February 23, 2012
Dave Campbell
ESKS.com
Eric Tillman. Yes, the sound of that name has made some Eskimo fans shake their heads, shake their fists, and groan in agony. Tillman is the man, of course, who traded away quarterback Ricky Ray and some fans still can’t get past that.
Eskimo fans get used to the players they’re familiar with and when they leave, panic sets in. Gone are Ray and 1,000-yard running back Jerome Messam who signed a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. Following the free agency deadline, linebackers Rod Davis and Mark Restelli, along with defensive lineman Greg Peach left for other teams.
Tillman was able to sign four players via free agency. He picked up two receivers in Cary Koch and Greg Carr and signed promising defensive line Don Oramasionwu and punter Burke Dales. Before free agency officially kicked in, the Eskimos signed offensive lineman Simeon Rottier and defensive lineman Rashad Jeanty.
But at Tillman’s free agency news conference, he handled more questions about the players who no longer were members of the Eskimos. Tillman stood by his past record.
“It’s amazing how people just want to overlook history,” Tillman said. “If you want me to go back to Saskatchewan, prior to the 2007 season we lost Kenton Keith, Jamal Richardson, Fred Childress and Charley Thomas on offense. On defense, we lost Terrell Jurineack, Nate Davis, Omarr Morgan and Davin Bush. All starters. At the end of the season we were hoisting the Grey Cup. The next year we lost Reggie Hunt, Fred Perry and Kerry Joseph and we won 12 games.
One line Tillman loves to use is: “Hate me in the off-season, love me in November.” He doesn’t fear change. He’s a riverboat gambler and he loves going all-in.
“We’re in a business of change and in a cap era,” Tillman explained. “This is not the eighties, and this is not the same period where free agency didn’t have an impact. When this organization had the glory years, and there were so many people that contributed to it, but you could continue to keep everybody here because you had tremendous fan support and you had extra resources. And now, we play on a level playing field. We’re no different now than the National Hockey League, we’re no different than the National Football League; or any other professional sport that it’s a change business. We’re not afraid of change. We expect to be successful.”
The organization should believe they’ll be successful; one player doesn’t make a team successful. The task will likely be harder though without Ray, Messam, Davis and Peach in the mix. Steven Jyles is the number one quarterback heading into training camp. He is going to need a lot of help if this team is going to win games. What Tillman has done so far is surround Jyles with some familiar pieces. Last month, he re-signed star slotback Fred Stamps. Jyles and Stamps worked together in Edmonton back in the 2007 season. Tillman signed Greg Carr. He, along with slotback Adarius Bowman, played with Jyles in the 2010 season. Jyles knows Offensive Coordinator Marcus Crandell’s offense from back in the Saskatchewan days. In 2010, Jyles actually had the second best touchdown-to-interception ratio (19-7) in the CFL, and a 100.4 quarterback rating.
What’s lacking though in Jyles’ resume is wins. That’s why the Eskimos are trying to put pieces around him to be successful. The receiving corps will look different with Jason Barnes and Jason Armstead no longer in the fold. Greg Carr, at 6’6, is simply a matchup problem for opposing corners. Cary Koch has excellent hands, excellent route discipline and isn’t afraid to make the tough catches. Hugh Charles will have to show consistency in the run game. Simeon Rottier will likely anchor the right tackle spot.
On defense, the signing of Rashad Jeanty made Greg Peach expendable. Rod Davis wanted too much money for Tillman’s liking. Mark Restelli didn’t impress the current coaching staff enough for him to stay. The club feels Don Oramasionwu is a star in the making. When there was an injury to the Bombers D-line, Donny O filled in well.
Burke Dales gives the coaching staff the flexibility to keep the kicking position Canadian with either Derek Schiavone or Grant Shaw, or possibly both.
Tillman didn’t go after Andy Fantuz; he tried hard for offensive lineman Brenden Labatte. Both wanted too much money for what Tilllman was willing to spend.
Change can be hard to accept, but Tillman isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions regarding age and salary. The Eskimos didn’t make the biggest splashes in free agency, but Tillman believes in more subtle, depth-type moves.
It makes fans nervous when the bigger names are going out rather than coming in.
June can’t come fast enough.
NOTES: The Eskimos signed non-import wide receiver Matt Carter who spent the last three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Carter recorded 346 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns. The Eskimos traded import punter Eric Wilbur to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a conditional sixth round pick in 2013 Canadian College Draft.