Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

[Esks4ever]

O-line or oh, oh line?
With three of last year's starters gone, questions abound about pivot protection
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




Joe McGrath is aware of the panic cries.

The third-year Edmonton Eskimo knows people are worried - if not petrified - about the state of the club's offensive line with the retirements of veteran starters Chris Morris, Bruce Beaton and Kevin Lefsrud.

But the young left tackle has a message for everyone in Eskimoland: relax.

"I think we are going to do great," he said of the new-look offensive line this season.

"Everyone is nervous and asking: 'Can Ricky Ray hold up (behind) a revamped offensive line?'



"And I think, without a doubt, (the answer is) yes."

Head coach Danny Maciocia is also confident his younger O-line will stand the test this season.

"Some people are afraid of change," said Maciocia, "and God forbid you move something or change something because it drives them bananas.

"In our case, we embrace change.

"There is going to be a transition period - but we still feel we are going to be competitive."

But after an off-season of predictions - from dire thoughts in the stands to positive talk in the locker-room - we'll soon find out who is right and wrong.

With training camp starting tomorrow, the Green and Gold are two weeks from their first pre-season game and one month to the regular-season opener in Calgary.

Here is the offensive line depth chart for Day 1 of camp:

LEFT TACKLE

Gone: Bruce Beaton

Contenders: Joe McGrath (non-import) - No. 1 on the depth chart; Dwayne Morgan (import)

A starter at right guard last year, McGrath is being asked to move to the outside.

"I think that (left tackle) is his natural position," said Maciocia.

Morgan and Maciocia have a history from the Montreal Alouettes. But being an import at 32 years of age, he faces a tough challenge beating McGrath.

LEFT GUARD

Incumbent: Dan Comiskey (NI)

Unless he suffers an injury, the nine-year CFL veteran will be the leader of the line this year.

"Comiskey is one the premier guards in the CFL," said Maciocia.

CENTRE

Gone: Kevin Lefsrud

Contenders: Tim Bakker (NI); Rhett McLane (NI); Mark Shantz (NI)

Entering camp there isn't a No. 1 notation beside anyone according to Maciocia, but Bakker has more experience, having played nearly 100 CFL games.

McLane has dressed for just three games in his career. Shantz didn't play in his rookie season.

Bakker is returning to Edmonton after being part of the Jason Maas deal last fall.

McLane might be facing a make-or-break season with Edmonton.

"Coming out (of school in 2003), he was one of the better offensive linemen in the country, but this is a very important year," said Maciocia.

"The first year he had an ACL injury, which we understood.

"The second year was really his first year. So, this is the year that we think he can do the things we expect him to do."

RIGHT GUARD

Gone: Joe McGrath (to left tackle)

Contenders: Raleigh Roundtree (I); D'Anthony Batiste (I); Glen Carson (NI); Grieg Lonchamps (NI)

There isn't a designated No. 1 contender, but the Esks can afford to start an import on the line - and Roundtree might be the answer with several years of NFL experience between San Diego and Arizona.

Carson is the wild card. A starter in 2004, he dropped 30 pounds before camp last year because of sickness and never regained his spot.

"It was a forgotten year for Glen (last year) and a forgotten year for us," said O-line coach Bill Macdermott.

Now at 288 pounds, Carson will fight for his old job.

RIGHT TACKLE

Gone: Chris Morris

Contenders: Patrick Kabongo (NI) - No. 1; Roundtree; McLane

The job is Kabongo's to win or lose.

Coming Tomorrow: Training camp preview

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

'Master of Disaster'
Patrick Kabongo is inexperienced as a pro, but Esks hope he can be an O-line stalwart
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




Patrick Kabongo can handle almost anything thrown in his direction.

At six-foot-six inches and 340 pounds, that is a pretty easy assumption to make.

But with 14-year veteran Chris Morris retiring, can Kabongo handle the task of being the starting right tackle on the Edmonton Eskimos' offensive line this season?

Considering he has only played a handful of games in his two-year professional career, that's one of the biggest questions as the Esks open main training camp this weekend.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the Green and Gold are legitimate Grey Cup contenders this year if quarterback Ricky Ray stays healthy. But if a steamrolling defensive end beats Kabongo and crushes Ray in the pocket, all bets on the Eskimos are off.



So given the importance of the job ahead, the No. 1 contender on the right tackle depth chart became a hard-core student this winter.

In fact, Kabongo spent six days a week over four months in the classroom of offensive line coach Bill Macdermott.

'SIX YEARS TO MAKE UP'

"We probably have six years to make up," said Macdermott. "You figure five in college and he was completely mishandled when he was in Ottawa."

The 26-year-old Zaire native was a stalwart defensive lineman at the University of Nebraska before eventually having a brief cup of coffee with the Ottawa Renegades in 2004.

He has only played in parts of seven games since turning pro.

"First of all, we wanted to get him fundamentally sound (this winter) and secondly, give him a package (of techniques) that he can take into the game without stopping to think - 'Do I step with my right foot first and where does my left foot go and where do my hands go?' " explained Macdermott, who's entering his 13th season coaching the Edmonton line.

More thankful than you could imagine for the tutoring sessions this winter, Kabongo firmly believes he's ready to be Ray's newest full-time bodyguard.

"I am going to play very well - I am the Master of Disaster," he stated. "I know it is my time.

"I believe I have been blessed by God and I have a gift.

"I know there is a fine line between being cocky and confident - and I think I am very confident."

TON OF POTENTIAL

Head coach Danny Maciocia definitely believes there is a ton of potential within the non-import's massive frame.

The boss actually offers very rarely heard hype.

"Patrick Kabongo is someone who could play 10-12 years in the CFL, but it wouldn't surprise me if a year from now he is south of the border (playing in the NFL)," stated Maciocia.

But professor Macdermott - the most qualified expert of the bunch - isn't making any bold predictions about his pupil.

"If I could tell you (how he'll perform), it would be wonderful," said Macdermott. "But you never really know until the bullets get flying."

With camp starting tomorrow, Kabongo will get his first taste of live action in two weeks when the Eskimos play the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Taylor Field in the first preseason game on June 3.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

Off-season adventure
Big guy's eyes opened by volunteer work in Sri Lanka
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




So, did you travel anywhere interesting during the off-season?

Anybody who asks that question of Patrick Kabongo during Eskimo training camp is going to get an interesting answer.

After winning the Grey Cup last November, Kabongo travelled to Sri Lanka to help rebuild the country from the devastating tsunami.

"I went to different camp sites for the tsunami relief and I did simple stuff, like clean wounds," he said.

"And I did a sports camp. A lot of people wanted to work out down there, but didn't know what to do. I put on a two-day clinic about lifting, conditioning and simple things you can do on the beach when there are no dumbbells or any (weights)."



It was a three-week volunteer mission to the battered island country on the other side of the world. Kabongo believes he returned to Edmonton a better person.

"I think it is really important to go to different countries to see how they think," he said.

"You do help people (in Sri Lanka), but you come back a better human being - better informed about what is going on in this world."

But there are some sad memories still floating around five months later.

"It was hard to see some of the disaster that the tsunami left behind," he explained.

"We have infrastructure here - and God forbid something bad happens in Edmonton - we could rebuild in one year and probably make a movie out of it. There, a year later, there is still a lot of work to do.

"I was driving in the south of the country and they have beautiful beaches. But you see some of the houses on the beach and they are made out of nothing, really. A lot of them were made out of cardboard and trees."

But he can still chuckle about the impression his hulking six-foot-six inch, 340-pound frame left on people.

"Every time I was walking down the street people were turning around and were trying to touch me - thinking like: Is it really real? Do we have King Kong in the house?" he said.

'YOU COME BACK A BETTER HUMAN BEING - BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.'

- Patrick Kabongo, on volunteering abroad

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

Good articles.

[Beerfish]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

This should be very interesting. Not sure if I want an o-lineman with the nickname master of disaster though.

[esks4life]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

Man, Kabongo is one huge mofo. 6'6 and 340. I really hope he can handle the 20 sec. clock.

[Diesel]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

I recall Jed and I catching a workout last year where Jed thought Kabongo was actually the import guy because how good his feet were and how fluid his rotation was. When I mentioned that was kabongo, his eyes lit up and he was even more impressed. Kabongo will have some growing pains but I really think he's up for the job and my mid season he will be tattooing guys on the run block.

[bceskiesfan]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

I like the fact that Kabongo has spent so much time with McDermott learning the position. It shows a lot of commitment on his part.

[Cerebral]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

As I said earlier, Kabongo could be the key for this season. I personally don't think a start O-line of Comiskey, McGrath, Kabongo, Bakker and Roundtree would be bad assuming Kabongo and McGrath take some big steps forward this year (weren't many arguing McGrath played out of position last year) and Roundtree becomes a solid starter.

[chub]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles Sat. May 20th

I think this is the BIGGEST weakness on a great Eskies squad. If they can overcome a poor o-line (worst case scenario), or if this O-line matures quickly like they expect it to, they should be very difficult to beat. But, that O-line without a doubt, will be the weakness all other teams try to exploit...Im sure most eyes will be on the protection RR gets, and also how well they run block.