Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

[Esks4ever]

Game on: Eskimos vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders



Eskimos vs. Riders -- McMahon Stadium

June 17, 6 p.m. (TSN, 630 CHED)

7 p.m., 630 CHED, no TV n Weather: 40% chance of showers with 10C kickoff temperature

THE BETTING LINE

No line on pre-season games



WHO TO WATCH

Eskimos: Ricky Ray

The league's highest paid quarterback will start tonight, with the coaching staff hoping he can kickstart the offence.

Riders: Matt Dominguez

After blowing apart one knee early last year, the Riders' most dangerous receiver finally returns to game action tonight.

HURT PARADE

ESKIMOS: LB Steven Marsh (ACL), DB Jason Nugent (ACL), S Will Loftus (rotator cuff), LB Marcus Winn (ribs), DL Randy Spencer (calf), SB Jason Tucker (head), DE Andre Sommersell (ankle)

RIDERS: DB Darnell Edwards (knee), SB Jason French (hamstring), LB Jackie Mitchell (hamstring), DL Scott Schultz (groin)

NOTES

The Esks can't seem to catch a break off the field. With the Edmonton Oilers' Stanley Cup run, the defending Grey Cup champions haven't received their regular amount of media coverage and hype this spring. Then they were dealt a possible conflict with the starting time of their regular-season opener and Game 6 of the Stanley Cup. Now, Mother Nature could ruin any hope of a good walk-up crowd for the team's only pre-season game. Before the potentially wet and chilly forecast for tonight was issued, the Esks were expecting a 35,000 crowd ... Although the Esks haven't made a formal announcement, watch for the team to wear its gold third jerseys tonight. After losing to the Calgary Stampeders in the Labour Day rematch last year in the debut of the bold third uniform, the gold jerseys were buried deep in the locker room. If they lose tonight, don't expect to see the players wear them again this year ... Although he has battled nagging injuries through camp, it appears the Riders will use talented running back Kenton Keith tonight. With incredible lateral movement, he is arguably the most explosive and dangerous running back in the West Division when he's healthy ... After dealing with personal family matters this week, Dan Comiskey will start at left guard for Edmonton ... With Marcus Winn on the sidelines with a rib injury and missing tonight's game, Singor Mobley will likely start the year at outside linebacker.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Redemption song
Wide side jobs up for grabs - and Buhl is hoping it won't end in tears
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




Edmonton Eskimo head coach Danny Maciocia is hoping the Saskatchewan Roughriders spend plenty of time throwing to the wide side of the field tonight because he has two very important decisions to make.

While Keyuo Craver and Reggie Durden have locked up the defensive back positions on the one side of the field, veterans Malcolm Frank and Donald Brady haven't sewn up their jobs on the wide side.

In fact, CFL rookie Jonte Buhl will be competing against both veterans in tonight's final preseason game, hoping to steal one of their jobs.

"It's a big night," said Buhl, who'll share time at cornerback and halfback with the veterans. "I have to impress the coaches."

The 24-year-old import has definitely been impressive through camp, which shouldn't be a surprise, considering he cracked the Atlanta Falcons roster out of training camp last fall.



"We are very, very happy with Jonte," said Maciocia.

While the odds of Brady losing his halfback job are slim, Frank is in more danger at cornerback - and the oldest player on the training camp roster at 37 years of age knows it.

"Do you want a veteran for two games against Calgary (to start the regular season) or do you want a rookie? That is what it boils down (to for the coaches)," said Frank, who has played seven years in Edmonton.

Buhl would love to be part of the home-and-away series with the Stamps that starts next weekend. But he'll even take a practice roster spot if he doesn't out-perform Frank or Brady tonight.

The last thing the quiet Texas native wants is a repeat of last year's nightmare in Atlanta, when he officially made the team out of camp, but was cut the day after.

"It was very hard," remembered Buhl, who was set to earn a $230,000 US NFL salary.

"When I got cut, I didn't know how to handle it. I bawled - I cried."

Buhl has a chance for some form of redemption tonight

[esks4life]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Eskimos vs. Riders -- McMahon Stadium

WTF??

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

As easy as 1-2-3
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




The Edmonton Eskimos have received a very simple math lesson from head coach Danny Maciocia.

"I had that conversation with them (yesterday)," said Maciocia. "We are still at 71 bodies, and we are going to have to get somewhere in the low to mid fifties, so do the math."

The Esks must have their final roster declared by 10 p.m. tomorrow, meaning tonight's final pre-season game will decide the fate of many players.

On paper, that final roster can only include 46 players, but with injury-list players and a few others being stashed on the practice roster, that magic number is indeed just above 50.

While most of the starting jobs have essentially been decided, there are a few positions up in the air besides the highly publicized spots in the secondary.



RIGHT GUARD: The job is Glen Carson's to lose. The Canadian will start tonight, but will be relieved by import Raleigh Roundtree.

RIGHT TACKLE: Recovered from a knee injury, Patrick Kabongo will start. Rhett McLane handled the assignment last week in Regina, but didn't fare too well, meaning it's Kabongo's job for the taking.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Non-import Steve Charbonneau has one of the jobs, but imports Jabari Issa and Robert Brown are scrapping for the other. "The edge right now goes to Brown," said Maciocia.

DEFENSIVE END: Charles Alston likely has one spot, with Canadian Tim Fleiszer probably a back-up. But the other side of the line features a fight between Sherrod Coates, Anthony Collier and Andre Sommersell, who probably won't play but has been impressive through camp.

PUNTER: American Rodney Williams will get one more chance tonight, but even if has a 50-yard average, a job isn't guaranteed because of import ratio.

- - -

NOTES

Jason Johnson has re-taken the No. 2 spot on the QB depth chart, but his playing time will be dictated by Ricky Ray's performance... Pat Woodcock, who's fighting for a fifth Canadian receiver spot, will be a game-time decision because of a hamstring injury... the Grey Cup will be in the house tonight for a pre-game celebration.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Gass set to start
Grieving linebacker will get game action
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, EDMONTON SUN




Up until yesterday morning, linebacker A.J. Gass didn't know if he would play for the Edmonton Eskimos this season.

While dealing with the death of his mother in Tennessee this spring, the defensive leader of the Green and Gold contemplated missing the entire year.

"It is such a tough situation, leaving my family so far away," said Gass.

"My sister is a single mom raising two kids and my mom was kind of her go-to (person for help)."

But at the urging of his father, Gass has returned to Edmonton - and that desire to play returned the moment he walked into the Commonwealth Stadium dressing room yesterday morning.



In fact, he immediately asked Danny Maciocia if he could play in this evening's final pre-season game - and the head coach is going to let him.

NOT AUTOMATIC

Even though Gass hasn't participated in a single practice this spring, the Sun has learned that he will play at middle linebacker this evening against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"He needs to see some game action because if he doesn't see it (tonight), he won't see any until the season starts," said Maciocia. "He is ready physically and I think mentally; it will do him a world of good to get back into it. It will get his mind off things."

Maciocia isn't automatically handing the starting middle linebacker job for the regular-season opener in Calgary next Saturday to Gass.

With sophomore Quincy Stewart having taken reps while Gass missed all of training camp, the Green and Gold have more than one option.

But a nine-year veteran and an undisputed captain, Gass is the best option if he's completely ready next week - which explains the urgency to get the heart and soul of the Eskimos' top-ranked defence as many reps as possible tonight.

However, there will be a piece of Gass's heart missing when he's greeted with a warm ovation at Commonwealth Stadium. Needless to say, losing his mother Cathy to a heart defect has been shocking and traumatic.

"She was a wonderful woman, who - as far as my football career goes - was my biggest fan and biggest supporter," said Gass.

"Up to high school she had never missed a game or practice. And she watched or listened to every game up here on the TV or radio. It was so sudden and she was so young."

JUST STARTED MEDICATION

Cathy was 54 years old when she was buried last month.

"(The heart defect) was diagnosed just a week or two prior (to her death)," continued Gass.

"She had just started the medication.

"But it probably didn't have time to work."

However, Gass is extremely grateful for the way Maciocia and the rest of the Eskimo organization handled his family crisis.

Instead of forcing Gass to report to camp on time on May 20 or making him return at another specified date, the club gave him all the time and space he needed.

"I couldn't ask for more support or understanding from the organization," said the 30-year-old import.

"To know that when I was down there (in the U.S.) dealing with the (death), I didn't have to be concerned with things up here right away, was a big help to me."

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Eskimos vs. Riders -- McMahon Stadium

WTF??

Rofl.. did the Sun ever F-up that



Edit: Whats interesting is in the actual Paper it says Commonwealth , but online its McHole.

[Esks4ever]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Stewart supportive of A.J.



Quincy Stewart is going to roll with the punches.

With A.J. Gass now back in the fold and playing at middle linebacker during a portion of tonight's game at Commonwealth Stadium, Stewart probably won't start the regular season.

After leading the team in tackles last week in Regina while playing in Gass's absence, the situation could leave Stewart feeling slightly frustrated, especially considering he seems loaded with talent and has 43 NFL games under his belt.

But Stewart is being very supportive.

"I am happy for him," said Stewart, who knows Gass has been a force in the middle for years.



"You have to understand the nature of the business."

But Gass's sudden reappearance doesn't mean Stewart's long-term future is bleak.

The 28-year-old Texan will likely stick with the team in some capacity.

"I am a big fan of Quincy Stewart and so is the coaching staff," said coach Danny Maciocia.

[Steve Vale]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Rofl.. did the Sun ever F-up that



Edit: Whats interesting is in the actual Paper it says Commonwealth , but online its McHole.

The online copy editors must be all working on the Oilers articles right now...

[Angelus]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

With Marcus Winn on the sidelines with a rib injury and missing tonight's game, Singor Mobley will likely start the year at outside linebacker.

Wow...the media sure loves to see veteran's lose their jobs. Weren't there also countless articles that said Whitley was ahead of Garrett on the depth chart?

[Angelus]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Non-import Steve Charbonneau has one of the jobs, but imports Jabari Issa and Robert Brown are scrapping for the other. "The edge right now goes to Brown," said Maciocia.

DEFENSIVE END: Charles Alston likely has one spot, with Canadian Tim Fleiszer probably a back-up. But the other side of the line features a fight between Sherrod Coates, Anthony Collier and Andre Sommersell, who probably won't play but has been impressive through camp.

I don't think that D-Line is going to scare anyone...

[Uncle Bobby]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

"Jason Johnson has re-taken the No. 2 spot on the QB depth chart"



Buh-bye KJ.

[KnuckleChucker]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

"Jason Johnson has re-taken the No. 2 spot on the QB depth chart"



Buh-bye KJ.

The media can pretend all they want that KJ was ever in the 2 spot.....I think we all know better.....

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Non-import Steve Charbonneau has one of the jobs, but imports Jabari Issa and Robert Brown are scrapping for the other. "The edge right now goes to Brown," said Maciocia.

DEFENSIVE END: Charles Alston likely has one spot, with Canadian Tim Fleiszer probably a back-up. But the other side of the line features a fight between Sherrod Coates, Anthony Collier and Andre Sommersell, who probably won't play but has been impressive through camp.

I don't think that D-Line is going to scare anyone...

Good. They'll underestimate it.

IMO, that's a solid line - it doesn't have the star power of last year, but I don't think we'll see much of a drop in terms of performance. Should be good against the run and all right against the pass, even if we don't get the sack numbers.

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Eskimos vs. Riders -- McMahon Stadium

WTF??

No kidding.

Probably won't happen, but I'd LOVE to see a crowd higher than 36 700 - a crowd that couldn't fit in said stadium.

[Sectionq]

Re: Edmonton Sun Articles : GameDay

Frank has to go. HE IS 37!! What's going to happen next year when they have to replace him. We got 2 really good young corners right now, ready to take over. if we dont keep them now, next year, there may not be a good replacement.