Esks-Argos trade

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Esks send import DT, Taylor and a conditional draft pick to Argos for NI receivers Talbot and Smith.

Help me out with a scouting report Ravi.  I figure the big question is how Talbot comes  back from some nasty injuries last year, while Smith is a bit of an unknown still.

In Taylor the Argos are getting a solid if unspectacular guy.  At 29, he's not yet on the downside of his career and should be able to step in and compete to fill the hole.  Good against the run, but was part of an Eskimo D-line that wasn't overly effective in rushing the passer.  Had some injury troubles in his time in Edmonton but was pretty good through the first half of 2009 in a defence that was struggling.

Edmonton needed to upgrade the D-line and Maciocia mentioned that they've signed two DTs with NFL experience, one of whom they're pretty excited about.  I'm not entirely sure about adding two NI receivers to a group that already had 4 (Peterson, Nowacki and Challenger on active roster and Wuthrich on PR), but they must believe that Talbot in particular can step in and play a role.

One element that hasn't really come to light yet is the magnitude of the draft pick potentially, and what the conditional nature of it is.  I'd guess the latter is about whether Talbot is able to come back off injury successfully.

[OV Bandit]

 Bit of a gamble for the Esks - IF Talbot is unable to return to form after injury / not playing for basically a whole season;  if he does get it back together - the Esks got a quality starting CFL receiver - pretty sure-handed but also makes some difficult catches, can get some YAC yards and can get open deep some.  Smith was a throw-in but still maybe has some potential as a decent CFL receiver.  Talbot is IMO a huge upgrade over Nowacki if the Esks feel they must reserve one of the receiver spots for an NI and he might vie for best all-around receiver on the team.

  Rita says the Argos needed to replace Curry who left for another NFL shot? - the guy was an average at best CFL DT who wasn't even a full-time starter for the Argos last year (Huntley emerged as a far better DT);  so, maybe the Argos added a decent upgrade at DT;  and i think this may mean Belli won't be a full-time starter at DT anymore and also probably suggests that the current Argo "thinkers" don't think very much of last year's 1st rounder Etienne Legare as a CFL DT who can play reguarly on D.  The Argos have some other decent young NI receiver prospects - Scott, Bradwell, Cetoute if he re-signs - and might look to draft another receiver or two with the whack of draft picks they have (Cisco (Regina) or Bishop (Laurier) please) - so maybe they don't need Talbot or Smith.  My guess is that the Rita/Barker regime will show the pre-determined CFL thinking formula of the Stamps last season with regards to NIs and the roster:  only 7 need apply for real playing time and the formula should be - 6 NIs on offence (3 or 4 O-Linemen + 1 or 2 receivers) + one NI on defence (probably Eiben still?)

  Not sure i like the Argos trading away their, IMO, best all-round receiver they have on an iffy recveiving corps, but maybe Taylor comes in and has a monster full-season for the Argos D - would make it a nice deal maybe.  But I'm pretty leery of anything that Rita, Mohns + Barker now will do.  Not anticipating a good Argo season with same-ole CFL types in charge of an already weak & floundering good ship Argo, but ya never know i guess.


 And the Esks acquire two pretty decent vet players - Glatt & Talbot - on the same day - IF these 2 guys can return to their previous CFL best form - might be 2 excellent pick-ups if they can find roles for them - 2 players who have started on GC winning teams - experience and leadership alone can be a good thing.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

One of the concerns I have has to do with the age of the receivers.  Talbot (32 in May) becomes the elder statesman of the group along with Peterson (32 in Sept) and both are coming off relatively troubling injuries last year - Peterson played through a nagging achilles injury all season.  Nowacki (29), Challenger (28 in May), Smith (27) and Wuthrich (22 in June) round out the roster.  There will be only so many roster spots to go around with the presence of Stamps, Mann and possibly Kelly Campbell in the Esks receiving corps, and how the Esks handle these personnel decisions will tell a lot about whether they're building to compete this year or looking a little more forward.

As much of a leadership role as Nowacki takes on, and as sure-handed as he has been, I find it difficult to believe that they keep more than 3 NI receivers on the active roster this year.  If so, it makes sense that you'd hang onto Challenger, Smith or Wuthrich as guys that may still have some development left.

[Esk Reporter]

As much of a leadership role as Nowacki takes on, and as sure-handed as he has been, I find it difficult to believe that they keep more than 3 NI receivers on the active roster this year.  If so, it makes sense that you'd hang onto Challenger, Smith or Wuthrich as guys that may still have some development left.

With Nowacki being only one year older and having contributed much more to the team over his career, I would suggest that Challenger is on the bubble this year.  He needs to raise the level of his game up if he is going to stick around.  It should make for an interesting training camp...

[Colin Unger]

As much of a leadership role as Nowacki takes on, and as sure-handed as he has been, I find it difficult to believe that they keep more than 3 NI receivers on the active roster this year.  If so, it makes sense that you'd hang onto Challenger, Smith or Wuthrich as guys that may still have some development left.

With Nowacki being only one year older and having contributed much more to the team over his career, I would suggest that Challenger is on the bubble this year.  He needs to raise the level of his game up if he is going to stick around.  It should make for an interesting training camp...

What's the deal with Kelly Campbell?  DIdn't he have a falling out with the Eskimos?

[OV Bandit]

  Sure be nice for the Esks to be able to get Campbell back on the team - him, Stamps, Petersen, Talbot and Mann (if he can improve his hands) might make a top CFL receiving corps. Don't know about Challenger though - very little CFL playing time to go by so far; pretty decent receiver in DI US college ball, but doesn't necessarily translate to the pro/CFL game; if he can't beat out Nowacki for a spot ... Brad Smith might be able to - another top notch receiver in college ball who hasn't got much CFL playing time yet to go by.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

What's the deal with Kelly Campbell?  DIdn't he have a falling out with the Eskimos?

I have it on impeccable authority, that Campbell signed a contract with the Esks last fall after his eventual release from the Buccaneers and it was filed with the CFL.  It is more than a 1+1 contract, meaning that he is not entering his option year this year and will remain Eskimo property.

He did have a change in heart about coming north last fall after signing the contract, and when I got the information above, the organization didn't know where his head was at regarding the 2010 season.  If he wants to continue to play pro football though, it will either be for the Eskimos or a team that trades for his rights.

[go riders]

  Sure be nice for the Esks to be able to get Campbell back on the team - him, Stamps, Petersen, Talbot and Mann (if he can improve his hands) might make a top CFL receiving corps. Don't know about Challenger though - very little CFL playing time to go by so far; pretty decent receiver in DI US college ball, but doesn't necessarily translate to the pro/CFL game; if he can't beat out Nowacki for a spot ... Brad Smith might be able to - another top notch receiver in college ball who hasn't got much CFL playing time yet to go by.

It looks like Mann, is the *ahem* odd-man out.

http://cfl.ca/article/ticats-get-their-mann-thompson-to-esks

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has acquired import wide receiver Maurice Mann from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for import defensive back Chris Thompson.

[OV Bandit]

  Sure be nice for the Esks to be able to get Campbell back on the team - him, Stamps, Petersen, Talbot and Mann (if he can improve his hands) might make a top CFL receiving corps. Don't know about Challenger though - very little CFL playing time to go by so far; pretty decent receiver in DI US college ball, but doesn't necessarily translate to the pro/CFL game; if he can't beat out Nowacki for a spot ... Brad Smith might be able to - another top notch receiver in college ball who hasn't got much CFL playing time yet to go by.

It looks like Mann, is the *ahem* odd-man out.








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  If they had to "drop" one name from that potential 5 pack i mentioned it IMO was best it was Mann - dropped way too many passes last year - flashed plenty of skills, but i think i'd be hard pressed to name any CFL receiver who didn't flash at least some skills playing a full season in a pass-happy offence that got a ton of balls thrown his way.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

It looks like Mann, is the *ahem* odd-man out.

http://cfl.ca/article/ticats-get-their-mann-thompson-to-esks

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has acquired import wide receiver Maurice Mann from the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for import defensive back Chris Thompson.

I like this trade.  It is tough to part with a receiver with the skillset and size of Mann, but I think it has the potential to be a real win-win.

From the Hamilton perspective, they're gaining a guy that will fit well with Bruce, both in terms of mentality and in drawing off some coverage.  That was a role a lot of people thought that Rodriguez would step into, but he didn't progress as much as hoped last year.  In a SB league, Mann has shown the ability to be productive on the outside.  I like the idea of Bruce, Bauman, Mann and Rodriguez.  With an already productive running game, there is a lot to like with the Ticat offence.  I do, however, believe that they're goint to feel the loss of Thomson more than Edmonton will feel the loss of Mann, as they're not trading from a particular area of strength the way I see it.  There will be pressure to replace a premier cover guy.

From the Esks perspective, they add a guy that they know, having recruited him to the CFL.  This bodes well in terms of fit and knowing how he'll likely work within the culture.  Conversely, Mann was never a perfect match in this regard.  His Twitter account after the trade reflected that at least now he'll get to do his TD dances.  The Esks also get a guy with the ability to play inside or outside and gives them flexibility.  With both Goss and Thomson able to play both HB and CB, they are better equipped to adjust to injuries.  With Randee Drew, Kelly Malveaux and Willie Amos, they have the makings of a strong secondary with Gordon and Richardson at S.

Later in the day, the Esks colour guy, Dave Campbell, relayed that Kelly Campbell is back on the Esks radar according to Maciocia.  While he's under contract with the Esks, there hadn't been a lot of communication since he changed his mind about reporting late last season.  I have to believe that going public with any comments about Campbell suggests that the two parties are talking productively.  A receiving corps of Stamps, Campbell, Peterson and Talbot isn't too shabby, presuming that KP and Talbot can bounce back from injury... something that Campbell would also need to show.  I expect that Campbell's situation likely played a role in the trade... both the ability to do the deal, and perhaps also the necessity to do the deal.

[Ravi Ramkissoonsingh]

Esks send import DT, Taylor and a conditional draft pick to Argos for NI receivers Talbot and Smith.

Help me out with a scouting report Ravi.  I figure the big question is how Talbot comes  back from some nasty injuries last year, while Smith is a bit of an unknown still.

If Talbot can regain his form from 2008, he will be a nice addition to the Eskimos.  Smith might be a bit of a longshot to make the team.  He is entering his fourth CFL season but I didn't see a lot out of him last season to get excited about.  He has had two stints with the Argos to go along with one with the Als (he is Larry Smith's son btw).