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TheLionKing
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CFL.ca Staff

HAMILTON – With training camps opening in less than a week, CFL.ca is taking a look at the buzz surrounding each team as it heads into the 2015 campaign.


Key Roster Changes



Additions:
LB Byron Archambault
OL Ryan Bomben
LB Jonathan Langa
DB Johnny Sears Jr.
WR Spencer Watt


Subtractions:
DB Delvin Breaux
OL Marc Dile
WR Greg Ellingson
WR Samuel Giguere
OL Greg Wojt




Important Dates



June 26 at Calgary
The Ticats look to avenge their Grey Cup loss as they visit the Stamps to open the season.

Sept. 7 vs. Toronto
Hamilton hosts the archrival Argos in the always-heated Labour Day Classic.

Nov. 1 vs. Ottawa
Chris Williams finally returns to Hamilton in a game that could hold playoff implications.




Key Statistic



1,968


The number of combined yards for Brandon Banks last year, tops in the CFL. Along with leading the league in punt return yards, he also finished third in kick return yards to go along with five receiving touchdowns.


If Banks can improve on his production this season he will be a serious x-factor for Hamilton.


The Ticats ended last season with a heartbreaking loss in the Grey Cup, a feeling all too familiar to them. Despite that, they will look on improving last year’s 9-9 record even though it was good enough to win them the East Division. Quarterback Zach Collaros should build on the positive strides he made in his first full season as a starter, while getting offensive lineman Ryan Bomben in exchange for their first round pick will help the Ticats' offence take another step forward.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

How will the team recover from its second Grey Cup loss in a row?

Losing two Grey Cups in a row can have a certain impact on team morale, especially the way the Ticats lost in the dying seconds of last year's matchup with the Stampeders. The Ticats have vowed to channel the off-season's energy in a positive way, so expect the team to bring plenty of urgency and intensity to training camp this year.

Young linebackers looking to make an impact.

Aside from Marc Beswick and Simoni Lawrence, no linebacker on Hamilton has more than two years of CFL experiece. Should one of them get hurt, it will be up to one of the younger players to step up in their place. That could have consequences for Hamilton's defence, but it'll also provide opportunities for four of their six recent draft picks that were linebackers.

Who will replace Delvin Breaux in Hamilton's seconday?

The team lost one of its main defensive pieces when Delvin Breaux left for the NFL in the off-season. Who will fill the void in the Ticats' secondary? Hamilton had the East's top-ranked defence and second-best in the league last season and will need another strong showing should the Ticats hope to return to the post-season. Breaux was a one-of-a-kind CFL defender and will be difficult to replace.

POSITION BATTLE

The Ticats enter the season with a three-headed beast at the running back position featuring C.J. Gable, Nic Grigsby and Mossis Madu. How the team utilizes each player is something to keep an eye on, as all three have the talent to be a feature part of the offence.

BULLETIN BOARD

"Calgary is a great team, they were the class of the league all year. They had a well-earned championship and we want to be in that position they were in going into the Grey Cup next year. We want to be that team that wins 80, 90 per cent of our games and has that touchdown edge going into the Grey Cup. We want to be that team. We don’t want to be the underdog again.”

- Ticats receiver Andy Fantuz on taking the next step as an elite CFL team.
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Toppy Vann
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My sense is that their two recent GC losses will be incentives.

Still a very well coached and prepared football team.
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
TheLionKing
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CFL.ca Staff

REGINA – With training camps fast approaching, CFL.ca is taking a look at the buzz surrounding each team entering the 2015 campaign.


Key Roster Changes


Additions:

LB Shea Emry
DB Keenan MacDougall
QB Kevin Glenn
DL Alex Hall
REC Nic Demski

Subtractions:

OL Dominic Picard
DL Ricky Foley
OL Ben Heenan
RB Neal Hughes
LB Brian Peters
LB Samuel Hurl





Important Dates



June 27 vs. Winnipeg
Massive buildup for a season opener + heated CFL rivalry = potential for a classic

Sept. 6 and 12 vs. Winnipeg
It's impossible to pick between the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo Bowl -- both will deliver.

Oct. 31 vs. Calgary
The second-last game of the season and one that could pose major playoff implications.






Key Statistic


2-7


The Riders' record last season without Darian Durant starting at quarterback.

That includes the Riders' 18-10 playoff loss, in which Kerry Joseph and Tino Sunseri combined to go 14-32 for 220 yards and five interceptions.


Coming off a spirited home victory in the 101st Grey Cup Championship, the Riders entered 2014 facing high expectations. As soon as an 8-2 start and a seven-game winning streak confirmed the Riders' status as a perennial Grey Cup contender, however, the season ultimately unraveled after Darian Durant suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Even former star quarterback Kerry Joseph couldn't provide a solution for the Riders, who this off-season went out and added veteran backup Kevin Glenn while swapping fan favourite Ricky Foley for national linebacker Shea Emry. Led by a new-look offence and a young defence, where do the Riders stand entering 2015?

3 THINGS TO WATCH

How will the offence adjust to Jacques Chapdelaine

Much has been made about the switch from George Cortez to Jacques Chapdelaine, and for good reason. The Riders are now expected to go from a run-focused team to one that focuses on short to intermediate high-percentage passes -- on paper a good strategy considering the range of targets lining up at receiver. Training camp is the most important time of the year for this unit, however, which will be adjusting to some big changes.

Durant's throwing arm

Darian Durant already got over the biggest hurdle in his return from a season-ending injury last autumn, participating in his team's mini-camp last month in Florida. Durant proclaimed himself 100 per cent healthy and ready to go, while he looked close to himself throughout mini-camp by all accounts. Training camp is a different grind, however, and the next step in Durant's return to the field.

How will the defence shape up

The defence is young and there are spots up for grabs. With the return of Alex Hall this off-season, the Riders could afford to move Ricky Foley for help at linebacker that will arrive in Shea Emry. Meanwhile, Keenan MacDougall brings a veteran presence at defensive back. Yet Head Coach Corey Chamblin indicated during mini-camp that there could be a couple of rookie Riders fitting in on defence.

POSITION BATTLE

There will be competition for spots at both linebacker and in the defensive backfield, but the biggest competition for the Riders will come on the offensive line. Ben Heenan and Dominic Picard were strongholds on the line but both are out of the fold in 2015. Chris Best, Xavier Fulton and Brendon Labatte are returning starters but who else will fit in along the starting five? Of particular interest will be who fills in at centre, with veteran Dan Clark the early favourite.

BULLETIN BOARD

“It was the worst experience of my professional career. First of all, to have a serious injury knowing that your year is pretty much over, it’s devastating. It hurt me to see my team struggle like that. It’s something I never want to happen again. It just hurt not being out there with the guys, the guys that I’ve led with for the past seven, eight years – not being out there with them. It was tough.”

- Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant on missing the second half of last season.

Mod Note - have merged topics so that news from all 9 CFL teams can be posted here. Thanks. DH
TheLionKing
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CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts received an encouraging sign in the comeback process of quarterback Ricky Ray.

Coming off of shoulder surgery over the winter, Ray attended the first day of Argos’ rookie camp but only participated in sideline drills involving light throwing.

Ray threw a tennis ball and a baseball but experienced some soreness afterwards. The team is being cautious in not rushing Ray back before he is ready.

"He threw a little today but that's just a start. We hope he continues to improve,” said head coach Scott Milanovich.

Should Ray end up missing any time, Trevor Harris looks to be the man to fill-in for the Argos. Harris led the Argos to a victory in the season finale last year because Ray was sitting out with an injury.

"Right now Trevor is essentially the starter. It's his offence to run and a great opportunity for him to be a leader,” said Milanovich.

Ray, continuing his rehab, watched Harris closely.

"He looked good. It's just about him getting his reps and feeling comfortable,” said Ray of his quarterback counterpart. “He's always going to be in shape."

. . .

The Argos are reportedly adding Alabama quarterback Blake Sims to their roster according to various media sources, although the team has not yet confirmed the news. Marketing firm Everett Sports Marketing announced Sims, who went undrafted in the NFL Draft, will be joining the Boatmen on a three-year deal.

Sims is athletic enough to potentially play running back, but the Calgary Sun's Scott Mitchell reports he will be here to play quarterback.
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Toppy Vann
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Ray should not be tossing tennis balls. They are way too light. Baseball fine but football softly even better.

Durant, Ray and Lulay - all coming off injuries. Did I miss anyone?
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
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