Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

[Esks4ever]

Battle for the Bay
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




The fight has started in Shannon Garrett's hometown of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

The small community, which was hammered by hurricane Katrina more than two weeks ago, is battling with insurance companies - and Garrett could lose a significant amount of money.

The Edmonton Eskimo defensive back had three properties in the Gulf Coast community. His rental property - a house about two blocks from the beach - is literally gone.

The 30-foot tidal surge destroyed everything but the concrete steps.

Garrett believes insurance will cover that loss, but his two other properties, including his main home, suffered major water damage - and that is where the fight starts.


According to Garrett, the insurance companies believe that damage falls under flood insurance coverage.

"But nobody (in Bay St. Louis) has flood insurance. We are not in a flood area. We are 30 or 40 feet above sea level," explained Garrett.

Like many in his community, Garrett doesn't believe a flood caused the horrific damage to his hometown.

"It was wind driven water (from the tidal surge) from the beach. It only stayed 15 minutes and left," he continued.

Garrett believes his main home suffered at least $20,000 in water damage.

Right now, civic leaders are taking up the fight with the insurance companies.

"The mayor is fighting and the president of the United States might have to step in to try and force the insurance companies to pay," explained Garrett.

But that is not the only problem. Garrett might not be able to return to his off-season job as a bank manager.

"All of our (branches) are beachfront properties. The bank I work at - I'm pretty sure that is gone," explained Garrett. "It was a couple of blocks off the beach.

"Anything a half mile in (from the beach) is gone."

With a two-week break in the schedule next month, there is an opportunity for the starting halfback to return to his storm-ravaged hometown.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Diedrick a quick study
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




After running all over the practice field yesterday afternoon, new Edmonton Eskimo running back Dahrran Diedrick believes he can play Sunday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina.

"I'm ready to play," said the Canadian rusher, who signed a two-year-deal with the Eskimos last week. "It's all up to the coaches obviously.

"But I feel by the end of the week I'll have the offence down enough."

Based on just one practice with his new teammates, head coach Danny Maciocia isn't committing a roster spot to the former University of Nebraska star for Sunday's key western division showdown, but ...

"I would say right now, it's probably - after Day 1 of practice - 60-40 that he'll play," said Maciocia.


"He's got the ability to play at this level; the question is how much (playbook) information can he retain in the next few days.

"He looked pretty good, pretty fluid (at practice). You can tell why he was in the NFL for the last couple of years."

After rushing for more than 2,700 yards at Nebraska, Diedrick decided not to sign with the Eskimos - the team that selected him in the 2002 Canadian college draft - but stay south of the border.

However, he just bounced around NFL camps for two seasons, dressing for only one regular-season game.

With his release from the Washington Redskins this fall, Diedrick finally decided to move north.

If the Jamaica born back is activated for this weekend's tilt, he will not start. Maciocia has already made it clear that Ron McClendon has that role.

"Obviously, that is the way it should be until I get an opportunity to go into games and prove myself," said Diedrick.

"(McClendon) has proved himself already.

"I'll work my way in and make the best of the opportunities I get."

SHORT YARDAGE: If Diedrick comes on the roster, Maciocia will have to remove a Canadian from the 40-man list ... The head coach is still contemplating bringing Sean Fleming back to the roster after consecutive games as a healthy scratch. Fleming punted in practice yesterday and looked sharp kicking field goals. Fleming could be activated as a punter or handle both assignments. If he joins the roster strictly as a punter, rookie Hayden Epstein would continue to handle field goals and a Canadian would have to be removed from a different position ... Although fans have been targeting the offensive line for the Eskimos' woes, Maciocia reiterated after practice there would not be any changes to the starting five this week.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Defence of the offence
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




Media cameras and reporters surrounded Jason Maas, searching for his thoughts on the Edmonton Eskimos' struggling offence.

With his typical class and professionalism, the backup quarterback defended the offensive line and the play of starting signal caller Ricky Ray during yesterday's media scrum next to his locker stall.

Edmonton's weak offensive display during a 16-11 loss to the Calgary Stampeders last Friday has sparked relentless media attention on the green and gold's troubles and quarterback position.

It was Maas's turn to answer 20 questions yesterday.

But when the media scrum ended, Mass had one more clear message.


'REALLY DISGUSTED'

"I'm really disgusted with the fact that I am even answering questions today because I don't see the controversy or problem," said Maas, who guided the Eskimos to a second-place regular-season finish last year before losing his job in the off-season to Ray.

"There isn't a quarterback controversy.

"Both Ricky and I know that Danny (Maciocia, head coach) is going to stick with one guy until he proves he can't do it and I don't think Ricky has gotten to that point."

And Maas didn't stop there.

"I think Ricky is a tremendous quarterback, probably one of the best quarterbacks I have ever been around," continued Maas.

"I see our offence struggling, but not Ricky.

"We are struggling for a variety of reasons and most of it is execution - and that is everyone - penalties and turnovers.

"We are shooting ourselves in the foot."

Make no mistake, Maas would love to be playing.

"I think I can be playing and doing well, but at the same time Ricky is the man and he's doing well," explained Maas, who threw for more than 5,000 yards last year, becoming only the second Eskimo quarterback in history to pass that mark.

SEES THE IRONY

But the second-string passer does see the irony in the situation he finds himself in, with fans clamouring for his return to the field.

"I dealt with it the whole year last year," said the sixth year Eskimo.

"Everyone was crying for Ricky (to come) back (last year) and a couple of media guys (were) saying we would have won the Grey Cup if Ricky was back here last year."

In his regular media briefing yesterday morning, head coach Danny Maciocia heaped praise on Maas.

"There is no bigger Jason Maas fan than Danny Maciocia," said the coach. "If I last the next five or six years here and go elsewhere the first guy I am going to take with me is Jason Maas, whether he is still playing or wants to coach.

"What we need to do offensively is collectively come together and do our jobs and play with the same passion that our defence is playing with and same intensity. If we do so, there won't be as much focus on our quarterback."

And on Maas.

[Shadow]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Look up Class in the dictionary and you'll see Maas's photo.

[Eskimusa]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Look up Class in the dictionary and you'll see Maas's photo.

Echo that

[couchspud]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

RE: Diedrick playing Sunday...
Of course he'll be playing; how hard can it be to learn the 6 or is it 8 running plays the EE employ in a game. 80% of his play time will be spent blocking. I don't think he will need a big refresher for that.

[KnuckleChucker]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Good to have Diedrick aboard.....

[bceskiesfan]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Echo that

I third that. He really knows how to handle the media. He stomps on any questions of a QB controversy, and he hasn't become a distraction in the dressingroom at all.

[BeerfishAW]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

"Everyone was crying for Ricky (to come) back (last year) and a couple of media guys (were) saying we would have won the Grey Cup if Ricky was back here last year."

Bwa ha ha, Jason has to not listen to some dork media guys who don;t know dick all. The Esks would have had no better of a record last year with Ray than they had with Maas. This year our defense is much much better, the O-line is about the same. Overall our team last year was not as good as this one.

[#77]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

Maas is a class guy. Cause you know if he said anything, the vultures in the Edmonton media would start circling. Our media continues to look for a story that honestly isn't there....
Maybe our media instead of trying to figure out what is wrong at QB should pay more attention to the fact that the guys calling the plays can't figure it out....or the fact that the hogs literally aren't pulling their weight this year....which goes back to the play calling.

Personally, I think the offense is going to have a huge game this week, after honestly being embrassed at home by the Stumps.

[Gargoyle]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : Sept 15

[QUOTE=#77]Maas is a class guy. Cause you know if he said anything, the vultures in the Edmonton media would start circling. Our media continues to look for a story that honestly isn't there....

Leave it to the media to stir the s*** needlessly by trying to drag Maas into a hornet's nest. And it isn't just local media. TSN has been just as guilty, IMO. If one were to look at the heart and soul of a team, you look at those who lead by example. And if there were an award for quietly leading the troops by what he says and (more importantly) doesn't say, Maas deserves it. Kudos to him for always rising above this petty goading. And I'm also glad that DM gives him such a great endorsement. Well earned.