Please join me in welcoming Jann Shreve to BCLionsDen.ca. Jann is new to our writing staff this season and we’re excited to have her. Located in the east, Jann will provide us with an opinion on various league issues throughout the season. In her first article for BCLionsDen.ca, Jann shares her recent E-Camp experience with us. Follow Jann here throughout the season, and on Twitter as @LittleMissCFL

DAY ONE:

Among the regular media, scouts, and others in team issued polo shirts, wind-breakers, and giant football players both past and present stuffed into a hotel conference room, I too was at the CFL Evaluation Camp.

Day one of the Canadian Football League Evaluation Camp is in the books and between the note taking, observations, losing focus and becoming increasingly self-conscious as I stick out in this crowd like a sore thumb, there are a few guys I found myself paying close attention to (and muffling cheers for during the vertical jump)

Paying close attention to the names that are brought up across scouting reports I had expectations from the likes of Chima Ihekwoaba, Shawn Gore, Danny Brannagan and Cory Watson among others and they did not disappoint.

Canadian QB Danny Brannagan is interviewed at E-Camp. Photo: Jann Shreve

Far be it from me to point out the obvious. I read what the other attending media have written about E-camp and I’m both surprised yet pleased with the Argonauts signing Danny Branny (as I will henceforth be referring to him), I was impressed by Steven Turner and at how Duane Forde steps into a room and commands it like a rock star. While reading the comments of Forde’s columns on TSN.ca from the lesser-minded readers who love to comment, I felt compelled to use my notes for good and show what everybody is on the look out for on day one:

EXPLOSIVENESS: In every position an explosiveness at the start of the play, muscles firing quickly, getting to the spot quickly, getting up in the air, down the field, releasing the ball, all done quickly and explosively with accuracy and power getting the play done. Numbers aren’t everything but the magic vertical number is around 30” (skill positions will require more) and broad jump, a good jump is in and around 10’.

THE EXAMPLE: While there were lots of good and explosive jumps that made for the highest jump results such as Steven Turner’s 43.5”, what was most important was that he reached for the markers in full control of his body and landed with the same control. Each jump was better than the one before it. On the other side, and left out of the reports, is that Cory Watson, while putting up 35.5” had balance issues and managed to hit his head on the support pole that holds the markers which in itself is a difficult task. His explosiveness (and he has lots) was a bit beyond his control today.

CORE STRENGTH/BALANCE: This much should be self explanatory but this is for the readers who loudly announce themselves as slow. Good balance allows for control of the power in movement. Can you get to the spot and then have what it takes to adapt and adjust to a change in footing, timing, direction etc. The ability to jump out of the room doesn’t matter much if you have to fall down and off balance when you land.

THE EXAMPLE: There were lots of guys in the testing who fell backwards during the broad jump, often on their best jumps. That happens when the feet don’t make it out in front in time, so when it happens to a guy on the higher end of explosiveness, (understand that each guy is different and the test is done on a challenging surface of worn down carpet in a hotel conference room), the core let down tends to be show when a step has to be taken back to adjust the balance.

DAY TWO:

Coaches and scouts can look at how these numbers and figures in isolated tests apply in football settings. What kind of competitors they are and their abilities in football settings. The 1-on-1 drills show this and the 40 yard dash shows an idea of open field speed. But, similar to day one, numbers won’t count for everything; the raw potential has to be there. Explosiveness, movement, footwork, agility, speed must all be put together to show the goods.

The drills portion of the pageant known as E-Camp also gives these guys great opportunity to get hurt as well as hurt chances (in many eyes) of those who elect not to participate, almost making it seem as though their game film counts for nothing and that protecting a recently healed injury or not giving injury a chance is a bad thing. Many of the 1-on-1 drills can bring about a lot of contact.

To no surprise, the guys who surprised me the most were the three quarterbacks, Erik Glavic, Danny Brannagan and Justin Dunk; two of them from the OUA. Glavic and Brannagan made me feel somehow proud, being that I too competed in OUA and that they both looked pretty good. Not blazing fast 40 yard dash times but I saw explosiveness off the start line from all three. Good footwork from all three as well. When the ball came into play, the surprise came from Dunk as I was hoping he would be more accurate and stronger with his throwing. Not surprising to me, of course was the quick signing of Danny Brannagan to the Toronto Argonauts. I like the move very much. It’s a deliberate effort to bring more Canadian talent to the CFL in skills positions and it’s historic. It will bring positive conversation about the blank canvas Argos and if he does well, he’ll make a positive impact on the perception of CIS players by CFL coaches. I can only hope that a team will take a chance on Glavic on draft day.

Stating the obvious would be to give mention to other E-Camp stand outs such as Steven Turner, Chima Ihekwoaba, Michael Montoya, Taurean Allen, Shomari Williams and Shawn Gore among a few others, who all put up good numbers, drew lots of interest and attention to themselves. It’s been said many times by every analyst in attendance and even some who weren’t, that this is one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory and come May 2nd, every move will be an interesting one and we CFL fans will be eagerly anticipating training camp and at long last, the start to what will be a very great season.