Eskimo Roster Review: Linebacker
I am not sure exactly how, but I accidently found a roster review for this year's edition of the Eskimos which was done by Gizzie Willie. I am not sure who Gizzie Willie is but I thought that the review was interesting and you may agree. See below:
According to Gizzie Willie:
Don’t you wish we could add Terry Tate to the Eskimos, although it is a little crowded back there at the moment. As we continue to look at the roster of the Green & Gold, we now shift our focus to the linebacker position. This is a spot in the lineup where depth is certainly not an issue. There are imports and non-imports, veterans and youth. Despite the depth, the general consensus is that this group of players has more to offer then the results they gave last year. Although individually certain players enjoyed some success, it will take a much better group effort this year to elevate the Eskimos to being an elite defence in the CFL. Considering the talent level, an increase in production is really not asking that much.
What the coaches might be looking for.
Like most of the other positions where the Eskimos have veteran depth, linebacker is a position where a second season with Richie Hall’s defensive systems in place should greatly benefit all of the personnel. Added to that, key additions from last year will now also come into camp with a better understanding of the CFL game. These factors should be enough to make this unit better almost by default. When you build continuity and familiarity, success often follows close behind.
Current Roster.
Maurice Lloyd. Lloyd is the centerpiece of the linebacker corp and his presence is both greatly felt when he is in the lineup, but equally missed when he is not. Although his numbers were not spectacular (55 tackles, 4 sacks), Lloyd was noticed on the field and was named a CFLPA All-Star. His familiarity with the Richie Hall style of defence certainly helped last year and it is expected that he will lead the linebackers to an even better season in 2010.
Mark Restelli. A true rookie last year out of Cal Poly, Restelli had a very good year for a first year player. He recorded 58 tackles, had one forced fumble, and even contributed on special teams. There were times however where the young linebacker found himself lost in the great space of the CFL field and was caught watching a play. This would have worked on the smaller fields in the United States, but in the CFL, if you are not moving, you’re already too late. With a year of seasoning under his belt, Restelli will need to take the next step in becoming an impact player on the Eskimos defence.
Rod Davis. Number 40 started the season as a situational pass rusher on second down. Injuries eventually led to him starting a few games and he proved to be excellent in coverage, and although he did not record a sack, there were plenty of plays where he forced the opposing quarterback to hurry a play. A veteran of three NFL seasons and one in the AFL, Davis needs to be counted on as reliable veteran depth if he wants to stay on the roster this year.
Reggie Hunt. The diminutive linebacker is best known in the CFL for his work with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2002 to 2007. After a very average season in Montreal, Hunt was brought to the Eskimos lineup last September where he played exclusively on special teams. With the amount of import depth on the roster, Hunt will be in a real fight to make the team this year coming out of camp.
Franz Joseph. After a brief appearance at the Oakland Raiders training camp last summer, Joseph was added to the Eskimos practice roster in September. Joseph is a good-sized linebacker who will need to impress early to stick on the roster, but the Eskimos certainly saw some potential in the former Florida Atlantic Owl.
Javier Glatt. Glatt is the veteran non-import who was signed in the off-season from the BC Lions after Glatt lost his starting position to JoJuan Howard. He’s a playmaker that has battled consistency issues throughout his career. To read more about Glatt, check out the article I wrote when he joined the Esks. http://eskimosnation.wordpress.com/2...-javier-glatt/
Tim St.Pierre. 2009 saw St.Pierre continue to progress as a capable backup and special teams player. Entering his third season with the Green & Gold, he has proven to be a reliable player, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in this season. If he wants to stick long term and eventually have a shot at starting, he will need to continue to show improvement.
Greg Whelan. Whelan is essentially a practice roster non-import. He did dress for five games last year when injuries decimated the Eskimos linebackers. He will be in tough to make the roster this year.
Josh Bean. After two training camps with the BC Lions without finding a way to crack the roster, Bean signed with the Eskimos last October. He will once again be in a battle to make the team. It’s expected that there will only be room for one of either him or Whelan with the Eskimos this season and more than likely, it will be on the practice roster.
Changes???
Not everyone will make the opening day roster. That’s a certainty. Maurice Lloyd and Javier Glatt are probably the only surefire picks for spots on the team. After that, it will probably depend on a number of factors. Mark Restelli and Rod Davis should also be safe as should Tim St. Pierre. With all the linebackers on the current roster, it would be surprising to see the Green & Gold draft a player at the linebacker position in the upcoming CFL Draft. The only way it happens is if a top end prospect falls to them and they can’t pass him up.
Link to Gizzie Willie:
http://eskimosnation.wordpress.com/2...ew-linebacker/
According to Gizzie Willie:
Don’t you wish we could add Terry Tate to the Eskimos, although it is a little crowded back there at the moment. As we continue to look at the roster of the Green & Gold, we now shift our focus to the linebacker position. This is a spot in the lineup where depth is certainly not an issue. There are imports and non-imports, veterans and youth. Despite the depth, the general consensus is that this group of players has more to offer then the results they gave last year. Although individually certain players enjoyed some success, it will take a much better group effort this year to elevate the Eskimos to being an elite defence in the CFL. Considering the talent level, an increase in production is really not asking that much.
What the coaches might be looking for.
Like most of the other positions where the Eskimos have veteran depth, linebacker is a position where a second season with Richie Hall’s defensive systems in place should greatly benefit all of the personnel. Added to that, key additions from last year will now also come into camp with a better understanding of the CFL game. These factors should be enough to make this unit better almost by default. When you build continuity and familiarity, success often follows close behind.
Current Roster.
Maurice Lloyd. Lloyd is the centerpiece of the linebacker corp and his presence is both greatly felt when he is in the lineup, but equally missed when he is not. Although his numbers were not spectacular (55 tackles, 4 sacks), Lloyd was noticed on the field and was named a CFLPA All-Star. His familiarity with the Richie Hall style of defence certainly helped last year and it is expected that he will lead the linebackers to an even better season in 2010.
Mark Restelli. A true rookie last year out of Cal Poly, Restelli had a very good year for a first year player. He recorded 58 tackles, had one forced fumble, and even contributed on special teams. There were times however where the young linebacker found himself lost in the great space of the CFL field and was caught watching a play. This would have worked on the smaller fields in the United States, but in the CFL, if you are not moving, you’re already too late. With a year of seasoning under his belt, Restelli will need to take the next step in becoming an impact player on the Eskimos defence.
Rod Davis. Number 40 started the season as a situational pass rusher on second down. Injuries eventually led to him starting a few games and he proved to be excellent in coverage, and although he did not record a sack, there were plenty of plays where he forced the opposing quarterback to hurry a play. A veteran of three NFL seasons and one in the AFL, Davis needs to be counted on as reliable veteran depth if he wants to stay on the roster this year.
Reggie Hunt. The diminutive linebacker is best known in the CFL for his work with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2002 to 2007. After a very average season in Montreal, Hunt was brought to the Eskimos lineup last September where he played exclusively on special teams. With the amount of import depth on the roster, Hunt will be in a real fight to make the team this year coming out of camp.
Franz Joseph. After a brief appearance at the Oakland Raiders training camp last summer, Joseph was added to the Eskimos practice roster in September. Joseph is a good-sized linebacker who will need to impress early to stick on the roster, but the Eskimos certainly saw some potential in the former Florida Atlantic Owl.
Javier Glatt. Glatt is the veteran non-import who was signed in the off-season from the BC Lions after Glatt lost his starting position to JoJuan Howard. He’s a playmaker that has battled consistency issues throughout his career. To read more about Glatt, check out the article I wrote when he joined the Esks. http://eskimosnation.wordpress.com/2...-javier-glatt/
Tim St.Pierre. 2009 saw St.Pierre continue to progress as a capable backup and special teams player. Entering his third season with the Green & Gold, he has proven to be a reliable player, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in this season. If he wants to stick long term and eventually have a shot at starting, he will need to continue to show improvement.
Greg Whelan. Whelan is essentially a practice roster non-import. He did dress for five games last year when injuries decimated the Eskimos linebackers. He will be in tough to make the roster this year.
Josh Bean. After two training camps with the BC Lions without finding a way to crack the roster, Bean signed with the Eskimos last October. He will once again be in a battle to make the team. It’s expected that there will only be room for one of either him or Whelan with the Eskimos this season and more than likely, it will be on the practice roster.
Changes???
Not everyone will make the opening day roster. That’s a certainty. Maurice Lloyd and Javier Glatt are probably the only surefire picks for spots on the team. After that, it will probably depend on a number of factors. Mark Restelli and Rod Davis should also be safe as should Tim St. Pierre. With all the linebackers on the current roster, it would be surprising to see the Green & Gold draft a player at the linebacker position in the upcoming CFL Draft. The only way it happens is if a top end prospect falls to them and they can’t pass him up.
Link to Gizzie Willie:
http://eskimosnation.wordpress.com/2...ew-linebacker/
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