May
Hall marking his territory
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
It was no secret that with the hiring of Richie Hall as their new head coach, the Edmonton Eskimos were likely to face some defensive change.
But no one could have imagined this much adjustment. Green and Gold fans will definitely require a program when training camp opens June 7.
To date, of the 34 defensive players listed on the current Esks’ roster, 21 are newcomers, many of whom will likely be starters — the latest are defensive end/linebacker Kitwana Jones and defensive back Kelly Malveaux, both expected to play solid roles with the club.
The pair were picked up in late Thursday evening trades, Jones from Saskatchewan for rookie quarterback prospect Juan Joseph. Malveaux heads to Edmonton from Winnipeg for defensive end Fred Perry in an exchange of nine-year veterans.
Change, it’s said, can be good, but can it be disruptive? “It’s not worrisome from my standpoint,” Jones said of the many expected variations in his new Green and Gold silks. “I’m going to Richie’s system and I know Richie’s system like the back of my hand.
“If he asks me to go through a brick wall, I go through a brick wall. No questions asked. I’m not the type of athlete that complains,” added the 27-year-old, who finished with 55 tackles, 11 special-teams tackles and a team-high five quarterback sacks.
That’s exactly how Hall is looking at the roster transitions, mainly shaped around his previous Riders defence.
“It’s not the changes, it’s the kind of changes,” said Hall. “Change is always going to be inevitable. How much of a change? That’s the big question.
“Some of the guys that we’re trying to provide for us defensively are players that are familiar with our system. You’re looking for a different type of player because your philosophy and your scheme has changed. What you do is you build that according to what you’re trying to do.” “Any time there is a major change, it’s going to filter all the way through and that’s what’s happened on the defensive side,” Hall said.
Hall and general manager Danny Maciocia have brought in linebacker Maurice Lloyd, safety Scott Gordon and now Jones from Saskatchewan. It gives them tremendous strength in altering that side of the ball. All will start and all will be leaders.
Jones is listed as a six-foot, 232-pound defensive end/linebacker, but he’ll be playing mostly as a rush end.
“I’m a little undersized at the position, but he has a lot of trust in me,” Jones said of Hall. “Coach Richie wanted me, and I’m ecstatic about coming. He knows what type of player I am.” The deal for Jones came a day after the Esks signed former Tulane quarterback Lester Ricard, making Joseph, of Millsaps College in Mississippi, expendable.
As for the second trade, Perry played a huge role in the Esks’ 29-21 East semifinal win over Winnipeg last season. He provided veteran leadership with a solid performance — a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the second quarter, a knockdown and five solo tackles in that game alone.
“Last season in Edmonton, I watched him put great effort into his play,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly, the receivers coach in Edmonton in 2008.
“Over the last three seasons Cam Wake, Gavin Walls, and Fred Perry have been at the top of the quarterback sacks category in the CFL. Wake is now playing in the NFL and the other two are playing in Blue and Gold.” Over his 96 career regular-season games, Perry has accumulated 57 quarterback sacks and 345 tackles.
Winnipeg will be Perry’s fifth stop in the league, including two stints with the Eskimos. But the same goes for Malveaux, who previously spent time in Saskatchewan, Calgary, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
Malveaux is coming off a season in which he had 63 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. His addition gives the Esks valued experience and versatility in the defensive secondary and likely puts returnees Jonte Buhl and Sam Okpro in jeopardy.
“He’s been an all-star and regardless of where he’s played, he’s performed at a high level. He brings that experience aspect, but also brings the versatility,” Hall said of Malveaux.
SHORT YARDAGE: Receiver Alan Turner is set to join the Eskimos, leaving the Indoor Football League’s Bloomington Extreme after Friday night’s game to join the CFL. Turner is a former teammate of Southern Illinois University running back Arkee Whitlock, who signed with the Esks earlier this off-season.
