Elk's merry-go-round roster...

[theaardvark]

Its almost like its set on *high*and players are flying off in all directions...

Receivers Caleb Holley, Mike Jones, quarterback Ben Holmes, running back Jamel Lyles, defensive back Jeawon Taylor and kicker Matt Mengel made up the six players released from the team?s active roster.

Running back Sherman Badie, receiver Ente Eguavoen, defensive back Nate Hamilin and defensive lineman Pharoah McKever were released from the team?s practice roster. Linebacker Reggie Walker was released from the team?s suspended list.


Mike Jones has signed back in Ham...

[pjrocksmb]

Rinse repeat

[Blue In BC]

All these releases every week must be brutal on their players.

[bwiser]

Its almost like its set on *high*and players are flying off in all directions...

Receivers Caleb Holley, Mike Jones, quarterback Ben Holmes, running back Jamel Lyles, defensive back Jeawon Taylor and kicker Matt Mengel made up the six players released from the team?s active roster.

Running back Sherman Badie, receiver Ente Eguavoen, defensive back Nate Hamilin and defensive lineman Pharoah McKever were released from the team?s practice roster. Linebacker Reggie Walker was released from the team?s suspended list.


Mike Jones has signed back in Ham...

When you see all these moves and when you add the normal changes teams have to make because of injuries it is impossible to have any continuity in the lineup. The Bombers have had pretty well the same lineup every game this year. The only changes they have made is due to injuries. That continuity has a lot to do with why they are undefeated.

[blue_or_die]

I mean, no one should be surprised once the circus came to town this past offseason.

[dd]

I d like to see us pick up Holley for depth and insurance. Has some cfl experience, not sure why they released him given the roster they have.

[GOLDMEMBER]

All these releases every week must be brutal on their players.

players must love playing for this guy!
Lawless big contract with zero guaranteed money. Yikes for him.

[TecnoGenius]

Mike Jones has signed back in Ham...

Wow.  Does HAM not remember that's the '19 witch they burned?  Or are things sooo desperate in the hammer now they'll grasp at any straws to get the ol' mojo back?  It'll take a minor miracle for HAM to make the GC this year.

At the rate the East is going, my money is on the crossover or TOR.

I d like to see us pick up Holley for depth and insurance. Has some cfl experience, not sure why they released him given the roster they have.

Ya, he was reliably decent his whole career.  Of course, most was in SSK, no?  Our SSK castoff pickups haven't worked out too well recently.  Maybe let him couch-sit and call if we get more injuries?

[theaardvark]

players must love playing for this guy!
Lawless big contract with zero guaranteed money. Yikes for him.

Lawler has game cheques already in hand for most of what Ellingson is going to make all year... I don't think Kenny is worried...

[M.O.A.B.]

Yep. I think he received like 100k after training camp.

[blue_gold_84]

It'll take a minor miracle for HAM to make the GC this year.

At the rate the East is going, my money is on the crossover or TOR.

The Ti-Cats are in second place and a win away from taking first in the East. The "race" remains pretty tight; even the RedBlacks are somehow still in the conversation.

FWIW, the crossover team has never managed to win two games. It's not a cakewalk and this season wouldn't be any different.

As for the Elks, Jones has no concept of loyalty or cohesion when it comes to his roster management. The turnover rate for players is something else.

[LXTSN]

As for the Elks, Jones has no concept of loyalty or cohesion when it comes to his roster management. The turnover rate for players is something else.

I think it's just his arrogance. It's my way or the highway.

[dd]

Wow.  Does HAM not remember that's the '19 witch they burned?  Or are things sooo desperate in the hammer now they'll grasp at any straws to get the ol' mojo back?  It'll take a minor miracle for HAM to make the GC this year.

At the rate the East is going, my money is on the crossover or TOR.

Ya, he was reliably decent his whole career.  Of course, most was in SSK, no?  Our SSK castoff pickups haven't worked out too well recently.  Maybe let him couch-sit and call if we get more injuries?

Our Sask castoffs include Demski and Collaros.....you can bet your bottom dollar the riders would love to have these 2 guys back

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Our Sask castoffs include Demski and Collaros.....you can bet your bottom dollar the riders would love to have these 2 guys back

Don't forget Jamarcus Hardrick.

[theaardvark]

The Ti-Cats are in second place and a win away from taking first in the East. The "race" remains pretty tight; even the RedBlacks are somehow still in the conversation.

FWIW, the crossover team has never managed to win two games. It's not a cakewalk and this season wouldn't be any different.

As for the Elks, Jones has no concept of loyalty or cohesion when it comes to his roster management. The turnover rate for players is something else.

Has a crossover team ever had a better record that the Division winners before?  Because it could happen this year...

[GOLDMEMBER]

I thought it was obvious I was joking regarding Lawler.

That is crazy Sask dumped Hardrick Demski I knew of and Zach I also knew of. BC dumped Bighill as well.

[TecnoGenius]

Our Sask castoffs include Demski and Collaros.....you can bet your bottom dollar the riders would love to have these 2 guys back

Ya I should have mentioned them too, Riderfans cry over their loss too.  With Demski though everyone is like "why didn't he play like that in SSK?".  I guess that's a fair point.  Could just be he was still developing?

Don't forget Jamarcus Hardrick.

That's the most obscure one, but someone also mentioned him!

[TecnoGenius]

Has a crossover team ever had a better record that the Division winners before?  Because it could happen this year...

I'm pretty sure this is the weakest East record ever at this point in the year.  By a mile.

It's really funny because HAM and TOR and MTL look very strong on paper.  Everyone in the off-season thought HAM would be a contender, MTL was on its way up, and TOR looks very good on paper.  But then the season starts and they stink up the join to the tune of like 1000 losses to 3 wins vs the West?

Are they really that bad?  Or maybe they don't care about wins vs the W at all?  They seem to really concentrate on the games vs the E.

At this point right now I'd say the 4th place W team (take your pick, SSK CGY BC) has a great chance of beating every E team in the playoffs.  Well, maybe TOR could beat SSK.  But surely not CGY or BC.

[Tiger]

I thought it was obvious I was joking regarding Lawler.

That is crazy Sask dumped Hardrick Demski I knew of and Zach I also knew of. BC dumped Bighill as well.

Neufeld also from SK?  Can?t recall for sure

[GOLDMEMBER]

Neufeld also from SK?  Can?t recall for sure

Yes yes you correct he was traded here if I am not mistaken?

[the paw]

Yes yes you correct he was traded here if I am not mistaken?

Yes, we traded DE Alex Hall and a second rounder for him.  It turned out to be a great trade, but it took a few years before that became clear.

[dd]

So, lotsa Sask castoffs that have worked out for us.

I don't know why we don't pickup Caleb Holley, if anything for depth and experience. He's 6'4" and a very decent reciever. Not sure what Jones's problem is (and still haven't figured out why he has ultra timid Duron Carter playing defense, the dude is afraid of contact!!!), but i d pick him up and see if he's still got it.

[pjrocksmb]

Pass on Holley

[GOLDMEMBER]

Yes, we traded DE Alex Hall and a second rounder for him.  It turned out to be a great trade, but it took a few years before that became clear.

oh ya that brings back some memories. Alex Hall fizzled out pretty fast after that one.

[dd]

Pass on Holley

He?s 10 x the reciever McKnight will ever be, and he?s available. It?s an absolute no brainer

[TecnoGenius]

oh ya that brings back some memories. Alex Hall fizzled out pretty fast after that one.

Ya, but Hall got a GC ring that same year out of that trade.  And playoff money.  Not bad for about a month of work in SSK!  SSK only cared about that cup in '13, and while the Hall/Neuf trade was dumb from a long-term perspective, it did help them beef up talent for the cup run.

Many in Riderland sure wish their current braintrust would do a little of that GC-in-Regina beefing up this year.  I guess the GM/HC is thinking more long-term.

[blue_or_die]

Ya, but Hall got a GC ring that same year out of that trade.  And playoff money.  Not bad for about a month of work in SSK!  SSK only cared about that cup in '13, and while the Hall/Neuf trade was dumb from a long-term perspective, it did help them beef up talent for the cup run.

Many in Riderland sure wish their current braintrust would do a little of that GC-in-Regina beefing up this year.  I guess the GM/HC is thinking more long-term.

Hard to believe that (as well as the opening of IGF) was 9 years ago. Time flies. That all feels like yesterday.

[Blue In BC]

Elks transfer another 7 players to IR. It's a roller coaster roster week to week.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Elks transfer another 7 players to IR. It's a roller coaster roster week to week.

Chris Jones basically treating this year like a long training camp. He's had success blowing up a roster and doing a complete rebuild before though so it's not all crazy mad scientist.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Elks transfer another 7 players to IR. It's a roller coaster roster week to week.

That's sketchy as hell, Jones back to manipulating his roster with no concern of being flagged.

2022-08-04   EDM   BEAUDRY, Michael   QB   N   Idaho   Remove Signed   Free Agent
2022-08-04   EDM   APPOLON, Wesly   LB   N   Tuskegee   Extend On   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   FORD, Tre   QB   N   Waterloo   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   TYNE, Malik   DL   N   Towson University   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   NIELSEN, Steven   OL   N   Eastern Michigan   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   LACEY, Deon   LB   A   West Alabama   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   HARRY, Jamie   LB   N   Carleton   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   DUBUISSON, Mike   LB   N   Windsor   Transfer To   Injured
2022-08-04   EDM   BUTLER, Hakeem   WR   A   Iowa State   Transfer To   Injured

[Stats Junkie]

Series of tweets from Dave Campbell @Dave_CHED - yesterday

Taylor Cornelius start his 3rd straight game with Tre Ford (shoulder) out. 6-game injured list is quite possible for Ford. Also OL Steven Nielsen (illness) is out. He's the Global player who usually dresses. Been seeing a lot of K Raphael Gaglianone this week. #Elks #CFL

I don't know what this means for Sergio Castillo or Jon Ryan. I'm pretty sure 3 kickers won't dress for Saturday's game against the Lions. Looks like Gaglianone will have to play to fill the Global spot on the roster. #Elks #CFL

(Australian Flag) K Ryan Meskell has been added to the active roster. Gaglianone remains on the PR while Castillo and Ryan remain on the #Elks active roster. Depth chart day will be interesting tomorrow. #CFL

[BLUEBOMBER]

And can you believe Collaros got bounced around like his career was done... 

[Blue In BC]

Elks depth chart show something like 12 players added to the game day roster. Some coming off of IR some off of PR. Can't keep track of who is coming or going from where each week. Absolutely BS from Jones.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Elks depth chart show something like 12 players added to the game day roster. Some coming off of IR some off of PR. Can't keep track of who is coming or going from where each week. Absolutely BS from Jones.

Why wrong with that exactly?

[Blue In BC]

Why wrong with that exactly?

I seriously doubt all of those or even most of those are actual injuries. He's just dicking with their roster. In effect he's running a 20+ PR roster and manipulating the intent of several concepts within the CFL rules. He's running a season long TC.

More than that from a fans perspective, either of the CFL or Elks in general, it takes away any team continuity. It must be demoralizing for players etc etc.

What other team is cutting 6+ players on a week to week basis? This week he cut 12 IIRC as players were deleted and added to various parts of the roster.

It's bush league IMO. It's not hard to predict there will be another rash of changes next week as well.

If you're fine with what he'd doing, then I guess you're entitled to that view.

EDIT: Added a comment from the Elks forum. The answer to his question is that more players were released earlier in the week to offset 12 added for this game. Another poster mentioned that from the 1st time they played the Lions, they have nine new starters.


I really HATE these games Jones is playing , like what is so hard about playing players where they belong , 3 kickers is a joke and waste of a valuable roster spot .How can he add 12 names to roster but only remove 6 ? Jones has a reciever again at one of the CB spots , Lions are gonna eat us alive on that corner spot

EDIT # 2 from 3rd down nation

Since the Edmonton Elks last faced off against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver ? a 59-15 drubbing in their season opener just 56 days ago ? head coach and general manager Chris Jones has made 83 separate changes to his team?s roster.

[TBURGESS]

The Elk's aren't good enough.

Some coaches stay with the players they brought in, replace a couple of spots & try to win. Then they win 3 or 4 games and start again next year. Consistency is only worthwhile when your winning.

Jones is trying to reduce the time frame to turn the team around by running a year long training camp. Basically giving up on this year to create something better going forward. If the Elks are significantly better next year and competitive in the West, then it worked. If not, it didn't.

[dd]

Why wrong with that exactly?

You don't see the distinction swapping out 50% of your roster will create, the broken coversges, wrong routes run and general disconnect between the players and fans with constant roster turnover?? not to mention the cost. When you have to make.that many roster.changes may be the guy putting the roster together doesn't know.what he's doing!!

[Blue In BC]

The Elk's aren't good enough.

Some coaches stay with the players they brought in, replace a couple of spots & try to win. Then they win 3 or 4 games and start again next year. Consistency is only worthwhile when your winning.

Jones is trying to reduce the time frame to turn the team around by running a year long training camp. Basically giving up on this year to create something better going forward. If the Elks are significantly better next year and competitive in the West, then it worked. If not, it didn't.

Elks are a very bad team but we've seen very bad teams before. I don't recall another " bad team " making as many changes as quickly in season. That happens in the off season. A team can re-build in one free agency period and go from last to 1st.

Recruitment during the off season is a key part of that formula. It may not happen in one off season but you can see progress being made.

I see no progress from 2021 Eskimos to 2022 Elks.

Ironically they'd be tied for 2nd in the East Division.

[Tiger]

That happens in the off season. A team can re-build in one free agency period and go from last to 1st.

Exactly.  So why is Edmonton such a gong show - ah yes - the mad man or genius Chris Jones.

[theaardvark]

So, when the team is so bad you make 83 roster changes in 0 weeks, the finger needs to get pointed at the GM.  When the GM is also the coach, and has had such bad results on field, and has been associated with the league for so many years, and has so many contacts, there is only one explanation...

Jones sucks.

But Edmonton is stuck with him, there's no getting away from him and his contract and the head office SMS...  short of him breaking a morality or conduct clause... hey, maybe they can.  Maybe his "skirting" the rules for rosters can give them grounds for dismissal...

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I seriously doubt all of those or even most of those are actual injuries. He's just dicking with their roster. In effect he's running a 20+ PR roster and manipulating the intent of several concepts within the CFL rules. He's running a season long TC.

More than that from a fans perspective, either of the CFL or Elks in general, it takes away any team continuity. It must be demoralizing for players etc etc.

What other team is cutting 6+ players on a week to week basis? This week he cut 12 IIRC as players were deleted and added to various parts of the roster.

It's bush league IMO. It's not hard to predict there will be another rash of changes next week as well.

If you're fine with what he'd doing, then I guess you're entitled to that view.

EDIT: Added a comment from the Elks forum. The answer to his question is that more players were released earlier in the week to offset 12 added for this game. Another poster mentioned that from the 1st time they played the Lions, they have nine new starters.


I really HATE these games Jones is playing , like what is so hard about playing players where they belong , 3 kickers is a joke and waste of a valuable roster spot .How can he add 12 names to roster but only remove 6 ? Jones has a reciever again at one of the CB spots , Lions are gonna eat us alive on that corner spot

EDIT # 2 from 3rd down nation

Since the Edmonton Elks last faced off against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver ? a 59-15 drubbing in their season opener just 56 days ago ? head coach and general manager Chris Jones has made 83 separate changes to his team?s roster.

The one game injured list doesn't really function like a legitimate injury-only list. The Bombers have stashed guys there over the years. All teams do it. Those dollars are cap included so if teams want to pay a bunch of guys to sit around and not dress that's really their business. I agree that Jones is taking it to a pretty extreme level but Chris Jones will Chris Jones. I don't think it's a great strategy, to be clear, but I'm cool if he wants to do it. Why not?

[the paw]

The Elk's aren't good enough.

Some coaches stay with the players they brought in, replace a couple of spots & try to win. Then they win 3 or 4 games and start again next year. Consistency is only worthwhile when your winning.

Jones is trying to reduce the time frame to turn the team around by running a year long training camp. Basically giving up on this year to create something better going forward. If the Elks are significantly better next year and competitive in the West, then it worked. If not, it didn't.

The thing is, it?s as much about ego as talent.  They gave away Saxelid, a starting CDN OT because Jones doesn?t like his Canadians in that spot.  He let go of 2 starting quality CDN DEs because he would rather start Makana Henry at DT.  He dumped Tevaun Smith and Mike Jones at WR to replace that spot with a nobody.  He took an athlete who washed out at WR with 3 teams and is trying to recycle him as a DB.

He insists on converting Duron Carter to safety, and pinning his hopes to retreads like Antigua and Caleb Holley.  He has also taken a haphazard approach to his QBs, which is the same mistake he made in SK.

It drives me crazy when I see articles claiming Jones as successfully rebuilt a roster before, because he hasn?t.  He won in Edm with Herveys roster, and he failed in SK.  He never got over the hump in Regina because he never solved his QB issue, and he let Duron Carter become such a distraction that his OC wouldn?t play him, and he had to go to DB before being cashiered.  It?s all hubris, through and through.

[Blue In BC]

The one game injured list doesn't really function like a legitimate injury-only list. The Bombers have stashed guys there over the years. All teams do it. Those dollars are cap included so if teams want to pay a bunch of guys to sit around and not dress that's really their business. I agree that Jones is taking it to a pretty extreme level but Chris Jones will Chris Jones. I don't think it's a great strategy, to be clear, but I'm cool if he wants to do it. Why not?

It's a small league with only nine teams. CFL fans want all the teams to have good programs and run professionally etc etc.

Have you noticed the increasingly smaller and smaller crowds in Edmonton? Losing is never good but an unrecognizable team week to week is not helping them either.  Check out the Elks forum.

[M.O.A.B.]

https://3downnation.com/2022/08/06/chris-jones-global-folly-could-come-back-to-bite-the-elks-against-b-c/

Is this accurate?

With all due respect to Thiadric Hansen?s ability to get garbage-time sacks and cover kicks,

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

So, when the team is so bad you make 83 roster changes in 0 weeks, the finger needs to get pointed at the GM.  When the GM is also the coach, and has had such bad results on field, and has been associated with the league for so many years, and has so many contacts, there is only one explanation...

Jones sucks.

But Edmonton is stuck with him, there's no getting away from him and his contract and the head office SMS...  short of him breaking a morality or conduct clause... hey, maybe they can.  Maybe his "skirting" the rules for rosters can give them grounds for dismissal...

Realistically Jones doesn't have 4-5 years to turn the Elks around, he'll be given 2-3 years at max. to move them from the bottom of the West into contending position.  He knows this, he's a cat with 9 lives who has already used 8 of them up.  He moved the dial in Sask. and built them into a contender within a few short years, like or hate his methods, I expect he'll do the same in Edm. within an expedited timeframe.

[TecnoGenius]

"With all due respect to Thiadric Hansen?s ability to get garbage-time sacks and cover kicks"
Is this accurate?

It's a tad bit fair, but with a very negative tone.  But this JC Abbott guy couldn't write his way out of a paper bag.  The style and grammar is just atrocious!  Maybe they only let him write in garbage time. 

Break it down:

- Hansen only plays D in garbage time: FALSE.  We put him in on many sets.  He probably does get used more when we're up, but so are many "specialists".  He is not a garbage-time-only player like some of the 3rd string NAT D's.  (Although even those are used somewhat consistently across the game, MOS is good at spreading the load.)

- Hansen mostly makes his presence felt on ST: TRUE.  He plays nearly every ST cover snap, and he often makes big plays there.

- Hansen doesn't get many sacks: TRUE.  Even in garbage time he doesn't.  Because I'm pretty sure that's not his role.  He's more a disrupter than a sacker.  We have him tasked to do certain things and I think he does them very well.  But when the chance comes his way he takes the QB down.

Here's the truth: Hansen has been the biggest-impact GLOB in the whole CFL.  This is regularly acknowledged by the TSN talking heads.  His big hit in '19 GC will be remembered forever.  He makes life more difficult for QBs and helps keep the entire DL fresh.  He is no less effective than any other backup NAT DL.

The guy he is trying to compare him to I've never even heard of.  What does that tell you.

[The Zipp]

The thing is, it?s as much about ego as talent.  They gave away Saxelid, a starting CDN OT because Jones doesn?t like his Canadians in that spot.  He let go of 2 starting quality CDN DEs because he would rather start Makana Henry at DT.  He dumped Tevaun Smith and Mike Jones at WR to replace that spot with a nobody.  He took an athlete who washed out at WR with 3 teams and is trying to recycle him as a DB.

He insists on converting Duron Carter to safety, and pinning his hopes to retreads like Antigua and Caleb Holley.  He has also taken a haphazard approach to his QBs, which is the same mistake he made in SK.

It drives me crazy when I see articles claiming Jones as successfully rebuilt a roster before, because he hasn?t.  He won in Edm with Herveys roster, and he failed in SK.  He never got over the hump in Regina because he never solved his QB issue, and he let Duron Carter become such a distraction that his OC wouldn?t play him, and he had to go to DB before being cashiered.  It?s all hubris, through and through.

Truth

[TecnoGenius]

Have you noticed the increasingly smaller and smaller crowds in Edmonton? Losing is never good but an unrecognizable team week to week is not helping them either.  Check out the Elks forum.

Well, any die-hard uber-fan who happens to be rich is forced to buy a new jersey to wear every home game!  So there's that! 

So that's great for the EDM store.  Oh wait, that means the store has to throw away half the jerseys each week too!    (Or ship them away to get renumbered.)

Is there a "safe jersey" to buy right now in EDM?  I wouldn't bet on any single player being around 1 month from now.

[Blue In BC]

Well, any die-hard uber-fan who happens to be rich is forced to buy a new jersey to wear every home game!  So there's that! 

So that's great for the EDM store.  Oh wait, that means the store has to throw away half the jerseys each week too!    (Or ship them away to get renumbered.)

Is there a "safe jersey" to buy right now in EDM?  I wouldn't bet on any single player being around 1 month from now.

They can start writing the name in chalk so they can be changed every week.

NOTE: Did a quick check on their roster to see how many players are new to the Elks in 2022 and it came to 25 or 26.

Aside from Lawler the Elks didn't seem to sign top free agents in their prime. Several on the downside perhaps but still with some miles left I suppose.

Essentially the paid some bigger SMS numbers when they could have spent more wisely IMO.  Signing Arceneaux, Walker, Ryan, Castillo, Antigua, Carter, Makana, Washington is more about the now than the future. The now is not working out and it's reasonable to expect those older vets won't be part of the 2023 roster.