Every year some unknown rookie makes the Edmonton Eskimos grade and avoids being released on cut down day. In 2015 Florida A&M’s John Ojo went from raw rookie to CFL All-Star in what seemed like overnight. Then-head coach Chris Jones surely didn’t Ojo’s potential when he opted to release Ojo from the practice squad in 2014, only to ask him back to camp where he made the cut in 2015. The Eskimos only brought Ojo back after Joe Burnett was released and Otha Foster was moved the linebacker position.
Assessing players is an imperfect science and recognizing an all-star in the making is hard, but current head coach Jason Maas and co. tried to find the diamond in the rough heading into the 2016 season.
Making the Edmonton Eskimos Grade
It’s interesting the winding road of opportunity a rookie’s career takes, like Johnny Sears who landed in camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016 and Burnett who is penciled in as a starter for the Calgary Stampeders after being often injured. With Ojo now suffering a season ending injury the Eskimos are in a familiar position of having to find a corner to play opposite Pat Watkins. As of Sunday afternoon the Eskimos have selected 5’ 11” 190 pounds Clemson Tigers, corner Garry Peters. Peters is an aggressive hands-on corner who moves the receiver off their route in press coverage and uses his 4.56 / 40 speed and the football IQ to be the next one never heard of that makes his mark in the CFL.
Albeit a preseason game on Saturday, the Eskies’ defensive scheme in the secondary was an interesting hybrid of the press man on the boundary and zone read with a cushion on the field side. Because Peters was playing the boundary side, he played press coverage on the wide receiver and won most battles against the Riders’ bigger receivers. Peters was a late cut of the Carolina Panthers on 2015 and coach Ron Rivera commented on his quickness, good ball skills and ability to elevate.
A rookie corner does not have to defend against a receiver running full flight at him, which should help Peters acclimate to the CFL. However, he needs to be aggressive, use his speed, body positioning and intelligence to outsmart the opposition or it will be a long season on the corner for the Eskimos defence. The Eskimos have hedged their bets with Deion Belue who can play both corner and halfback.
46 Man Answers – Defence
In the off-season many Eskimo detractors asked who would fill the losses at linebacker and in the secondary. The answers are with Peters as the final piece to a mixed secondary of speed and youth on the field side and veteran size on the boundary. The starters in the secondary on the 46 man roster are Peters, Marcell Young, Neil King, Cord Parks and Watkins. Parks had another solid outing with 3 defensive tackles and an interception on Saturday.
Deon Lacey had four tackles in limited play and is set to have a monster season, but the best player that most CFL fans have never heard of is the new starting nickel or SAM linebacker Kenny Ladler. Ladler seemed to be around the ball making plays on Saturday finishing the day with six defensive tackles and two special teams tackles. Ladler described the Esks’ defensive philosophy in a 630 CHED post game interview. Ladler said, “We want to fly around and we guys to be moving around at every part of the snap and just keep the ball inside and make sure don’t give up big plays. We are going to be an aggressive style defense.”
The starting linebackers on the Eskimos 46 man roster are: Lacey, J.C. Sherritt and Ladler. Good to see that Darryl McBride Jr. is still with the Eskimos on the practice roster after being identified as a diamond in the rough by the Eskimos scouting network.
The starting 2016 defensive line will be: Marcus Howard, Eddie Steele, Almondo Sewell and Odell Willis. The veteran ladened front four will remain intact for 2016 to chase down quarterbacks with Sewell being the key to getting pressure, but will need backup substitution to stay fresh late into games.
The player who Eskimo fans never heard of, but will have an impact in 2016, will be versatile defensive tackle and defensive end 23-year-old Jabari Hunt. Hunt played mostly against the Riders second team offensive line, but did use his speed up the middle finishing with four defensive tackles and two sacks against the Riders. Expect Hunt to start out the season at defensive end, which is his natural position, and eventually taking over the weak side end position if Howard is nicked up.
Where Did He Come From?
When Jacoby Ford was signed in the off-season it was to fill the void left by free agent Kenny Stafford. Ford was billed as the burner who could return kicks and stretch the field in the offense much like Stafford or Fred Stamps did with his 4.2 / 40 speed. However, Ford was bitten by the injury bug previously while in the NFL and was attempting to restart his pro football career with the Eskimos. While GM Ed Hervey reassured Eskimo fans that Ford was injury free and looked as fast as advertised, he went down again early in camp and again during the preseason game in Calgary leading to his release.
The release of Ford left the door opened for the unknown, younger and taller Brandon Zylstra to walk through. The 6′ 3″ 220 pound Concordia College product has surprised more than a few in the preseason to capture the sixth receiver spot as a slotback behind Adarius Bowman. Zylstra was noticeable on the inside passing game, gathering three receptions for 41 yards against Saskatchewan. Zylstra doesn’t have Ford’s nor Stafford’s speed running a 4.5 / 40, but he is quick for a big man and will contribute in the up tempo power football Eskimos offense of 2016.
The starters at the on offense for 2016 will be: quarterback Mike Reilly, running back John White, wideout Derel Walker, national wideout Nate Coehoorn, Bowman, national slotback Cory Watson, and national slotback Chris Getzlaf. The 33-year-old Getzlaf was discarded by the Riders after being often injured the last two seasons. If he is unable to play a full season for the Eskimos expect Zylstra to be inserted in his place. He will have opportunity to be a playmaker for the Eskimos alongside roving slotback Watson who is poised for a much bigger role this season.
National Pride
As per CFL rules the seven Eskimo national starters are: King, Steele, centre Justin Sorensen, left guard Simeon Rottier, right guard Matthew O’Donnell, Coehoorn, and Watson. However, the Eskimos carry two additional national starters in Getzlaf and fullback Calvin McCarty to allow for roster moves using the reserve when cutting from 46 to 44 man game day rosters.
Now that players have been able to make the Edmonton Eskimos grade and with camp now behind them, the new Eskimos look forward to defending their Grey Cup championship over the next eighteen regular season games.
Main Photo.
