ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
OAKVILLE – Veteran players finally had the chance to strap on the pads for the first time in 2013, as today marked the day they hit the field and showed the rookies what CFL football is all about. In the first day of training camp, coaches had their initial chance to see the players who, in 26 days, could take the field as part of the Argos opening day roster.
The day started off with a bang as GM Jim Barker announced that 2012 defensive captain, S Jordan Younger, CFL All-Star CB Pat Watkins, and CB Pacino Horne will not be available to the team for an uncertain amount of time. Almost immediately all eyes turned to the secondary, as not a single defensive back on the field has started a regular season CFL game besides cornerback Jalil Carter with four.
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Related: Training Camp |
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VIDEO: Vets Glad To Be Back on Day 1 VIDEO: Photo Day 2013 Tomfoolery TRANSACTIONS – June 2, 2013 |
Third round draft pick in the 2011 CFL Draft, Djems Kouame had himself an impressive first day playing defensive back. Stop rifling through his bio on argonauts.ca, the Boatmen did indeed draft him as a receiver but Djems was converted to the other side of the ball midway through last season.
Newcomers DB Anatareis Bryan (# 27) and DB Brent Vinson (# 12) stepped up admirably in the void left by the three defensive starters from 2012, covering the likes of WR Spencer Watt, SB Andre Durie, & 2012 CFL MOP SB Chad Owens.
The secondary was not the only part of the Argos defence that showed bright spots during the first practice of 2013. Last year’s ninth overall pick in the CFL Draft, DL Cleyon Laing and newly acquired CFL All-Star DT Khalif Mitchell showed great quickness and strength off the line during one-on-one’s.
On the other side of the ball, OT Chris Van Zeyl was strong during the one-on-one component, while newcomer OT SirVincent Rogers used his towering frame to stall most defensive end’s attempts to get to the quarterback.
The offence made it look like it was Week 6 in the CFL schedule. Right off the hop, QB Ricky Ray didn’t waste any time trying to get back in the groove as his first two passes during team drills were precise long bombs to returning SB Jason Barnes. Barnes ended 2012 on a high note by leading the team in reception yards in the 100th Grey Cup Championship (82).
Last year’s backup RB Gerald Riggs impressed those in the stands today as his off-season work paid dividends immediately by blowing through the line on multiple occasions.
New faces on offence also had moments of glory. Rookie WR Juaquin Iglesias looked as if he had been catching Ricky Ray’s passes for 10 years while getting up for a ball over the middle.
Also, remember the defensive lineman the Argos drafted 22nd overall in the 2011 draft, Alexander Robinson? Yeah, he was donning a blue jersey and lining up in the fullback spot during practice; who better to learn that position from than long-time Argos RB Jeff Johnson. He showed that he had been working on his receiving skills and was agile during one-on-one drills against the linebackers.
PLAY OF THE DAY
During team drills, newcomer QB Josh Portis threw a perfectly tight spiral into tight double coverage, but WR Reggie Williams made sure his quarterback’s efforts were not hopeless. He rose above the two defenders and rolled into the endzone. The newcomer Williams earned a cheer from veterans and rookies alike for the effort.