JONATHAN RUBINOFF
Argonauts.ca Staff
With training camp nearing, argonauts.ca will be preparing fans for the new season by breaking down the competition at each position. In the latest edition of Countdown to Training Camp, we take a look at the offensive and defensive line which seemed to be the position affected the least by personnel changes.
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TORONTO — It has been a long off-season for the Argos; filled with reflection, adjustments in philosophy and most of all, personnel changes. Almost every position has undergone a significant overhaul thus far.
DE Alex Buzbee
OL Michael Byrne
OL Joe Eppele
DL Mark Evans
OL Cedric Gagne-Marcoux
DE Ben Ishola
DE E.J. Kuale
OT Zach Pollari
DT Terrence Reese
DT Eric Taylor
OL Michael Warner
DE Jonathan Brown (Granted Free Agency)
DT Walter Curry (Deferred to NFL)
DE Claude Harriott (Released)
DT Adriano Belli
OL Shannon Boatman
DT Adrian Davis
OL Mark Dewit
OL Scott Evans
DE Ronald Flemons
DT Kevin Huntley
OG Jeff Keeping
DT Etienne Legare
OT Rob Murphy
OC Dominic Picard
OG Taylor Robertson
OL Chris Van Zeyl
If there were an exception, however, it may be in the trenches where, despite a number of new rookie acquisitions, the Argos lost only two members – both on the defensive line.
Both age and health were contributing factors in the decision to not re-sign the Argos’ unofficial emotional leader and All-Time Argo nominee, DE Jonathan Brown, and release DE Claude Harriott. The Jacksonville Jaguars came calling for the services of seldom-used DT Walter Curry.
Continuing on the defensive side of the ball, the most intriguing competition will be at the vacant defensive end spot patrolled by Brown since 2004 (and handed over to Harriott for the majority of last season).
Up the middle, the Argos may be set with veteran DT Adriano Belli back for another year and second-year menace (last year’s team-leader in sacks) Kevin Huntley towering over opposing offensive linemen.
On the other side of the ball, the Argos kept their unit in tact but made two very key additions.
First, they dipped into the free agent pool and inked Canadian offensive lineman Cedric Gagne-Marcoux before making a well-documented splash in the CFL Canadian Draft by selecting OL Joe Eppele in the first round (second overall).
Their opportunities to not only crack the final roster, but maybe snag a starting spot, may depend on the health of veterans OG Jeff Keeping and OT Brian Ramsay who missed the final three games of the 2009 season with injuries that occurred on the same play. Despite the setback, the two told argonauts.ca in April that they both expect to be healed and ready to go come training camp. Both have joined the rookies at Rookie Camp.
Regardless of who is on the offensive line this year, their size, strength and toughness will have to shine through as they try to improve on a year when they gave up more sacks than anyone could have predicted