Offensive Line
The hoggies are well represented in this year’s draft but figuring out where the top guys may land is a bit more complicated than people may think.
The Enigma
Many experts have the big Offensive Tackle out of Oklahoma, Josiah St. John, on their boards as the consensus #1 pick. St. John definitely passes the “eye test” standing at 6’6 and weighing in at a very evenly distributed 305 lbs. As far as physical characteristics go, the Sr. out of the Big 12 conference fits perfectly into the mould of a Chris Jones offensive linemen should Saskatchewan hold on to the top spot.
St. John’s athleticism is what stands out. He’s capable of getting low to dig out defensive linemen in the run game but moves really well for such a big guy which should equate to him being effective during slide protections and searching out 2nd and 3rd level defenders during screens.
The OU product dalso possesses a lot of explosive power in his hips and legs, which can be measured by the fact that he broad jumped almost 9ft at his pro day. His 8’10/8’11 range would have bested any Olineman at the CFL combine in March. Coaches can’t teach size and athleticism!
The question mark here is whether or not coaching staffs see enough of him on film to warrant taking him first overall. One problem that the Toronto, Ontario native has is that he didn’t see a lot of playing time at OU during his final year, and his best evaluation games may come from his JUCO days at Fresno City College.
St. John could have erased all doubt about the #1 spot by coming into the CFL Combine and dominating the 1on1 drills however he chose to sit-out and stand on all of his pro day results which also included a questionable 17 reps on the bench press test. Although the big tackle definitely needs to get stronger in prep for the pro game, there has been plenty of time between March and June to increase his overall strength so that may not be a huge factor in the end when it comes to measuring his outstanding potential.
At the end of the day, it’s Josiah St. Johns unbelievably high ceiling that may be the deciding factor in his draft position. There is no denying his prospects to be a full-time starter, however there may be a guy or two in his same position group that ends up making more sense to some teams. If Saskatchewan doesn’t take the big left tackle, he may be a good option for Montreal with the 2nd pick, or Toronto that holds the 4th. Maybe that is where a trade makes sense for the Green and White if they can work something favourable.
Ultimate Value
Now this is just my opinion based on all the resources I had in front of me, but I really like Michael Couture out of Simon Fraser. So much so that if I was a team in the first round I may be inclined to take Couture over Josiah St. John and maybe even Charles Vaillancourt out of Laval.
This kid is legit, and he went out and proved it at the CFL Combine putting up good numbers and separating himself during the 1on1 drills where he took reps at all 5 Oline spots.
While at SFU he’s started 37 games. In 2015 the Sr. earned his second consecutive Great Northwest Atlantic All-Conference honour as a Guard/Tackle, after being All-Conference as a Centre in 2014. All of this, mixed with a high football IQ and he’s still only 22 years old!
On film the Burnaby BC native is as technically sound as the come. He’s got great feet and uses his hands exceptionally well in both the run and pass game. What one will also notice about Couture is that he does a good job of keeping guys extended while he’s in pass pro. A lot of linemen will look to absorb pass rushers making them susceptible to counter-moves, but Couture does a decent job of keeping guys away and in front of him. He’s also got a nasty edge to him, which was a quality that jumped out on film when watching guys like Sukh Chung, and Sean McEwen, both 1st round picks a year ago. Couture looks to finish all his blocks and when an Olineman is technically sound and nasty, a defensive lineman knows that he has to bring it down in and down out if he wants to see any type of success.
Right now Couture’s listed at 292 lbs, but putting about 13 lbs on a 22 year old isn’t tough for any personal trainer that’s worth what he charges. It’s probably really nice NOT having to guess whether or not a guy can play in certain areas of need, if you’re a CFL coaching staff.
In terms of overall value, Couture may be at the top of your favourite team’s wish-list. I’m a big fan of what this guy has to offer.
The Best of Laval
Of the three high-character Offensive Linemen available out of the Laval program, Charles Vaillancourt is probably the best bet to contribute at the pro level this season. He’s another kid that some teams may have over St. John on their big board.
Even though Vaillancourt is a true Guard, he’s got the smarts to be able to bump down to Centre and take on all the call responsibilities that come with playing that spot. He’s a tough kid that doesn’t mind mixing it up, but will benefit from having a pro coach help him focus on initial hand placement. Right now Vaillancourt has the tendency to attack a target with his hands outside of a defenders chest plate. Currently he gets away with it because of his ability to drop his hips (to stall any momentum) and replace his leverage points, but once the Rouge Et Or grad consistently starts firing into the middle of an attacker, he’s going to be hard to move because of his other physical attributes. I keep thinking of a young Chris Best for some reason when I look at Vaillancourt. If that’s even remotely the case, I’m sure teams will take it.
Keep an Eye Out For
Brandon Revenberg out of Grand Valley State, the same school that produced perennial all-star Josh Bourke. Like Couture, Revenberg is capable of playing a number of spots on the field which may have teams looking at him as an early option to be their 5th Offensive Lineman. Not only is he strong, having put up 38 reps on his pro day but he’s really quick on his feet. GVSU like to let him pull out and be a lead blocker on stretch plays and counters which is a testament to what they thought about him athletically, but he’s another guy that always seemed like he was trying to finish his blocks, instead of position himself into getting the work done. With his type of strength Revenberg will probably look to improve his initial punch at the CFL level, and similar to Couture, he’ll probably be working hard in the weight room to put some extra bulk on in order to avoid nagging injuries at the CFL level.
People are starting to take notice of Revenberg. I’ve even started seeing his name pop on mock draft lists. That all bodes well for a guy that wasn’t being talked about a whole lot when the draft started appearing at the forefront of CFL circles.
Recievers
This is another DEEP group, even with Tevaun Smith taking his talents from Iowa to the Dallas Cowboys.
#HailTheStar
Furthermore, just like the prospects on the offensive line, there’s some real value throughout this potential-filled pool of athletes.
What’s not to like?
Mississauga Ontario native Juwan Brescacin found himself at the top of the receiver class when the latest mock draft by Justin Dunk was released, and when one takes a look at the film that’s out there on the 3-time varsity letter winner, one can definitely make the argument. I was actually surprised that an NFL team didn’t take a shot at Brescacin during the draft, but I’m sure that doesn’t bother any teams in the CFL. The 6’3 receiver is easily the most experienced receiver in the 2016 class, which hopefully translates into the being the most polished. At 227 lbs Brescacin already offers a fairly large target for a QB to hit, and his ability to catch footballs at their highest point make him an obvious target in the red zone and at the first down marker. To add to his arsenal, the Northern Illinois product is equipped with a set of catcher’s mitts for hands that allowed him to routinely make tough one-handed catches throughout his time in the MAC conference.
If one took his recorded pro day 40 time (4.62) and matched it up to the times ran by the receivers at the Canadian combine in March, Brescacin lands around the middle of the pack. Although he doesn’t offer the same top end speed as Doug Corby out of UBC who is another player that’s on a lot of watch-lists, coaches may point out the fact that the details of his game like route running ability, and football IQ are what gives him the nod over other top prospects at his position.
The real kicker is going to be what he’s worked on since his collegiate career at NIU came to an end. If he’s dedicated himself to bringing more explosive speed and strength to his game he’s going to be a tough cover if a team decide to throw him in the slot and let him use a waggle. He’s already got great body control, and the addition of the waggle may cancel out whatever this big receiver lacks in top end 40 time speed.
Blasz-ing Speed
For all intents and purposes, Brett Blaszko has every physical tool that he needs to be an all-star receiver in the CFL, regardless of what passport he carries. Anyone who runs a low 4.5 40 yard dash is going to open eyes, but when you’re 6’4 and have Andy Fantuz-size hands with a 34 inch vert, people do more than notice you, they pay attention.
Blaszko enjoyed a successful year with the Calgary Dinos in 2015 hauling in 10 TD catches while averaging about 94 yards worth of passing yards per contest. He’s deceptively smooth going in and out of his breaks and easily creates space between himself and a DB if they don’t get their hands on him within the first 5 yards of the route. Like Brescacin he is also able to make tough catches in traffic. I actually asked a couple of college coaches about the young man from Ancaster, Ontario and the one thing that they both said about him is that he needs to work hard on being “the guy” consistently.
Whether he has the ball or not, run or pass, Brett Blaszko had the ability to be the best player on the field at all times but showed the tendency to take a play off every now and then. To tell you the truth, that’s not an uncommon assessment to hear about a player, but the coaches in this case spoke about Blaszko as if it would be almost unfair to everyone else if this kid reached his true potential.
It’s clear that the UC Dino is an immensely talented player, and the sky may be the limit for Blaszko.
Whoever takes him is going to have to find a way to tap into that enormous potential. There’s plenty of good offensive coaches in the CFL who would be up to the task if it meant getting a guy that could produce immediate dividends.
Running Back
If I’m a CFL team, I’m going to anticipate Mercer Timmins coming back to the CFL. Now that’s not a shot in any way at the Calgary Dino RB, however as talented as Timmins is with the ball in his hands, he still has some time to go before he is a complete every down running back.
To begin with, the Mercer Timmins highlight tape is unreal. It actually reminded me of watching Anthony Coombs shred the Canada West Division in 2014 as part of the Manitoba Bisons program.
The first thing one will note pretty much immediately is that his game speed is a lot faster than the 4.7 40 yard dash time that he recorded at the CFL Combine. The UC Dino is able to shift gears quickly which gives him his cut and go speed that is only enhanced by good field vision. If Calgary was able to get Mercer Timmins in any kind of space during the 2015 campaign, he was almost guaranteed to turn it into a big play.
Timmins can also run a decent route, and he’s an absolute nightmare for a linebacker that doesn’t manage to get his hands on him in the early stages of his route. If the LB misses in that 5 yard window that they’ve got for contact, it is OVER.
One really gets the feeling that Timmins considers himself an every down back, and he needs to have that mentality. In order to become that every down back that Jerome Messam has been used as during his career, Timmins must invest himself in becoming a blocker. It shouldn’t be hard because he’s a tough player that welcomes phycial contact so all he has to do is become a student of the game and watch film on the guys who are already doing it. Any football team in any league across the world puts a premium on keeping the QB upright and the faster Timmins proves he can hold his own vs. a pass rushing LB or a Dlineman that has been left to him due to a slide pro call, the faster he’ll get a chance to prove is worth.
Mercer Timmins may to have to cut his teeth on special teams and bide his time as he waits for an opportunity, but there’s no denying this kids abilities. It’s all about seizing the opportunity when it comes, and getting better every day until it gets there.
