2018 CFL draft

[doubleblue]

My take on Jones is that he was good in the CIS, big 6'4 with 4'6 speed and could get open against the DB's there. Probably didn't worry too much about running routes. Now he's up against DB's who are NFL calibre or very close. They can cover and know how to position themselves to take away his space etc. Coaches have probably had to teach him how to run routes the last couple of years. A guy like Ralph with two older brothers to learn from was probably more pro ready than Jones. Maybe he's ready to make some noise this year.

[OV Argo]

I think Jones gets that chance this year as he is on his last year of his contract I believe. They do need to see what he can do, however they could have done that when Coombs was out but they did not!!

The Trestman passing offence might have little use for a big target, physical, old style slotback. And again - outside of Ottawa with Sinopoli, most CFL offences now do not deploy that style receiver (though i guess thick (but short) Nik Lewis was kinda that in his later CFL days); and it has to be pointed out that Sinopoli - a big target, sure-handed slotback who is not fast, has produced 3 straight thousand yard receiving seasons; CFL preference is smaller, quicker guys it seems; and there is a definite preference for imports in a CFL 5 pack now. 2 strikes against Jones.

[OV Argo]

My take on Jones is that he was good in the CIS, big 6'4 with 4'6 speed and could get open against the DB's there. Probably didn't worry too much about running routes. Now he's up against DB's who are NFL calibre or very close. They can cover and know how to position themselves to take away his space etc. Coaches have probably had to teach him how to run routes the last couple of years. A guy like Ralph with two older brothers to learn from was probably more pro ready than Jones. Maybe he's ready to make some noise this year.

Could well be; but that's IMO standard party line CFL assuming; heard the same kinda limited thinking about Fantuz when he came out of CIS ball: "did great against inferior CIS talent; never do that in the CFL/couldn't get open against CFL DBs" - which turned out to be a total joke as he went on to lead the entire CFL in receiving - because he has superb hands, the big catching radius and is a very good route runner. Like to see If Jones has some of those capabilities. We don't know now, but assume if you wish.

[doubleblue]

Well it is TBD if Jones has the "hands" that Andy Fantuz possesses just because he's 6'4 225. I don't think he does. All the teams are looking for that next big receiver. Just about every team in the League has at least one, so if Jones is good enough like Fantuz and Sinopoli he will play. But guys like Fantuz and Sinopoli unfortunately don't grow on trees.

[Wobbler]

It's not easy to get a chance when you miss training camp in each of your first 2 years in the league.

Did he really miss both camps? Regardless, injury issues plus the change of management have certainly hurt him. Hopefully he'll be healthy this Spring and we can find out what he can do for us.

[OV Argo]

Did he really miss both camps? Regardless, injury issues plus the change of management have certainly hurt him. Hopefully he'll be healthy this Spring and we can find out what he can do for us.

Jones is a slotback/inside receiver type; Coombs was playing slot and doing very well. Do you really believe this Argo offence is going to entertain playing 2 NIs as starting slots? - little hope there IMO, but you never know i guess. Jones might have to carve out a role as a back-up receiver and good special teamer - and teams need those. The Argos could maybe go with 2 NI receivers in their 5 pack (i doubt that though) - Coombs at slot and another (Williams, Ralph or Noel) at wide-side WR - where Jones is not really a fit.

Jones might have been a good fit on a team like the Als - that is hurting at receiver in general and have no real established Canadian receiver; he might have been able to take over from thick Nik Lewis as a big target, physical receiver for their offence. Doubt Mavis, er, Kavis Reed has ever heard of Brian Jones though.

[jerrym]

Here' s the National Combines list. The National Combine will be held in Winnipeg March 24-25 in Winnipeg during CFL Week. CFL.ca will have live-streaming of the bench press, 40 yard dash and 1 on 1's.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018-cfl-combine-roster/

[jerrym]

The Western Regional Combine will also be held in Winnipeg on March 22nd during CFL Week. The Western Regional list of participants is below.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018-western-regional-combine/

[jerrym]

The Ontario Regional Combine will be held in Toronto on March 9 and will include the list of participants below.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018-cfl-ontario-regional-combine/



The Eastern Regional Combine will be held in Montreal on March 7 and will include the list of participants below.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018-cfl-eastern-regional-combine/

[OV Argo]

Here' s the National Combines list. The National Combine will be held in Winnipeg March 24-25 in Winnipeg during CFL Week. CFL.ca will have live-streaming of the bench press, 40 yard dash and 1 on 1's.

http://www.argofans.com/forumdisplay.php?2-Double-Blue-Room

SO - 3 of the top rated prospects - O-linemen (Knevel, Hunter, Rutherford = starters in NCAA Div I), plus a few CIS stars who have made the CFL Scouting Bureau's top 20 list - O-linemen Keillor Cherry (Acadia) & David Brown (Western), plus DE J-B Glaou (Montreal) - are not going to the CFL Combine?

I get that some top rated NCAA guys may avoid the CFL Combine cause it might hurt their NFL chances ( get injured participating or put up poor results); but the 3 CIS stars not going? - could be they are injured and unable, or maybe there are other reasons (told the CFL they have no interest in playing pro ball?). But I'd like to know the reason(s) ??? Doesn't look good on the CFL IMO when 6 of the top 20 or so prospects are not attending ?

[j-ski]

SO - 3 of the top rated prospects - O-linemen (Knevel, Hunter, Rutherford = starters in NCAA Div I), plus a few CIS stars who have made the CFL Scouting Bureau's top 20 list - O-linemen Keillor Cherry (Acadia) & David Brown (Western), plus DE J-B Glaou (Montreal) - are not going to the CFL Combine?

I get that some top rated NCAA guys may avoid the CFL Combine cause it might hurt their NFL chances ( get injured participating or put up poor results); but the 3 CIS stars not going? - could be they are injured and unable, or maybe there are other reasons (told the CFL they have no interest in playing pro ball?). But I'd like to know the reason(s) ??? Doesn't look good on the CFL IMO when 6 of the top 20 or so prospects are not attending ?

I'm pleasantly surprised that Julien Laurent from Georgia is going. Didn't expect he would show up.

[doubleblue]

I'm pleasantly surprised that Julien Laurent from Georgia is going. Didn't expect he would show up.

Laurent should give the scouts a good look at who among the offensive linemen are ready to take on a pro sized bull rusher.

[jerrym]

SO - 3 of the top rated prospects - O-linemen (Knevel, Hunter, Rutherford = starters in NCAA Div I), plus a few CIS stars who have made the CFL Scouting Bureau's top 20 list - O-linemen Keillor Cherry (Acadia) & David Brown (Western), plus DE J-B Glaou (Montreal) - are not going to the CFL Combine?

I get that some top rated NCAA guys may avoid the CFL Combine cause it might hurt their NFL chances ( get injured participating or put up poor results); but the 3 CIS stars not going? - could be they are injured and unable, or maybe there are other reasons (told the CFL they have no interest in playing pro ball?). But I'd like to know the reason(s) ??? Doesn't look good on the CFL IMO when 6 of the top 20 or so prospects are not attending ?

Two of the top 3 rated prospects (Hunter and Rutherford) have pro days at their schools in the 5 days before the National Combine in Winnipeg, so that's what they are focusing on in the hopes of impressing NFL scouts in order to get a NFL contract. Knevel's pro day is March 14.

[jerrym]

#VanierCup opponents in 2011 & 2012, @McMasterSports & @rougeetor lead @USPORTSca in @CFL total combine invites this year with ten each. #CFL #USports pic.twitter.com/PAab6DmTlC

— Marshall Ferguson (@TSN_Marsh) March 1, 2018

[OV Argo]

Two of the top 3 rated prospects (Hunter and Rutherford) have pro days at their schools in the 5 days before the National Combine in Winnipeg, so that's what they are focusing on in the hopes of impressing NFL scouts in order to get a NFL contract. Knevel's pro day is March 14.

I get why those 3 NCAA O-linemen may be focusing on their pro days (though none of them are that highly rated for the NFL draft that i have heard of ? - and not attending the CFL event could possibly p/o some CFL scouts ?); still like to hear why those 3 CIS guys mentioned are not attending ?


The CFL has done a pretty good job of promoting and creating more interest in their draft over the past number of years; still more work could be done, and often so little respect for / knowledge of top Canadian talent entering the CFL draft - IMO.

[jerrym]

Marshall Ferguson discusses some of the prospects attending at the Combine below, including National QBs Hec Crighton Trophy winner Noah Picton and Seton Hall's Christian Strong, who ranked 16th in passing yards with 3,064 in NCAA Division II last year.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/01/fergus...ombine-season/

[jerrym]

The Eastern Regional Combine will runs Wednesday. CFL.ca describes five players to watch below.

JEREMY MAGAN-FRANCE DL | BISHOP’S

At six-foot-two and 260 pounds, Jeremy Magan-France will be looking to put his size and skill on display at the Eastern Regional Combine. In eight games at Bishop’s in 2017, the defensive lineman tallied 13 unassisted tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks and five tackles for a loss (sixth in the AUS). The Rexdale, Ont. native played in eight regular season games in 2016, recording 28 total tackles, including one tackle for a loss, and tallied one forced fumble and two pass breakups.

BRYCE VIEIRA RB | OTTAWA

Studying theatre at the University of Ottawa, Bryce Vieira will be looking to bring the drama, and versatility, to his one-on-one drills at the Eastern Regional Combine this Wednesday as he tries to get an invitation to Winnipeg. In 2017, the running back played in seven games with the Gee Gees rushing 95 times (ninth in the OUA) totaling 460 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 23 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown and returned four punts for 27 yards. The versatile Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. native also played for the East Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.Vieira will be looking to improve on his 2017 East-West Bowl Combine results after he posted 15 reps on the bench press.

DYLAN BELL DB | ST. FX

Defensive back Dylan Bell is quite the playmaker and look for him to put that on full display at Wednesday’s regional combine. Last season he played in eight regular season games and recorded 37 unassisted tackles (sixth in the AUS) and 21 assisted tackles (eighth in the AUS).
Including his tackle total last season, the five-foot-11, 195-pounder had his best statistical season, adding one forced fumble, one fumble return and two interceptions. In 30 career games, the Brockville, Ont. native has collected 106.5 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble returns and eight interceptions. Bell was also a part of the team that won back-to-back AUS Championships in 2015 and 2016.

GUILLAUME PAQUET REC | MONTREAL
If you’re looking for a dynamic receiver to track on Wednesday, look no further than Guillaume Paquet. Paquet played in just five regular season games in 2017 and still caught 26 passes for 371 yards (10th in the RSEQ) and three touchdowns (first in the RSEQ). He also rushed six times for 58 yards and one touchdown and returned two kicks for 46 yards and two punts for four yards. That performance helped the five-foot-11, 190-pound receiver to be named a RSEQ All-Star for the second year in a row and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian.. In2015, the Montreal, Que. native was part of the team that won the Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ Championship) and the Mitchell Bowl.
NOLAN MCGREER OL | CARLETON

Offensive lineman Nolan McGreer will be one to watch on Wednesday as the law student looks to get an invite to the national combine in Winnipeg. McGreer played for the East team in the East-West Bowl in 2017 as well as playing in, and starting, eight regular season games at offensive tackle. The six-foot-four, 280-pounder was named an OUA First-Team All-Star as well. The Kingston, Ont. native played in eight regular season games at tackle in both 2016 and 2015. He only suited up in three regular season games in 2014 with one start at guard and one at tackle after missing five games with an injury.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/06/5-play...nal-combine-2/

[OV Argo]

The Eastern Regional Combine will runs Wednesday. CFL.ca describes five players to watch below.



https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/06/5-play...nal-combine-2/

There are a couple of better (IMO) prospects at the Eastern Combine - in O-linemen Jacob Czaja (StFx) & Mathew Ouellet-Decarlo (Bishop's) - both have pro size and have been AUS all-stars.

Seen Viera play for the GGs - shifty, quick back with good pass catching skills; smallish CIS tailback ? = doubt he will be drafted, but maybe in the later rounds

[jerrym]

Four players at the Eastern Regional Combine have been selected to go onto the National Combine: DB Justin Howell, LB Khadim Mbaye, WR Marco Dubois and OL Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel.

A shifty wide receiver, Dubois separated himself from the rest of the prospects with a dominant day of testing. The Laval product finished atop three of the major testing categories, running a 4.56 hand time in the 40 and topping both the Broad and Vertical Jump.
Carleton’s Justin Howell also found himself on the day’s leaderboard in multiple spots, finishing second in the 3-Cone and Shuttle and just behind Dubois in the 40 with a 4.58.


At 6-foot-9 inches, Gendron-Dumouchel towered over the competition on Wednesday and earned a ticket to Winnipeg with his reach, wingspan and footwork. He pumped out 17 reps on the bench press in a show of strength. The Montreal offensive lineman finished second among his O-Line cohorts in the three-cone drill. The two-year starter out of Montreal will enter the primary Combine as the one of the most physically imposing figures.
Versatility was the name of the game for Mbaye who showed coaches and scouts that he could compete at both linebacker and defensive lineman. The Ottawa defender tested well but proved his worth primarily in the one-on-ones.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/07/four-s...egional-wraps/

[OV Argo]

Four players at the Eastern Regional Combine have been selected to go onto the National Combine: DB Justin Howell, LB Khadim Mbaye, WR Marco Dubois and OL Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel.




https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/07/four-s...egional-wraps/

Interestin' - Dubois - apparently a 5th or 6th string receiver with Laval (going by his production there) gets invited to the main Combine based on a pretty decent set of testing #s compared to most there ?

And that O-lineman's bench # is basically ok to weak for that position but the writer here refers to it as a "show of strength" ???


And not advancing from that Eastern Combine: Jacob Czaja (3 time AUS all-star OG - with pro size and strong bench #); and QB (LOL) Hugo Richard (CIS rookie of the year, 2 time CIS all-star, and Vanier winning QB with outstanding career passing stats and pro QB size) - must be just lacking something on the resumes. ;o)

Good ole CFL "scouting" and the good little reporters who get to comment on it. ;o)