Gone are Thorpe, Ball, Mitchell, Watkins, Williams, Pottinger and Lee. While this isn’t specifically an issue with Canadians, you can bet Barker will be looking to add playmakers to help shore up his defense regardless of passport. They don’t have any glaring needs so they have the luxury of drafting the best players available.

Prediction: The Argos have taken a lineman with their first pick in each of the last 5 drafts. Odds are very good that streak will continue. With an early run on OL expected that likely means it will be a D-lineman like Evan Gill or Dylan Ainsworth who they end up taking.

Two other things to keep in mind with the Argos. They are among the riskiest drafters. They will take chances on players with NFL interests or players that are off the radar. Sometimes it works out in the short term (like Cleyon Laing), sometimes it pays off in the longer term (like Tyler Holmes) and sometimes is just plains flops (like Cory Greenwood or Nick Kaczur). Also, they are not afraid to make draft day deals so I expect them to be involved in a trade that shakes up the draft order a bit in the later rounds.