When the Argonauts kicked off Rookies and QBs camp on Wednesday, it was an opportunity for a number of international rookies to get their first taste of the wider field, the bigger ball and the faster tempo of the Canadian game.
For the Canadian rookies, who were drafted across the last two CFL Drafts, there are no technical adjustments such as field or ball size to get used to, but the transition phase still exists. For those players, this week is their first opportunity to experience what it means to be a professional football player, and that in itself is an adjustment.
On top of each afternoon’s on-field practice, every day of rookie camp (and training camp thereafter) features hours of positional meetings spent learning a playbook that is often much more intricate than the players have seen in their college programs.
“I have to study every night,” explained rookie receiver and 2016 fourth-round CFL Draft pick, Llevi Noel. “Every minute I get I’m in my playbook.”
The tempo of a Scott Milanovich practice isn’t something that someone gets used to in two days, and the speed of the game itself is the biggest adjustment for the young Canadians.
“Physically, the players are faster, stronger and more explosive,” says Curtis Newton, the Argonauts fifth round selection out of Guelph. “Mentally, you have to be able to make your decisions faster and on the fly.”
When asked about the purpose of the three-day camp that precedes the team’s main training camp, head coach Scott Milanovich explained that the goal is to have every player up to speed by the time the veterans arrive in order to be able to hit the ground running on Sunday.
“It gives us an idea of their skillset, but probably more importantly it’s [an opportunity for] them getting acclimated to the offence, defence and special teams, which our veterans have some familiarity with,” said Milanovich.
Through two days of practice, the Argos bench boss has not been satisfied with the overall tempo and understanding of the systems, explaining that players have too often been making the same mistake twice.
One player who’s adjusting to camp is 2015 first round pick Sean McEwen, who already got his feet wet in the pro ranks during last year’s New York Giants mini-camp. After returning to Calgary to play out his final year of CIS eligibility, McEwen signed in Toronto this off-season and has begun his ascent to full-time work in the pros.
“He’s very athletic, so far he seems to be very intelligent and is doing a nice job,” said Milanovich of the centre. “He’s got a ton to learn and a lot of things he’ll have to do a bit differently, but he’s done a nice job and I’m optimistic about what he’s going to bring to us.”
“They’re long days, but you still have to do your homework each night,” emphasized the offensive centre. “It’s been challenging, but I love that part of football, I love the mental aspect of the game, so it’s been fun as well.”
McEwen, Noel and Newton make up a quarter of the team’s 2015 and 2016 CFL Draft picks at this week’s rookie camp. Also competing for a spot on the team are offensive linemen DJ Sackey (2nd Round, 2016), Jamal Campbell (3rd Round, 2016) and Chris Kolankowski (5th Round, 2016); running backs Dillon Campbell (5th Round, 2015) and Declan Cross (4th Round, 2016); receiver Ryan Nieuwesteeg (8th Round, 2016); defensive back Johnathan Ngeleka (7th Round, 2016); and long snapper Dan MacDonald (7th Round, 2015).