Tyler Holmes

[gilthethrill]

I suspect with the NFL expanding TC rosters up to 90, Willson will land and spot due to athletic ability....remember OV, the genius CFL thinkers converted some guy named Jeff Keeping, a CIS TE into a lineman...

[KCargosfan]

Wilson is a big target and that 40 time is probably faster than a lot of CFL starting slotbacks now; so - he might make a good CFL slotback; or, some genius CFL thinker might want to convert him to O-Line - cause that's more where a big Canadian boy should line-up (? ;o) )

Regardless - I'll take bets on wether he EVER reports to the Argos, and i say no (not giving any odds though ) )

I'll say yes, though it may be a few years.

[OV Argo]

I suspect with the NFL expanding TC rosters up to 90, Willson will land and spot due to athletic ability....remember OV, the genius CFL thinkers converted some guy named Jeff Keeping, a CIS TE into a lineman...

Yeah - and Jamie Taras was a CIS fullback/slotback i believe and became a very good CFL O-Lineman (way better than Keeping IMO).

IF some CFL thinkers want to convert Wilson - a big target, Div. I starting TE who is probably faster than a lot of star starting slotbacks in the league, to an O-Lineman, cause that's where they see big Canadian kids playing in the league, hey - more power to em' / knock yourselves out; basically laughable though IMO, and maybe insulting to a number of top rated O-lineman who have proven they can play there in college ball and are available to be drafted or tried-out there, vs. a guy who has zip experience at the position but is a good "athlete".

[RoRoYoBoat]

Is he done with Baseball ?

[1argoholic]

He's done with the Jays because they don't have real grass.

[AngeloV]

Yeah - and Jamie Taras was a CIS fullback/slotback i believe and became a very good CFL O-Lineman (way better than Keeping IMO).

IF some CFL thinkers want to convert Wilson - a big target, Div. I starting TE who is probably faster than a lot of star starting slotbacks in the league, to an O-Lineman, cause that's where they see big Canadian kids playing in the league, hey - more power to em' / knock yourselves out; basically laughable though IMO, and maybe insulting to a number of top rated O-lineman who have proven they can play there in college ball and are available to be drafted or tried-out there, vs. a guy who has zip experience at the position but is a good "athlete".

Was Taras as good as Keeping in his first year as a starter? It's pretty easy to look at his success over his career and say he was better than Keeping is, but the true story won't be known until Keeping's career is over. I'm sure Taras has thanked whatever genius thinker it was that converted him to centre. It likely added many years on to his career and made him a lot more money than a back-up FB would have made.

[ArgoRavi]

Was Taras as good as Keeping in his first year as a starter? It's pretty easy to look at his success over his career and say he was better than Keeping is, but the true story won't be known until Keeping's career is over. I'm sure Taras has thanked whatever genius thinker it was that converted him to centre. It likely added many years on to his career and made him a lot more money than a back-up FB would have made.

Likewise, Keeping is heading into his ninth CFL season. He played on the defensive line initially but has now spent the majority of his career on the offensive line. It is doubtful that a career as a tight end would have lasted nearly as long for Keeping.

[jerrym]

Was Taras as good as Keeping in his first year as a starter? It's pretty easy to look at his success over his career and say he was better than Keeping is, but the true story won't be known until Keeping's career is over. I'm sure Taras has thanked whatever genius thinker it was that converted him to centre. It likely added many years on to his career and made him a lot more money than a back-up FB would have made.

Keeping has already completed 8 years in the CFL, including one with Montreal where he did not play a single game, long enough to give a strong indication of his career trajectory. Although his career is not over, he shows no indication of coming close to Taras's career. In his second year, 1995, Taras "playing guard, was named a CFL All-Star for the first time. Taras would be named a CFL All-Star a second time, in 1999, for his play at center. Taras twice won the Demarco-Beckett Memorial Trophy as the CFL Western Division's Most Outstanding Lineman, in 1995 and 1999. In 1999, Taras was also awarded the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy as the Most Outstanding Canadian in the CFL Western Division."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Taras

[gilthethrill]

He's done with the Jays because they don't have real grass.

Oh, he'll be back with the Jays in 5 years.....

[AngeloV]

Keeping has already completed 8 years in the CFL, including one with Montreal where he did not play a single game, long enough to give a strong indication of his career trajectory. Although his career is not over, he shows no indication of coming close to Taras's career. In his second year, 1995, Taras "playing guard, was named a CFL All-Star for the first time. Taras would be named a CFL All-Star a second time, in 1999, for his play at center. Taras twice won the Demarco-Beckett Memorial Trophy as the CFL Western Division's Most Outstanding Lineman, in 1995 and 1999. In 1999, Taras was also awarded the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy as the Most Outstanding Canadian in the CFL Western Division."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Taras

All good points. It's hard to believe Keeping has been in the league that long. He had so many injuries early in his career, that along with the indecision of where he would fit in best, is the reason it took him so long to be a starter. I think he played great last year, and will get better. If he can put together 5 more (injury free) solid seasons, it'll be interesting to do a comparison of careers at that point.

[gilthethrill]

All good points. It's hard to believe Keeping has been in the league that long. He had so many injuries early in his career, that along with the indecision of where he would fit in best, is the reason it took him so long to be a starter. I think he played great last year, and will get better. If he can put together 5 more (injury free) solid seasons, it'll be interesting to do a comparison of careers at that point.

I saw Keeping play live a couple of times at Western when I resided in London...I think his TE playing weight was 240bs...he has "Grown" into the position of O-lineman.

[Wobbler]

Neutral news relating to Holmes: The Vikings signed a guard who is expected to compete for a backup job this season. However, they also lost a backup guard during free agency, so this doesn't really diminish Holmes' chances of staying with Minnesota.