Renaissance of the Canadian RB

In Calgary and the CFL in general, the Canadian RB has found a new prominence. You can argue that it is in part a function of the decline of the running in the pass-happy modern CFL, but it remains quite a turn around from the decades when almost no Canadians won the rushing title.

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Messam leads all active CFLers with three career 1,000-yard seasons and is third in yards with 4,468. It’s a remarkable turn of events for a guy who in 2013 was traded from Edmonton to Montreal for a sixth-round draft pick and then was released the following year because the Alouettes said his salary was too high for his projected role as a fullback.
In a sign of how Canadian tailback talent has blossomed in recent years, two of three active rushing leaders – Messam and Andrew Harris of the Blue Bombers, who is No. 1 with 5,233 yards – are homegrown.
In addition, Cornish and Messam have combined to win four of the past five CFL rushing crowns after only one Canadian – Ottawa’s Orville Lee in 1988 – had accomplished the feat in the previous 55 years.
The only non-Stamps to win the rushing crown over the past nine seasons are a pair of Montreal Alouettes – Brandon Whitaker in 2011 and Tyrell Sutton in 2015 – and Winnipeg’s Fred Reid in 2010.

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http://www.stampeders.com/2017/04/19...eps-galloping/

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Originally Posted by jerrym

In Calgary and the CFL in general, the Canadian RB has found a new prominence. You can argue that it is in part a function of the decline of the running in the pass-happy modern CFL, but it remains quite a turn around from the decades when almost no Canadians won the rushing title.



http://www.stampeders.com/2017/04/19...eps-galloping/

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Interesting, but aside from established vets Harris & Messam, what other Canadian RBs are going to be in the running to compete for the #1 tailback job on CFL teams next year? - maybe LaFrance with the ego-Jones Riders, if they decide RB is one of the 7 only need apply NI spots?

Mercer Timmis - one of the most talented CIS RBs in some time - will languish on the bench as a 2nd or 3rd stringer with Kenty's Ticats; Coombs could have a role with the Argos, but he won't be viewed as an every down tailback; and the Esks, BC, Montreal, Ottawa will likely have zero Canadian RBs in the mix to compete for playing time. Not much of a "renaissance" to me, but maybe/whatever.


Looking back at some other outstanding Canadian RB talent of the past number of years and their CFL chances: Jamall Lee (Orville's son) = big back with blazing speed - drafted by good ole Wally, but ended up with more playing time opportunity in an NFL exhibition game with the Panthers in his TC shot there then he ever got with BC - retired after a bit of time on the BC roster; Sebastien Levesque - explosive, fast, big play little back with the powerhouse Laval team = undrafted in the CFL but might have got a brief TC look with the Als? Brandon Deschamps - big power back who helped lead UBC to a Vanier a couple of years back = CFL undrafted - i believe signed briefly by the Riders, but cut before a TC shot to compete? The Argos did draft top CIS rusher Campbell (Laurier) but i guess he didn't pan out in a TC look?

Augustine (Guelph) and Erlington (Montreal) are probably the top 2 rated RBs this coming draft - neither is close to the RB talent level of the likes of Lee or Levesque or Timmis IMO, but interesting to see if/where they get drafted, and if they get a real CFL look and a chance to carry on this CFL "renaissance" - LOL. ;o)

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Originally Posted by OV Argo

Interesting, but aside from established vets Harris & Messam, what other Canadian RBs are going to be in the running to compete for the #1 tailback job on CFL teams next year? - maybe LaFrance with the ego-Jones Riders, if they decide RB is one of the 7 only need apply NI spots?

Mercer Timmis - one of the most talented CIS RBs in some time - will languish on the bench as a 2nd or 3rd stringer with Kenty's Ticats; Coombs could have a role with the Argos, but he won't be viewed as an every down tailback; and the Esks, BC, Montreal, Ottawa will likely have zero Canadian RBs in the mix to compete for playing time. Not much of a "renaissance" to me, but maybe/whatever.


Looking back at some other outstanding Canadian RB talent of the past number of years and their CFL chances: Jamall Lee (Orville's son) = big back with blazing speed - drafted by good ole Wally, but ended up with more playing time opportunity in an NFL exhibition game with the Panthers in his TC shot there then he ever got with BC - retired after a bit of time on the BC roster; Sebastien Levesque - explosive, fast, big play little back with the powerhouse Laval team = undrafted in the CFL but might have got a brief TC look with the Als? Brandon Deschamps - big power back who helped lead UBC to a Vanier a couple of years back = CFL undrafted - i believe signed briefly by the Riders, but cut before a TC shot to compete? The Argos did draft top CIS rusher Campbell (Laurier) but i guess he didn't pan out in a TC look?

Augustine (Guelph) and Erlington (Montreal) are probably the top 2 rated RBs this coming draft - neither is close to the RB talent level of the likes of Lee or Levesque or Timmis IMO, but interesting to see if/where they get drafted, and if they get a real CFL look and a chance to carry on this CFL "renaissance" - LOL. ;o)

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Greg Morris from the Riders will probably get a good look this year.

A couple of good CIS backs coming down the pipe line in the future are Alex Taylor from Western, Jamel Lyles from the Manitoba Bisons and Jeshrun Antwi from University of Calgary.


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Johnny Augustine - supposed top rated RB prospect this draft = not drafted at all.

Sean Thomas Erlington (Montreal) - top notch CIS RB who helped the Carabins win a Vanier = late round draft pick.\\

Boy - what a "renaissance" LOL

2nd Round: RB Anthony Gosselin, Sherbrooke (18th)
4th Round: RB Ante Milanovic-Litre, Simon Fraser (28th)
4th Round: RB Louis-Philippe Bourassa, Montreal (35th)
7th Round: RB Ed Ilnicki, Alberta (62nd)
8th Round: RB Sean Thomas-Erlington, Montreal (66th
The running backs drafted this year will probably only be special teamers with the exception of Gosselin (blocking fullback) and may Milanovic -Litre. Really interested to find out why no one drafted Augustine. I think Greg Morris from the riders will get some playing time this year too.

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Originally Posted by j-ski

2nd Round: RB Anthony Gosselin, Sherbrooke (18th)
4th Round: RB Ante Milanovic-Litre, Simon Fraser (28th)
4th Round: RB Louis-Philippe Bourassa, Montreal (35th)
7th Round: RB Ed Ilnicki, Alberta (62nd)
8th Round: RB Sean Thomas-Erlington, Montreal (66th
The running backs drafted this year will probably only be special teamers with the exception of Gosselin (blocking fullback) and may Milanovic -Litre. Really interested to find out why no one drafted Augustine. I think Greg Morris from the riders will get some playing time this year too.

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Never heard RedBlacks 4th round pick L-P Bourassa ? - doens't show on any stats for the Carabins the past couple of seasons.

Augustine - supposedly, according to some commentators - had a very good CFL Combine performance but is not drafted at all ??? Maybe he didn't look like a fullback conversion project ?

Everyone had Ante Milanovic-Litre listed as a LB. Not sure if that was a mistake or they plan on converting him. I think there is more to the story with Augestine.

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Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Everyone had Ante Milanovic-Litre listed as a LB. Not sure if that was a mistake or they plan on converting him. I think there is more to the story with Augestine.

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I have to agree. Something is unusual about Augustine not getting drafted. Messam also got passed over in the draft because he was seen as a troubled guy. Things eventually turned out OK for Messam, hopefully they turn out OK for Augustine.

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Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Everyone had Ante Milanovic-Litre listed as a LB. Not sure if that was a mistake or they plan on converting him. I think there is more to the story with Augestine.

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I'll bet the Stamps view Milanovic-Litre as a potential replacement down the road for Rob Cote as an H-back; but he is also big & athletic and has tailback experience/skills - could possibly be the main back-up to Messam there, but I kind of doubt that.

Augustine boasted in a Combine interview that he would be a starter at RB in the CFL down the road - wonder if that confidence hurt his draft stock? - not sure what "more to the story" there could be other than CFL teams don't think that much often of good CIS tailbacks ?

Regarding Augustine, there seems to some rumours swirling but no one wants to publicly announce it. Last night, Marshall Ferguson said he heard something and needed to do more work to confirm.

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Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Regarding Augustine, there seems to some rumours swirling but no one wants to publicly announce it. Last night, Marshall Ferguson said he heard something and needed to do more work to confirm.

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Sounds suspiciously like a failed drug test.

Augustine is going to Edmontons camp. Good to see him get a chance.

http://3downnation.com/2017/05/10/un...ne-added-esks/

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Originally Posted by j-ski

Augustine is going to Edmontons camp. Good to see him get a chance.

http://3downnation.com/2017/05/10/un...ne-added-esks/

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Shakir Bell is gone; last year's back-up NI RB Morris went to the Riders during last season.

Maybe Augustine has a decent shot to make the roster there ?

Schmoes kicked-@$$ in the recent CFL draft IMO - added lots of good Canadian talent; Senior was a gamble/futures type pick, and maybe Mulumba sticks in the NFL too - but last year they used 2 top picks on NFL interest guys (receiver Smith & DB Colquhon - (who are still kicking around down there i think?); IF three or even 2 of those guys show up soon = great influx of new NI talent. First 2 picks this year - receiver Behar and O-lineman Roy are potential starters - soon IMO. And DB Hoover might have a real shot to unseat incumbent safety Neil King there - he's faster and more athletic - but they might want him to "develop" for a year or so. They also got top rated DE Boateng in the mid rounds (fell further than Jordan Herdman arguably Ravi) - at least a good project/back-up where they have proven import starters. They addressed various positions of need with the draft = smart. Augustine is IMO another good addition in an area of need.

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Originally Posted by OV Argo

Shakir Bell is gone; last year's back-up NI RB Morris went to the Riders during last season.

Maybe Augustine has a decent shot to make the roster there ?

Schmoes kicked-@$$ in the recent CFL draft IMO - added lots of good Canadian talent; Senior was a gamble/futures type pick, and maybe Mulumba sticks in the NFL too - but last year they used 2 top picks on NFL interest guys (receiver Smith & DB Colquhon - (who are still kicking around down there i think?); IF three or even 2 of those guys show up soon = great influx of new NI talent. First 2 picks this year - receiver Behar and O-lineman Roy are potential starters - soon IMO. And DB Hoover might have a real shot to unseat incumbent safety Neil King there - he's faster and more athletic - but they might want him to "develop" for a year or so. They also got top rated DE Boateng in the mid rounds (fell further than Jordan Herdman arguably Ravi) - at least a good project/back-up where they have proven import starters. They addressed various positions of need with the draft = smart. Augustine is IMO another good addition in an area of need.

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Sunderland is off to a good start I'd say.