Riders prepare for expanded CFL Combine in Edmonton
The Canadian Football League’s (CFL) National Combine will take place from March 22-26, 2023 at the Commonwealth Stadium Field House in Edmonton, Alta.
Approximately 100 global and national prospects will participate in the new expanded format that will feature practices run by CFL coaches, that includes newly hired Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterbacks coach, Kelly Jeffrey.
This combine was preceded by the CFL Invitational Combine that took place earlier this month. Both have now replaced the three regional combines the league held in previous years. It has also expanded to being a five-day event this year.
“It’s an interesting thing. It’s kind of a combination of the combine and the Senior Bowl that you would see in the states. When we talked about it, we kind of talked about [how] we were doing too many regional combines, how should we change it?” explained Jeremy O’Day, Saskatchewan Roughriders GM and vice president of football operations.
“They’re going against, you know, the best competition in the draft. But I think what’s nice about it is that they have to learn a little bit of concepts and plays. See how they get coached and see how they compete,” he added.
“I think it’s a nice change up. It allows the coaches to do the actual drills that they would do with their guys and actually use the terminology they would use. This gives us a little more realistic view of how the guy is going to want to take the coaching and is he capable of doing the drills,” said Craig Dickenson, Roughriders head coach.
The event helps teams scout players that are eligible for the 2023 CFL Draft in May but O’Day admitted the coaching staff does not rely entirely on the combine results.
“They can improve or lower their stock rates. They move up or down, they really do, and the grades change from watching the film and then going through the combine. They key is not to get too carried away or put too much weight on it, unless it’s a really bad time or their strength isn’t there,” said O’Day.
However, O’Day remained tight lipped over what the Roughriders will be looking for ahead of the draft.
“I think our approach is something we’re probably going to keep to ourselves before we get into the draft. [However], I feel like there’s some good depth in special teams and defensive line,” he said.
Download the CTV News app to get local alerts sent to your device
“We’re really early in the process here of evaluating all the players with our coaching staff and personnel department just evaluating guys on tape. This is obviously a big part of coming to the combine and seeing their measurable. Our strategy [at the draft] usually is to try and take the best available, but obviously if you’re strong in that position then you may make a concession to take different players. We haven’t determined if we’re going offence or defence because we’re just so early in the process.”
However, with the offensive line struggles the Roughriders had last season, the importance of finding up and coming Canadian talent for the o-line was addressed.
“I think it’s important for everyone but I think in the draft’s past offensive linemen, they’re a big makeup of your roster. Most teams are going to play with three [Canadians], some play with four. So just the fact you have to have that many starters and have to have backups. I think there’s a huge emphasis on offensive linemen in the draft. It’s a huge part of the success or not the success of teams and a big part of our Canadian ratio,” said O’Day.
The first two days of the combine will feature medical checks, measurements, and athletic testing. The final three days will be for on-field practice.
“It’s certainly going to be fun to watch the coaches coach and going to be fun to see how these players take the coaching. We’re going to be able to evaluate not only physically but how they are mentally. Do they appear like they can win quickly, the scheme and techniques that the CFL coaches are teaching?” asked Dickenson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10,000 Zantac lawsuits in U.S.: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.