Inside the CFL: Elks face no shortage of decisions as CFL season looms

By GRAHAM KELLY on May 19, 2022.

Note to readers: At this time of year I preview each Western Conference team before making my Fearless Football Forecast. I am assuming the CFL and CFLPA will come to their senses and sign a new agreement in the next few days.

With attendance hitting record lows, the season ticket holders in open revolt, losses over $1 million, the Edmonton board of directors blew up the operation, firing GM Brock Sunderland and coach Jaime Elizondo. International entrepreneur and sportsman Victor Cui took over, hiring former Edmonton head coach Chris Jones, who led the team to a Grey Cup championship in 2015. While the board used conventional TNT on the front office and sideline, Jones has taken an H-bomb to the roster.

Three starters return on defence, six on offence, none on special teams. Significant departures include slotback Greg Ellingson, nine-year veteran O-lineman Matt O’Donnell, DEs Kwaku Boateng and Mathieu Betts. All of 2021’s special team unit is gone.

Replacing Ellingson is last year’s leading CFL receiver Kenny Lawler. Former Lion/Bomber kicker Sergio Castillo replaces Sean Whyte and Hugh O’Neill. Ten-year veteran Tony Washington was acquired in a trade with Montreal and free agent and perennial all-star DB Ed Gainey is over from Saskatchewan. Clutch pass-catcher Emmanuel Arceneaux has traded a Lion’s mane for Elk horns. Former Roughie bad boy Duron Carter rejoins Coach Jones, much to the relief of Rider nation.

Chris Jones believes the secret of his success is competition.

When asked who his starting quarterback would be, he replied, “We don’t know who our quarterback is going to be. Everybody’s getting me to commit to a guy. Every position that we have is going to be a competition. Is Kenny Lawler going to have a good chance to make our team? Absolutely. But he has to show us he’s the best guy. Derel Walker same thing. It’s not just lip service. The reason why my teams have been good is because we’ve had great players, an outstanding coaching staff and I think the fact we’ve put so much emphasis on competing for one’s job on a daily basis. That allows us to be competitive at a high level on game day.”

If so much change wasn’t problem enough, Jones doesn’t have a proven quarterback. Of the six quarterbacks in camp, only Nick Arbuckle and Taylor Cornelus have any CFL experience, and even then very little. Jones isn’t sold on either of them. There are two Canadians in the mix, draft choice Tre Ford from Waterloo and Regina boy, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Mike Beaudry who starred at Idaho. If a solid quarterback emerges, with James Wilder in the backfield, and receivers Walker, Lawler, and Arceneaux, the Elks should score points. Defence needs a major overhaul but that is Jones’ specialty. The kicking game should be fine.

Last year the B.C. Lions were led by CFL great Mike Reilly. They finished fourth with a record of 5-9. With Reilly retired, the Leos plan to replace him with two Canadian quarterbacks, Victoria native Nathan Rourke who attended Ohio University and Michael O’Connor, third string with the Stampeders but who played for UBC and won the Vanier Cup. They have dressed for a grand total of 28 games. The last time a Canadian was a regular starting quarterback was Gerry Dattilio in the 1980s. Chief Lion tamer Rick Campbell is high on Rourke.

“Just his demeanor, his work ethic, the way other players respond to him. When I talk to the other players about Nathan being our quarterback, there’s zero doubt in their minds, they’re ready to go with him. I’m confident but the proof will be in the pudding, as they say. We’ve really got a good chunk of our receivers back, so there is continuity. He got an extraordinary amount of practice time last year because of Reilly’s injuries.”

Added general manager Neil McEvoy, “He’s a good football player. If you take away his nationality, you’d be saying what a great find for the B.C. Lions, they’ve found a great quarterback, a young kid with everything you want. And now, because he’s Canadian people are questioning everything. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do at a high level.”

Last year B.C. was second in the West in total offence. Again their receiving corps is solid with Bryan Burnham, Lucky Whitehead, Jevon Cottoy and Dominique Rhymes. Only Ottawa was worse defensively. They’ve brought in DBs Loachez Purifoy and Delvin Breaux plus D-linemen David Menard, Mathieu and Steve Richardson. Veteran Sean Whyte is the kicker.