CFL Mini Camps

[jerrym]

While early predictions spark plenty of debate and only a month stands between now and the draft, the biggest sign football is on its way comes this weekend in Vero Beach, Fla. That’s where the Riders will host their annual mini-camp, as the cleats dig in and footballs fly for the first time this year.

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/04/06/checkin...-set-kick-off/

[jerrym]

The road to the 2016 Coors Light Training Camp begins this weekend in Florida. The Saskatchewan Roughriders will hold their annual mini-camp at Historical Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida starting Sunday, April 10^th through to Tuesday, April 12^th.
Exclusive Access!
Highlights and Interviews!
Your first look at the 2016 Saskatchewan Roughriders!
Rider Media will have it all and more from Mini-Camp 2016 on all of our social media feeds, riderville.com and the Rider App. We will Livestream each day with a full show at 10:30am (Sask time) on Sunday, April 10^th and Monday, April 11^th with a 9:00am (Sask time) show to finish camp on Tuesday, April 12^th. Watch here!

http://www.riderville.com/2016/04/05/64783/

[jerrym]

Everyone is invited to attend the 2016 Ottawa REDBLACKS spring mini-camp, which will be held April 24-26 at TD Place.The mini-camp is broken down into four sessions over the three days and all current REDBLACKS players are invited to attend, though participation is not mandatory.
REDBLACKS Mini-Camp Schedule
Sunday, April 24 – 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Monday, April 25 – 1 p.m.
Tuesday April 26 – 9:30 a.m.
The public is also welcome to attend the third of four REDBLACKS open tryouts, which will be held April 23 at TD Place. Open tryouts have already been held Austin and Las Vegas, with the final session May 21 in Indianapolis.

http://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2016/03/21/mini-camp-april-24-26/

[argotom]

I read in Penton's article today how the CFL mini camps in Florida are expected to have an onslaught of players who were signed in that RIP league which folded before it got off the ground.

[gilthethrill]

I read in Penton's article today how the CFL mini camps in Florida are expected to have an onslaught of players who were signed in that RIP league which folded before it got off the ground.

CFL teams have to look at all available talent. Just fyi AT, that league is scheduled to start up next season. It has simply been delayed a year...cough cough....

[jerrym]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce today they will be holding a mini-camp in Winnipeg in late April.The three day mini-camp will take place on April 25-27, and will feature offensive players. The offensive coaching staff, and Head Coach Mike O’Shea will be running the camp, which will be attended by all offensive players, including newly acquired receivers Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith, running back Andrew Harris, and quarterback Drew Willy.
All on field sessions will be open to the media and public, and the location will be announced closer to the camp, along with details regarding times of the practices. Below are tentative practice plans.
Monday, April 25^th
Practice at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 26^th
Practice at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 27^th
Practice at 9:00 a.m.

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/03/0...-slated-april/

[ArgoGabe22]

Dan LeFavour, who got drafted into that other league, attended the Riders camp. If they don't sign him and if he's healthy then i would still like the Argos to take a look. He'll bring something different to the mix when compared to Ray and McPherson.

[jerrym]

One more sign another CFL season is upon us arrives on Sunday, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders kick off the first mini-camp of the season on Sunday in Vero Beach, Fla. ...
Jones and his staff were already on the scene Saturday in Vero Beach holding another free agent camp, which he said will likely produce 12-14 additional players to take part in this week’s mini-camp. That will begin on Sunday and culminate Tuesday.
The free agent tryout, Jones added, sets the tone for what he expects will be a fast-paced few days for everyone involved.
“I thought it was very productive,” said Jones. “We did a good job, we were very efficient with our time. We did all of our testing within an hour and a half and we had 100 guys show up and it was one of those deals where we had some really good players and hard decisions to make.
“There’s no doubt, there are going to be some great looking kids here and we’re looking forward to pitting them against each other.”
Most of the Riders’ regulars won’t be in action this week, while the most impressive players will earn a chance to compete in training camp come the beginning of June. Two familiar faces that will be on hand belong to the quarterbacks Durant and Smith.

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/04/09/the-long-road-starts-now-as-riders-kick-off-mini-camp/

[R.J]

Dan LeFavour, who got drafted into that other league, attended the Riders camp. If they don't sign him and if he's healthy then i would still like the Argos to take a look. He'll bring something different to the mix when compared to Ray and McPherson.

I hope the Argonauts don't bother with LeFevour. Yeah he can run around, but doesn't throw well at all. If the Argonauts want someone from the Rider camp, I'd rather see them go after Huesman, Austin or Watford.

[jerrym]

Dan LeFavour, who got drafted into that other league, attended the Riders camp. If they don't sign him and if he's healthy then i would still like the Argos to take a look. He'll bring something different to the mix when compared to Ray and McPherson.

A poor passer like LeFavour is never going to have long-term success in a passing league like the CFL.

[argotom]

A poor passer like LeFavour is never going to have long-term success in a passing league like the CFL.

I agree with you Lefavour has a poor arm, but our backup cupboard is bare so for me anyone with some CFL history should be brought in.
We have much worse in our backup system now.

[jerrym]

In the Rider mini camp, Durant is looking good. Jones appears to be focusing on tall DBs and receivers.

So far Jones says he’s happy with what he’s seen both from his quarterbacks and his rookies, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.“I thought the offence was very sharp,” said Jones. “We didn’t take any time counts, we got all the plays in. We give ‘em 20 seconds and we’re going double barrel back and forth, and I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball pretty decent.”
While the receivers had a step on the defensive backs, who Jones pointed out still have some getting used to the waggle, the receivers and DBs for the most part put on a strong showing. The same goes for the offensive and defensive linemen, despite the drills being non-contact.
“Whether it’s the best group or not, I think it’s pretty close,” said Jones. “We’re long, we’re athletic and there are a lot of 6-foot-1 DBs and 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3 receivers and guys that can really run and get open.
“I liked the big guys, I thought there were four or five guys that really stood out and were long and were athletic.
“It’s an impressive group.”
Most promising for Riders fans might be the look of Durant, who showed no ill effects of a season-ending injury suffered late last June.

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/04/11/live-now-coverage-day-2-riders-mini-camp/

[jerrym]

Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans will get their first look at the 2016 squad – the offence in particular – come mini camp next month in Winnipeg (April 25-27). ...

Although it will be the first time we have our offence all together, including free agent acquisitions Weston Dressler, Andrew Harris, and Ryan Smith, Offensive Coordinator Paul LaPolice explains in further detail exactly what fans can expect in late-April: “We will go through some basic concepts,” he told me today in his office. “Install some runs, and get the ball in the air to these guys.”
I asked him if he will be evaluating players on his side of the ball, and his answer is to be expected; “It’s hard to evaluate a guy running a corner route with no defender there,” he told me. “We are always evaluating, and Coach O’Shea will tell you he is always evaluating everything, but in terms of actual on-field aspects, it’s more to install some things, get guys running around, and get our players familiar with our offence.”

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/03/23/mini-camp-primer/

[OV Argo]

A poor passer like LeFavour is never going to have long-term success in a passing league like the CFL.

Disagree that LeFevour is a "poor passer" - far from it IMO, and his running ability is an asset.

[ArgoGabe22]

A poor passer like LeFavour is never going to have long-term success in a passing league like the CFL.

McPherson sure looked shaky in his brief appearance. But 10 reps vs Hamilton isn't the be all, end all but I'm not still sold on him as a #2 or even as a short yardage specialist.

[jerrym]

Below is a wrap-up report on the Riders' mini-camp.

The team’s annual camp for rookies and negotiation list players concluded Tuesday in Vero Beach, Fla., capping off what Jones described as a productive few days.“I thought it was a really athletic camp,” the Riders’ head coach and general manager told Riderville.com. “There were a lot of guys that carry a lot of skill to the field. The quarterbacks did an outstanding job of getting them in and out of the huddle and delivering the calls. ...
Veteran pivots Darian Durant and Brett Smith were also on hand, among some 100-odd players who participated at some since camp kicked off Sunday. Other veterans in attendance were running backs Chevon Walker, 28, and Paris Cotton, 26, who were given a chance by the Riders to showcase their ability after wrapping up stints with the Bombers in 2015.
Another former Bomber and once-pro basketball player in Jordan Reaves also participated but not in a manner he’s used to, showing his versatility by taking reps as a defensive back instead of a receiver. ...
Durant, nearly 10 months removed from a season-ending injury in the Riders’ season-opener last year, earned rave reviews for his play under centre this week. “Darian Durant’s off-season workouts in Atlanta proved to be very worthwhile,” writes CFL.ca’s Rod Pedersen. “He was deadly accurate and polished which wasn’t the case the past few mini-camps in Bradenton, Fla.

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/04/12/fast-and-physical-the-theme-as-riders-cap-off-mini-camp/

[argolio]

This just in: the Riders went over the mini-camp salary cap.

[jerrym]

Calvillo is doing a major rewriting of the Alouette playbook and using the Als mini-camp in two weeks to polish it.

Offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo plans on having the Alouettes’ playbook completed by the end of mini-camp in two weeks. And, with the exception of a few rushing plays, the system has been virtually overhauled.That, it seems, speaks volumes about what Calvillo inherited from former offensive coordinator Turk Schonert last September, when he was fired following a home game against British Columbia. But Calvillo insisted this is the natural evolution of any new coaching staff.
“When you take a team over in the middle (of a season), you can only adjust and add a few things. You can’t throw everything out,” Calvillo said. “Turk had some good stuff.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...teams-playbook

[doubleblue]

A poor passer like LeFavour is never going to have long-term success in a passing league like the CFL.

Yah I never thought of Dan as a poor passer. Not Ricky Ray but a QB whose running ability would open up receivers and make his passing percentage better. While he hasn't yet demonstrated he is a Number 1, he is better than several back ups in the League when healthy IMO.

[AngeloV]

Yah I never thought of Dan as a poor passer. Not Ricky Ray but a QB whose running ability would open up receivers and make his passing percentage better. While he hasn't yet demonstrated he is a Number 1, he is better than several back ups in the League when healthy IMO.

Agreed. But like so many QB's today, he hasn't been able to avoid the injury bug.