Although
the loss of Tyler Ebell will definitely take its toll on the running back
rotation, RB #34 Dominic Dorsey and RB #44 Andre Durie seem to be
picking up the pieces.
Dorsey went untouched for what would have been a 60 + yard td run.
He sprinted to the right and broke through for the big gain. Not to be outdone,
Durie exploded through a hole and broke away later in practice.
The
inside run appeared to be a success in the morning as the timing of the zone
blocking schemes is becoming more consistent.
WR #9 Andre Talbot hauled in a laser beam from #17 Michael Bishop. The pass went through an
out-stretched defender’s hands and carefully into Talbot’s waiting palms.
WR #5 Arland Bruce III had the catch of the afternoon.
Bruce adjusted phenomenally well on an errant #4 Kerry Joseph pass. Bruce,
who’s body was going one way, came to a stop, re-adjusted, stuck out his hand
and then put his other hand on the ball while falling to the ground.
Rookie
WR #15 Tyler Scott showed great improvement and confidence in his game,
especially in live dirlls. He demonstrated impressive side-line catches –
almost like he had been in the league for years.
Overall,
the receivers and quarterbacks showed great chemistry, as if they were on the
same brain wavelengths. The constantly connected, even on broken protection
scramble plays. Onlookers could tell that there is chemistry brewing between
the offence. They have opened lines of communication before, during, and after
each play.
During a lull in the play, #97 Jonathan Brown strutted over
to #78 Adriano Belli and put
his hand on the nose tackle’s head – then rubbed his bald spot. Both men had a
hearty laugh and continued to playfully tease one another.
Veteran linebacker #50 Mike O’Shea made a great read on a
10-yard #4 Kerry Joseph out. O’Shea jumped in front of the ball, only to
watch it go off his hands, off his pads and fall onto the ground. His Canadian
counterpart LB #35 Kevin Eiben had an interception later in practice.
CB
#3 Khalil Carter and FS #21 Orlondo Steinauer were among those
who were most verbal in the afternoon; from the sidelines and on the field.
It
was officially reported that RB #24 Tyler Ebell has ruptured his left
achilles tendon and will miss most, if not all, of the regular season. Ebell
says he plans to remain in Toronto
during his rehabilitation to keep his head in the game and cheer on his
teammates. Returning training camp player DB #27 Jason Shivers, who
suffered a ruptured a achilles tendon during the Argos’ first pre-season
game in 2007 and remained in Toronto the entire season for the same reasons,
offered Ebell some advice as well as hope. Shivers made a strong recovery and
re-signed with the club in the off-season. He has played well throughout camp.
The
Argos invited more than 400 school children to
watch practice today as part of Tim Hortons Camp with the Argos. The kids watched carefully from the
sidelines, anxious to meet some of the players. When LB #2 Michael Fletcher was introduced, shrills of excitement could be heard clearly on the opposite
sideline.
NOTES
Last
year’s OUA lineman of the year #58 Scott Evans participated in practice
for the second consecutive day after being sidelined with an injury for several
days.
The
Argos released
import WR #87 Cedric Bonner and non-import RB #79 Ugonna Ihekwoaba prior to morning practice.
The
Argos traded 2006 second round CFL draft pick CB
#25 Leron Mitchell to Saskatchewan
in exchange for import RB Jamal Robertson. Robertson will wear #25.
2008
CFL Draft pick Mike Bradwell, who has been injured for most of camp with
a bad hamstring, will swap numbers tomorrow exchanging #11 for #88 – for some
it will be reminiscent of another long time Canadian Argos receiver, who was
also a high draft pick and also wore #88 – Paul Masotti.
#13
K/P Mike Vanderjagt was visited by his mother at practice. She surprised
many with her knowledge and understanding of the game.