Shameless plug time. Also, to promote a great blog that deserves more recognition.
I urge you to click on the link below and check out the BCLionsDen.ca recap for the Lions 2012 Draft Class. There is some words in there from myself as well as the great Andrew Bucholtz of Yahoo! Sports. Of course, Mr. BCLionsDen himself, Brian Wawryshyn makes an appearance in there as well.
BCLionsDen.ca – BC Lions Draft Class Recap
Thursday’s CFL Draft provided one of the more strange draft years in recent memory. Swapped picks, high picks, free fallers, it turned out to be a big hit among fans and the teams involved.
With the first overall pick, the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected local talent Ben Heenan. The former Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman has been compared countless times to recently retired Roughriders great Gene Makowsky. Makowsky, like Heenan was a homegrown talent from Saskatchewan and selected by the Riders in the 1995 draft. Makowsky played 17 years for the Roughriders organization, and if Heenan lasts even half as long, the Riders will get their money’s worth with the pick.
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Just a quick note that if you do not have access to viewing the draft, you can follow along with who gets picked with the draft tracker.
Located by clicking on this link: Draft Tracker
Quarterbacks -None. The Riders have built up their quarterback depth by adding several former NFL players. With only three picks in the draft, it is highly unlikely that they will draft one.
Running backs – Neal Hughes (Regina), Graeme Bell (Saskatchewan) – After playing full-time on special teams for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Hughes saw his role with the Riders increase when he had 29 offensive touches last season. It worked out well for both Hughes and the Riders offence, and you can probably expect his offensive contributions to continue. Bell was traded from Edmonton to Saskatchewan at last year’s CFL Draft and was a special teams player for the club.
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TSN’s Dave Naylor reports that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have agreed to send the 3rd overall pick to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for the 8th and 13th overall picks.
The deal will only be completed if there is a player that the Bombers are after available at the 3rd overall position.
Which makes one wonder… who would they be after? The Riders have already announced that they will be taking Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan with the pick (assuming no one blows them away with a trade offer).
That leaves Laurier receiver Shamawd Chambers, Calgary offensive lineman Kirby Fabien or Laval linebacker Frederic Plesius.
Of course, there are other players that they may covet at the 3rd overall spot, but I would say those are the main three. I can’t really see the Bombers using the pick to take Chambers or Fabien, so if Plesius does not go to Edmonton, he would be the pick.
The Eskimos also covet Plesius, so perhaps they jump the gun and take him with the 2nd overall pick.
Let the fun begin!
We’re here… Draft Day 2012, May 3rd.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are on the clock when the draft kicks off at 3:00 PM ET on TSN. At least, that’s the way things are shaping up at the moment. Whether the Riders will be able to pull off a deal to move back in the draft or not remains to be seen.
If they do keep the pick, it sounds like it will be University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan that will be the first overall pick. Heenan, the homegrown talent who was born in Regina would become an instant fan favourite the moment his name was called.
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Quarterbacks -None. The Bombers managed to re-sign all three free agent quarterbacks that they had in Buck Pierce, Alex Brink and Joey Elliott. Doubtful that they go for a Canadian in the draft.
Running backs – Carl Volny (Central Michigan), Anthony Woodson (Calgary), James Green (Calgary), Michel-Pierre Pontbriand (Laval) – Green switched over from linebacker to fullback with the Bombers and he played well in a blocking back role. Green was also a special teams ace for the Bombers, including having three tackles in the Grey Cup. Pontbriand was a late season addition who played in the final nine games in a similar role to that of Green. He displayed his sneaky tactics in the final regular season game of the year, escaping downfield for a 41 yard reception. Volny played back-up to import RB Fred Reid for most of the season until Reid was injured in a September game against Toronto. In that same game, Volny also injured himself and missed the remainder of the season.
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Quarterbacks – None. The Alouettes have four import quarterbacks on their roster, including sure-fire Hall of Famer Anthony Calvillo. In our mock draft, Kyle Quinlan goes to the Alouettes, but whether that actually happens or not, who knows.
Running backs – Michael Giffin (Queen’s), Martin Bedard (Connecticut), Dahrran Diedrick (Nebraska), Kerry Carter (Stanford) – The Alouettes have always valued their Canadian special teams players, which is why they generally employ some at the skill positions. Giffin and Bedard are full-time special teams players for the Als, and between them have a combined one reception in their CFL careers. Carter and Diedrick have increased offensive touches for Giffin and Bedard, but they still do their share on special teams as well. Diedrick has carried the ball atleast 25 times in three of his last four seasons in Montreal, while Carter is more involved in the passing game with at least 20 receptions the past four years.
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Quarterbacks – None. The Ti-Cats carry three imports on their roster at the QB position. Do they give Southern Ontario talent Kyle Quinlan a shot?
Running backs – Daryl Stephenson (Windsor), Darcy Brown (Saint Mary’s), Tyrell Francisco (Weber State) – Brown and Francisco are listed at fullback. Francisco was drafted last year by the Ti-Cats and finished up his education at Weber State before coming to Hamilton. Brown is primarily a special teams player, but he does see some offensive reps from time to time as well, hauling in eight receptions last season. Stephenson signed as a free agent in Hamilton last season and also plays special teams. Running back not likely a place the Ti-Cats will use one of their picks, unless they’re looking for more solid special teams players.
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Quarterbacks: None. The Argos gave Queen’s QB Danny Brannagan a shot in 2010. After becoming the first Canadian quarterback to take a snap in a regular season game in 13 years, Brannagan was released in the 2011 pre-season.
Running backs: Jeff Johnson (York) – Johnson enters his 13th season in the CFL this year, with all but two being with the Argonauts. It has been years since he was an active part of the Argos offence, but he still sees some touches every now and then, playing mostly on special teams.
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