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06.06.2019 04:05
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The list of available players is very strong this off-season as the February. 10 signing period in CFL free agency approaches. Justin Hickman, Weston Dressler and Odell Willis are just a few of the players that will become available when the market opens on February 10 at Noon et, but even with these big name international players out there, the most coveted will be Canadian talent, especially those on the offensive line. Its just a matter of numbers. All the big talk about the Canadian offensive linemen being the big prizes is really about big money. explained former BC Lions coach Mike Benevides. These guys will command some of the biggest dollars. Its about supply and demand. With most teams starting four Canadian linemen, each team needs to have seven of them on their roster somewhere.” (approximately 70 league-wide) As the table below shows, the fullback and kicker positions have more Canadians by percentage. But they are far fewer in actual numbers than the offensive line: Canadian Starters Position Percentage Starting Fullback 9/9 - 100% Long Snapper 8/9 - 88% Kicker/Punter 9/13 - 69% Offensive Line 29/45 - 64% Wide Receiver 15/41 - 37% Defensive Line 8/36 - 22% Defensive Back 9/45 - 20% Running Back 1/9 - 11% Linebacker 2/27 - 7% Quarterback 0/9 - 0% *Based on CFL teams’ final depth charts from 2014 season A minimum of seven Canadians have to start on a CFL roster (offence and defence). And while there have been some changes, teams still look to put the majority of their Canadian players on the offensive line. So when there are established Canadian offensive linemen available as free agents, theyll be highly sought after and will command big dollars. The two things I like about this class of top free agent offensive linemen is that they have all played early in their career and had success and that theyre young, said TSN analyst and former coach Paul LaPolice. They could be the cornerstone of any organizations Canadian depth for a long time. (Ben) Heenan and (Brett) Jones have proven themselves as multi-year starters and have performed at a high level, added Benevides. Heenan has competed at offensive tackle, which is a unique skill and seen as a ratio changer – and hes won a Grey Cup.” Jones has also won a Cup and played at a level at which he was awarded the best offensive lineman of 2014. These men (as well as Tyler Holmes) have developed into and grown to be capable starters. Heres a look at some of the noteworthy Canadian offensive linemen who will be free agents at Noon et on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Ben Heenan – Right Tackle, Saskatchewan Heenan, 24, has been a starter in Saskatchewan ever since he was taken first overall in the 2012 CFL Draft. At 64 and 310 pounds, he hasnt looked out of place since his arrival. Heenan will only get better and will be in high demand come Feb. 10 (Winnipeg has already been mentioned as a team with keen interest). Boosting up that demand is the fact that Heenan is a Canadian playing a tackle spot - generally considered a harder position to fill than centre or guard. Riders GM Brendan Taman expects Heenan to test the free agent market and making things more complicated is the demand for Heenan from NFL teams. Benevides Game Notes on Heenan: - Has been a starting right OT, but long-term he’s best suited at guard - Quality consistent player, strong run blocker LaPolices Coaching Playbook - Proven ratio changer and performs well enough to be a Canadian tackle. - Will only get better out there and can be a core player of a team’s National players. Brett Jones – Centre, Calgary In just his second season, the Stampeders centre was named the CFLs most outstanding offensive lineman in 2014. In 2013, he was named the CFLs most outstanding rookie. And with two All-Star nods over those two seasons, there will be immense interest in him. For his part, Jones has made it known that he wants to make an NFL roster next season. He had tryouts with the Giants and Buccaneers in December and is expected to get workouts with other teams. Benevides Game Notes on Jones: - Very intelligent player who finds a way to perform, even though hes not optimum size. - Excellent in open space, a great competitor LaPolices Coaching Playbook - Quickly established himself as one of, if not the best centres in the league at a very young age. - Centre must have great intelligence as he often directs the other linemen and he has flourished in the role. - Physical and uses his hands well. Tyler Holmes – Guard, Toronto After joining the Argonauts at the end of the 2013 season, Holmes showed how effective he could be in his first full campaign as a starter. He played in all 18 games in 2014 and was named an East Division All-Star. Editor’s Note: Since publication, the Argonauts announced that Holmes re-signed with the team through the 2016 season. Benevides Game Notes on Holmes - Big-time college accolades, not a lot of snaps in our league yet - Hes a very physical athlete: strong, moves well, tough and capable at multiple positions - I believe he has the greatest upside, he would be the one Id want LaPolices Coaching Playbook - Love his aggressiveness, has the athletic ability to possibly go outside and play tackle. - He gets to the second level well and will strike the linebackers. - Has the feet to move outside with time Matthew ODonnell – Guard, Edmonton ODonnells size alone (611, 350 pounds) will make him a notable presence in free agency. After being drafted by Saskatchewan in 2011, ODonnell bounced around trying out for NBA teams and even made it to the Bengals practice roster. In Edmonton, he found his stride starting all 18 games for the Eskimos in 2013. He was named the teams Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman that year and he continued his strong play in 2014. His continued improvement will make him a wanted man should he jump into the free agent market. Editor’s Note: O’Donnell was released from his contract by the Eskimos with reports stating he’ll sign with the Bengals of the NFL. Benevides Game Notes on ODonnell - He has really developed and grown in the last couple of seasons into a quality player who plays with the kind of grit that is really important and unique. - He has position flexibility, he could play at OT to get through. LaPolices Coaching Playbook - Improved dramatically since his draft year in a number of areas. - Had the opportunity to play at a young age and it has helped him a lot. - Doing a better job of playing with a wide base and is improving at keeping his weight back in pass protection. - As his punch improves you will not find a longer set of arms in the CFL to hold off defensive lineman. Greg Wojt - Guard, Hamilton Wojt would be a veteran presence welcome on any CFL roster. The 2014 campaign was an injury-filled one for Wojt, as he appeared in only two games after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Prior to 2013, he started in 20 games for the Ticats and was named the teams Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. Hes played in 68 games in his CFL career and if hes healthy, hell garner a lot of outside interest. Benevides Game Notes on Wojt - Very good player, outstanding movement skills and pass sets - Intelligent, a multi-position guy, but slightly underweight and lacks optimum size - Has been injured recently LaPolices Coaching Playbook - Has performed well for the Ticats and continues to grow So while the skill positions get most of the glory and the headlines in the CFL, it certainly pays to be an offensive lineman, especially a homegrown one. The premium on Canadian O-Line talent also extends to the prospect pool, as they make up eight of the top 14 CFL prospects for 2015. And if these prospects are able to prove themselves early in their careers, theyre likely to cash in as well. A lot of offensive linemen are drafted and brought into camps but it does take time to be big enough, mature enough to be able to perform at the pro level, Benevides explains. These men are ready made, ready to start. Someone (another team) invested in growing and developing them and whichever team they go to can capitalize now. New England Patriots Jake Bailey Jersey . Vincent Lamar Carter is no longer the lean, athletic dynamo who dazzled Raptors fans with eye-popping dunks that posterized even the leagues best defenders. Stitched New England Patriots Jerseys . 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