2026 season

[BeaverSports]

Might as well start a new thread.

Has rookie camp started? Anyone planning to go and give reports from camp?

[cmbuk]

Don’t think we had an official rookie camp… guys have been here though

main camp tomorrow

[BeaverSports]

Seems like a much different approach than Jonesie trying to bring in every player on the continent and trying to assess who could play in two or three days. Likely a better approach that shows they’re in a better place too.

[ben_the_eskimo]

I haven’t been down to camp yet but the way that Korte and Beard keep getting mentioned as being in a battle with one another I can’t help but feel Korte might be one of the surprise vet cuts this camp… Not wishing for it but I feel like they can only keep one of those two guys with their salaries and I’ve always felt Korte is a bit undersized.

We’ll see how it shakes out.

[Looner]

I haven’t been down to camp yet but the way that Korte and Beard keep getting mentioned as being in a battle with one another I can’t help but feel Korte might be one of the surprise vet cuts this camp… Not wishing for it but I feel like they can only keep one of those two guys with their salaries and I’ve always felt Korte is a bit undersized.

We’ll see how it shakes out.

Thought has crossed my mind as well, Korte is 4 years younger then Beard at 29 and 33 years old.

[BeaverSports]

Yes, that's an interesting thought. Korte came in here with a lofty paycheque and I always wondered if he was better suited as a centre than as a guard. You wonder if they'd try to renegotiate him as he's still a useful piece and a good community guy.

Given the leadership Beard brings and the role he likely played in convincing the three Hamilton guys to come, I don't think he goes. Woodmansey obviously isn't going anywhere either, so I guess it comes down to who grades out better where as to who plays centre and who is at guard. Theoretically, if someone like Korte was on the outside looking in, I suppose you could keep O'Donnell on the inside and start both Bordner and Murray at tackle. It'll be interesting.

[Mr.Prez]

With Rick Campbell - was he brought in to be a mentor to Kilam?

[eskimoses]

Killam has been in the league for awhile now.... albeit as as a special teams guy. He seems to have already embraced the culture and maybe that is something Rick can help develop further/deeper. I like the way Mark/Ed talk about being a physical football team and quick to the ball! Ricks defenses over the years were usually pretty solid so maybe that's were they put some of his efforts?

[ben_the_eskimo]

Yeah I don’t really see Campbell as being here to look over Kilams shoulder or anything like that, I just think he was an available guy who has a ton of football experience and deep ties to this organization, bringing him in can only help IMO. I don’t think this is a signal of lack of trust or confidence in Mark at all.

[bone]

Yeah I don’t really see Campbell as being here to look over Kilams shoulder or anything like that, I just think he was an available guy who has a ton of football experience and deep ties to this organization, bringing him in can only help IMO. I don’t think this is a signal of lack of trust or confidence in Mark at all.

I see it this way too. It's still a relatively new coaching staff in terms of each guy's experience in their current role and Campbell has done almost every role in the CFL at some point so he would be a great consultant/advisor for the staff to bounce ideas off of and I do believe he'd approach it as such. Throw in his ties to the organization, it makes sense.

However, if things do go poorly early, it becomes an interesting in-house option for Hervey to quickly make a move and have someone with a ton of experience ready to go. I think they are going into this well intentioned, but kudos to Hervey if he's also got this as a backup plan.

I'm still not sold on Killam as he seemed way too emotional on the sidelines last year for an HC, and some of his post-game commentary had me concerned that he's the type that can go a bit lizard brain when put into a difficult situations. Hopefully, he's learned a bit from that.

[Looner]

I see it this way too. It's still a relatively new coaching staff in terms of each guy's experience in their current role and Campbell has done almost every role in the CFL at some point so he would be a great consultant/advisor for the staff to bounce ideas off of and I do believe he'd approach it as such. Throw in his ties to the organization, it makes sense.

However, if things do go poorly early, it becomes an interesting in-house option for Hervey to quickly make a move and have someone with a ton of experience ready to go. I think they are going into this well intentioned, but kudos to Hervey if he's also got this as a backup plan.

I'm still not sold on Killam as he seemed way too emotional on the sidelines last year for an HC, and some of his post-game commentary had me concerned that he's the type that can go a bit lizard brain when put into a difficult situations. Hopefully, he's learned a bit from that.

I think things would have to go really sideways for us to move on from Killam this year but I do love that Ed seems to have a backup plan at all positions, HC included.

[BeaverSports]

I get the sense that players really like playing for Kilam, so you'd think it would have to go really badly for Hervey to consider changes. I like that all both co-ordinators have been considered head coaches in waiting, though, and Campbell is a really useful guy to have around.

The "emotional" comment that bone made is interesting. A few of us felt similarly about Jason Maas, and he's become a fine coach. Is it a similar type of emotion?

[ben_the_eskimo]

I like that Kilam is firey, I might be biased tho as I have two coworkers who are former teammates of his from their UofA days and both guys have nothing but great things to say about Mark as a person and a football guy.

[cmbuk]

Not seen our first cuts yet?

[Looner]

Not seen our first cuts yet?

nothing yet, as far as I've seen