Dave Campbell
CFL.ca
For a team that is trying to re-stock its Canadian talent, the 2011 CFL Canadian Draft is an important stepping stone for the Edmonton Eskimos. General manager Eric Tillman is well aware of the task at hand.
“It’s a critical step in building a successful franchise and with three picks in the first 13; we need to do a good job on Sunday,” said Tillman
Those three picks are the only picks the Eskimos have though. They will pick second, 10th and 13th overall.
The Esks only have three picks as during one week in mid-March, Tillman traded away a total of four 2011 draft picks. First, he traded a fifth and sixth rounder to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for long-snapper Taylor Ingils. Then he shipped a third and fifth round pick along with import kicker Justin Medlock to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for their second round pick (13th) and the rights to non-import defensive back Dallen Tollestrup.
This year’s class is considered top heavy with a consensus being reached about the first four to five picks. After that according to Tillman you see, “varying viewpoints” from about six to 25.
Ideally, Tillman would like his three selections to make an impact with the football right away. That stems from the fact the Eskimos simply don’t have a lot of Canadian depth at the moment. Tillman says you have to balance the short term goals with a long term view and that view may not include the CFL to start.
The B.C. Lions drafted offensive lineman Danny Watkins in first round of last year’s draft. He no doubt would make an impact today for Wally Buono’s squad. The problem is, Watkins will likely and hopefully for his sake enjoy a long career in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tillman can relate. As GM of the Ottawa Renegades, Tillman drafted defensive lineman Israel Idonije, kicker Shaun Suisham, and long-snapper J.P. Ladouceur. All three caught on with NFL teams and never played one snap in the CFL.
“It’s always a bit of a crapshoot,” Tillman says about drafting an underclassman. “My guess is we’ll (Eskimos) focus on seniors but if the right future is there, we’ll consider it, especially in the second round.”
On a team that needs depth on the offensive line and the receiving corps, there are some good possibilities with the number two pick. Six-foot-four, 295 pound Scott Mitchell from Rice is rated number one by the CFL’s scouting bureau. But he might be available for the Eskimos if St. FX linebacker Hector Muamba sneaks up to the first overall selection by the Bombers which according to some CFL pundits may very well happen. Calgary Dinos’ slotback Anthony Parker is ranked second by the scouting bureau, Muamba is third.
Eric Tillman says he has no plans about trading up to get the first overall selection from the Blue Bombers. Trading down or acquiring more picks on the other hand is something Tillman will consider.
“Absolutely, there is a possibility we could trade down and acquire an extra pick or two but if we did we would not be moving down significantly.”
The draft is not an area where the Eskimos have shined in recent years. The jury is still out on the likes of offensive lineman Gord Hinse and defensive lineman Dee Sterling. Last year’s first overall pick Brian Bulke is expected to challenge for a spot on the defensive line in training camp.
The best draft pick by the Eskimos in the last 10 years is running back/receiver/Mr. Everything Calvin McCarty who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. As far as kicker Warren Kean (2nd overall in 2007) and defensive lineman Adam Braidwood (1st overall in 2006) go, well, we’ll just move on.
The Eskimos are in a critical stage of the off-season; the draft is where you can see the progression of your Canadian talent really take off.
The Eskimos simply have to get their three selections right and those players have to make an impact right away. No duds, this team cannot afford anymore mistakes or face the wrath of a fan base that is sick and tired of seeing their football team flail in the wind.
One mistake Tillman didn’t make is telling this columnist which areas of the football he plans to address.
“How about if I answer that on Monday,” said a chuckling Tillman.
I guess the other CFL GMs can read – who knew!?