2005 CFL PREVIEWBurris
signing could have biggest impact: CFL on CBC panel
Will Henry Burris lead the Stampeders out
of the division basement?
(CP File Photo)
At 4-14-0, the Calgary Stampeders sported the worst
record in the Canadian Football League in 2004.
It was a campaign the club would just as soon forget, but with a new
season comes renewed optimism, and nobody is more hopeful than Stampeder
fans.
The CFL team's new ownership group made a series of front-office moves
after taking over from California businessman Michael Feterik in mid-January.
Former Edmonton Eskimos coach Tom Higgins replaces the fired Matt
Dunigan, one-time Stampeders coach Jim Barker returns as general manager
and head of player personnel, and defensive co-ordinator Denny Creehan
has been promoted to assistant coach.
Calgary also dove headfirst into the vast free-agency waters, inking
several key players: former Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Jeremaine
Copeland, quarterback Henry Burris (Saskatchewan), defensive back
Anthony Malbrough (Ottawa), and offensive lineman Alexandre Gauthier
(Ottawa).
The talent seems to be there, but will Calgary's busy off-season disrupt
team chemistry?
CBC Sports Online turned to the CFL on CBC panel of Darren
Flutie, Greg Frers and Sean Millington to find an answer and get their
thoughts on the various free-agent signings around the league.
"Are they [Stampeders] more improved because of the players they signed
or the re-alignment in the front office?" asked Frers, a one-time
safety in Calgary. "I think it's a combination. I think they will
be very competitive this year.
"Calgary has made strategic decisions but obviously their coaching
staff did their homework. They know where they needed to improve and
tried to address those concerns."
The biggest weakness was at quarterback.
Marcus Crandell, now with Saskatchewan, was last in the nine-team
league with 2,389 passing yards. Khari Jones, acquired from Winnipeg
last September, was thought to be the answer but he was released after
the Burris signing.
All three members of the panel agreed the signing of Burris, who stepped
in for injured starter Nealon Greene in Saskatchewan last year, could
have the most impact league-wide.
"He proved himself last year and showed he can be a big-time quarterback,"
Flutie said of Burris, who completed 59.2 per cent of his passes for
4,267 yards. "But that doesn't mean he can do it.
"It's always tough to change teams. How effective will [Burris] be?
Will the chemistry be OK?"
Copeland, who hauled in 191 passes for 2,911 yards and 24 touchdowns
in his last two seasons with Montreal, will be the Stampeders' biggest
threat at receiver. But is he the elite pass-catcher some have suggested?
"I'm not sold on Copeland," said Flutie. "He's not a Geroy Simon.
In Montreal he was part of a great offence with a great quarterback
(Anthony Calvillo)."
Edmonton, second in the West at 9-9 last season, answered the Burris
acquisition by inking Ricky Ray to a three-year contract.
Released by the New York Jets of the National Football League,
Ray led the Eskimos to a Grey Cup championship in 2003.
"I don't think he means as much to Edmonton as Burris does to Calgary,"
Millington said of Ray, who threw for 4,640 yards two years ago.
"Edmonton has already proven [with quarterback Jason Maas] it can
win without Ray. Calgary hasn't proven it can win without a big
QB."
Prior to Ray, the Eskimos focused on bolstering their defence, coming
to terms with linebacker Kelly Wiltshire (Montreal), defensive end
Tim Fleiszer (Ottawa) and defensive back Davis Sanchez (Montreal).
Flutie called the addition of Wiltshire a non-signing, saying there
are "five other guys just like him" on the Eskimos' defence.
He and Frers are equally unimpressed with Ottawa's performance in
the off-season, while Millington said the Renegades have, at best,
just held their own.
Plagued by off-field problems, Ottawa might find itself struggling
on the field in 2005. They lost 10 of their final 11 games last
season to finish 5-13-0.
Former Eskimos receiver Markus Howell is the Renegades' most notable
newcomer, while Millington gave a thumbs up to the signing of defensive
tackle Cameron Legault, an Ottawa native.
"Over the years he's been an underrated player," said Millington.
"He always gives 100 per cent and remained under the radar playing
behind Tyrone Williams [in British Columbia]."
The Lions lured offensive lineman Sherko Haji-Rasouli and defensive
back Barron Miles from Montreal. They also signed eight-year CFL
veteran Moe Elewonibi (Winnipeg), who played in B.C. from 1997 to
1999 before joining the Blue Bombers.
Both Frers and Millington deemed receiver Chris Brazzell (off to
Hamilton) the worst off-season signing.
The six-foot-two-inch, 200-pound wideout caught 49 passes for 906
yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games for B.C. last season.
"He's great at vertical [pass] routes but he can't catch the hard
balls over the middle and take the hits," said Frers.
"It's going to be a track meet [in Hamilton]. Just get [the defence]
back 15 yards and force them to throw underneath the coverage."
The panel, though, agreed the Ticats did well in signing defensive
ends Roger Dunbrack (Ottawa) and James Cotton, a former Stampeder.
Montreal, the reigning Eastern champion, has taken the biggest hit
in free agency.
General manager Jim Popp was forced to find a way to fill the void
left by Copeland, Miles, Haji-Rasouli, Sanchez and 2004 CFL rookie
of the year finalist Almondo Curry. The latter has secured a contract
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.
Free-agent corners Darrel Crutchfield (Edmonton) and Serge Sejour
(Ottawa) were brought aboard to replace Miles and Sanchez.
"It's not like Montreal is hurting," said Millington. "There are
still a lot of weapons there like Calvillo, [slotback Ben] Cahoon
and [wide receiver Kwame] Cavil."
Saskatchewan and Winnipeg have made little impact in the free market,
while the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts re-signed
seven key members of their defence.
