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Lots of new faces on the Eskimo defence
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
Edmonton Eskimos fans will see massive change, particularly in its defence, when the Canadian Football League club kicks off its season Thursday at home against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Head coach Richie Hall’s defence will feature plenty of new faces, especially in Week 1 if injured defensive backs Lenny Williams and Bradley Robinson can’t play, and there’s a good chance that will happen.
Gone from the 2008 unit that dressed for the East Conference final (where the Esks crossed over from the West Division) in Montreal are: Siddeeq Shabazz, Kenny Onatolu, Shannon Garrett, Fred Perry, Agustin Barrenechea, Brandon Guillory, Jordan Younger and Tyler Clutts.
The only remaining players from that corps are Williams, Robinson, Jason Goss, Jonte Buhl, Eric Taylor, Dario Romero, Tim St. Pierre and Tristan Jackson, with the last two seeing spot duty in ’08.
That’s massive alteration, but no need for concern, says Hall.
“It’s not worrisome,” said Hall, explaining any time you change the head coach, especially with an outsider, it brings on an evolution of sorts.
“My background is defence and there is going to be some influence there. To me that’s a trademark wherever you go, there’s always one side of the ball versus the other that might have an impact and, for us, it was defensively.
“They had a very good football team here last year, and coming in this year we’re still going to have a very good team, only with some changes and wrinkles and they’ll be on the defensive side.”
Of course, the Esks haven’t exactly brought in chopped liver as replacements. Among the veteran recruits are Maurice Lloyd, Scott Gordon, Kai Ellis, Kitwana Jones, Kelly Malveaux and Jason Nugent, plus some wonderful newcomers, including Mark Restelli, Tumbo Abanikanda, Rod Davis and Greg Peach, who all survived the final cuts on Thursday that brings the Esks roster down to 46.
Malveaux and Ellis have been outstanding in the pre-season. But Peach, Restelli, Davis and Abanikanda are the future.
“Heading into 2009, we expect to have a competitive team, one that I think will be a force to be reckoned with week-in and week-out and, hopefully, this is an edition we can keep together for a number of years,” said Eskimos general manager and director of football operations Danny Maciocia.
Receivers Efrem Hill and Jason Barnes should provide a spark as well as running back Arkee Whitlock.
“I think we have a lot of speed. I think we have a lot of skill guys, impact players who can make big plays, offensively and defensively,” said Hall. “The quicker we can come together as a team, I think the more –I wouldn’t say fearful, that other teams will have of us–teams will be concerned.”
POINT AFTER: The Eskimos confirmed Thursday that they put offensive lineman Garrick Jones on the nine-game injured list. Centre John Comiskey is expected to miss the start of the season, as well as Robinson.
