ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
YORK UNIVERSITY – A new beginning in many ways for the Double Blue. Not only did Wednesday mark the first day of Rookie Camp (the unofficial start to Training Camp) but it also marked the Argos’ first full practice at York University.
Taking the York Stadium turf at 2:00 p.m., the coaches and personnel team finally had their chance to see all the rookies they spent the off-season acquiring, scouting and in some cases, drafting.
Among the rookies to take the field were all the Argos’ 2014 draft picks who the club secured to contract the night before in a release to the media. Among the 2014 draftees was RB Anthony Coombs out of Manitoba, who the club traded up in the first round to select. Taking snaps at running back and working on special teams, Coombs can officially say his first professional practice is in the books. Coombs looked quick in and out of cuts and did not look out of place.
.@acoombs1 is ready for his first #CFL practice… #Argos pic.twitter.com/ppCXih1bHL
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) May 28, 2014
While rookie camp acts as a first look for the draft picks, a few of the players have already had the chance to impress the coaching staff during the team’s Lakeland mini-camp held earlier in May.
Notable players included running backs Steve Slaton and Jeremiah Johnson who worked with the six quarterbacks in camp including veterans Ricky Ray, Trevor Harris, Mitchell Gale and Josh Portis, in addition to rookie Casey Pachall and CIS Jr. invite from Guelph, Jazz Lindsey. Slaton and Johnson spent time on handoffs, while also participating in installation, running back drills and skelly portions of practice.
Other standouts from Florida included receivers KJ Stroud and Robert Gill, defensive tackle Logan Harrell and defensive ends Kyle Moore and PaiPai Falemalu who all dawned Argos practice jerseys for the first time.
One of the biggest competitions in camp is sure to come from the defensive backs group as only Matt Black, Jermaine Gabriel and Jalil Carter remain from 2013’s secondary. DBs at rookie camp include Andre Martin, Kent Richardson, Kevin Thomas, Brandon Underwood, Matt Ware, Donald Washington, and Eric Black, draft pick and brother of safety Matt Black. In addition, Shane Herbert returns to camp after spending most of 2013 on the Argos injured list.
It should also be noted that a day previous to the Lakeland camp, the Argos held an open try-out for any football hopeful in the area to come and try to make their football dream a reality. Of the 80+ that came out, 8 were selected to become a part of the mini-camp in Lakeland and from there three still remain and have been brought to Toronto.
LB Nicholas Williams, DL Padric Scott and WR Andre Snipes-Booker have gone from play-in-day hopeful to signed contracts with the Double Blue showing
FIRST DAY HIGHLIGHTS
After getting out any early jitters they may have had, the rookies all hitting the field together for the first time, seemed to be getting a little more comfortable.
One-on-ones showcased a powerhouse matchup between Keith “KJ” Stroud and NFL veteran Marcus Ware. These two had the chance to go at one another back in Lakeland, and they had another chance today. Ware had Stroud’s number early on, make some impressive stops on the 6’3” receiver, but Stroud came back. After sharpening his routes, Stroud managed to hang on to a deep ball from QB Josh Portis, with Ware right on his back.
Linebacker Vincent Agnew held on to the day’s top defensive play, after making the only interception of the afternoon. During team drills, Agnew found himself perfectly placed for the pick as he quickly picked up a bobbled ball close to the line of scrimmage.