Canadian College Draft

[duce]

I have heard that the Esks are pretty high on UofA LB Dave Lowry. I have seen him play a few times and the guy is a stud....maybe the next Dan Bass. But if I remember correctly we don't have a pick until the third round and I am guessing that he will be gone by then. Any chance we might trade to move up in the draft?

[Beerfish]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Hopefully we can make a deal. This was a criticism I had of the Esks in my end of the year/beginning of next year thread. We are all too happy to trade our picks. The Esks need depth at Canadian linebacker badly. (Too bad Casseus wrecked his knee)

[Muley69]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Maybe Winkel??

Still have a year of CIS eligibility, however.

[Beerfish]

Re: Canadian College Draft

The Esks should draft Bryce Coppieters from U of A (I think he's draft eligible this year, perhaps next.) He's a slot back and is much like Jason Clermont in size and stature. Of course I am biased as he has worked for my dept at the U of A the last couple of summers. The guy does have ability and good size for a receiver.

[duce]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Coppieters is a nice combination of size speed and strength, potential to be a great slot in the CFL. I think that he played high school football with Brock Ralph. He may be worth taking a shot at in the later rounds.

[Beerfish]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Yup he's another product of the Raymond football factory.

[Oiler]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Another Higgins blunder. The Esks don't have much of a chance to get a good Canadian this year, but hopefully they luck out. The history of the Esks is to trade their 1st round choices howefver.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Lowry would be awesome...he's torn up the Canada West the whole year. And he's still got 2 years of eligibility left.

At receiver, I don't think Coppieters is necessary...although he's very capable, we drafted another capable similar-sized receiver out of USask last year, Chad Rempel - he's 6'3'' and 225 lbs compared to 6'2'' and 215 lbs for Coppieters. Rempel has had injury problems in the past though (was out all of last year, IIRC). Rempel has finished his CIS eligibility, Coppieters still has 1 year left.
That said, if we can have both somehow, by all means, go for it.

Winkel would be a good mid-to-late-round pick...but he does have 2 years of eligibility left as well. I would like to see how he does next season - another option might be David Bissett (also with 2 yrs left), Winkel's replacement for the playoffs...he did well, and is a bit heavier than Winkel (210 to 195, both 5'10'').

Other possible U of A players would be:
Darryl Salmon - QB - 1 yr left - 6'5'', 220......perhaps it wouldn't hurt to get him as a backup. He and Steve Bilan (SSK) are two of the most capable QBs in CIS.
Mark Shantz - OL - 0 yrs left - 6'4'', 296......maybe another young Canadian O-lineman to groom.

(Info from Bears/SSK Game Day program, Oct 23)

[duce]

Re: Canadian College Draft

I thought I heard somewhere that Brock Ralph's yonger brother Brett redshirted for the bears this year. He had to sit out a year as he played for Boise State last year. Not sure of his status, but bears play by play guy talked highly of Brett.

[Beerfish]

Re: Canadian College Draft

Isnt' Dustin Ralph Brocks brother? He played for the Bears this year.
Brock has to show more consistency next year. He was wonderful up to about the mid point of the year but badly tailed off after his injury. He had a bad game in the playoff game.

[duce]

Re: Canadian College Draft

The U of A website lists Dustin as being from Raymond too. Judging from his birth date he is older than Brock.