Roundup for June 5th

Madman · Jun 5, 2012

Transition no sweat for Claybrooks
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/05/tr ... claybrooks

All the gain, without any of the pain.

As long as he can live vicariously through others.

DeVone Claybrooks loves being around football players and working on the fundamentals of the game.

The ice tub — where those overworked muscles need to be tended — is something he’s not a big fan of.

Claybrooks is enjoying being part of the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff under bench boss John Hufnagel, especially after a couple days with two practices.

He’s enjoying watching former teammates suffer through aches and pains and not being one of them.

“I don’t miss the soreness and I don’t miss coach Huf yelling at me,” Claybrooks said with a laugh. “Now, he yells at me because of somebody else.
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Stamps' hoggie is hurting
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/05/st ... is-hurting

With a young offensive line, there are bound to be some speed bumps along the way.

Every time the Calgary Stampeders get some of their talent on the road to prominence, something crops up that slows the development.

On Monday, there was another issue.

Fourth-year centre Jon Gott, who was a strong candidate to be the starter this season, skipped the late practice session due to concussion symptoms.

A year ago, Gott missed most of camp with a concussion, which came about the same time as these symptoms.

“It occurred (Sunday), but he thought it was just a headache,” Stamps GM/head coach John Hufnagel said.

“When he woke up, it didn’t go away and he went to Pat (Clayton, the team’s athletic therapist).
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Offensive lineman rings in new year
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/06/05/of ... n-new-year

If anyone is looking for a belated wedding gift for Edwin Harrison, there is no need to hit the stores.

The big day back on May 19 was a momentous occasion for the Calgary Stampeders left tackle and his bride, Kishanda.

Not only did they start their life together, but the Harrisons kicked off a charitable foundation.

Harrison named it 62’s Blocking for the Blind in honour of his grandfather Cal Jones, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber who died in a 1956 plane crash, and the goal is to build sports facilities for sight-impaired youth.

Instead of registering for gifts at their wedding, Harrison and his new bride asked for donations to the charity instead.

They built quite the nest egg.

“Everything really fell into place and my wife was really on board with doing it,” said Harrison, who switched to No. 62 this season to honour his grandfather.

“That was a true blessing. She just said, ‘We have been blessed more than we can imagine.’ Now, we can really bless others. We have more than we need.”
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Simpson, Lobendahn in fierce linebacker battle
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Sim ... story.html

For now, Juwan Simpson wants to avoid reality.

The constantly cheerful Calgary Stampeders middle linebacker heads into his fifth Canadian Football League training camp seemingly assured of a job. After all, he was a CFL defensive player of the year runner-up just two seasons ago, and remains one of the emotional leaders of the Stampeder defence.

But here’s the reality he doesn’t particularly want to think about two days into the Stamps’ 2012 training camp: all around him are veteran import linebackers with CFL pedigrees, such as longtime Stampeders Malik Jackson and Robert McCune, along with newcomers Joe Lobendahn and Joe Henderson. All, like Simpson, can man the middle or weak-side linebacker position. All have been starters in this league.
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Stamps’ other Lone Star QB looking good
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Sta ... story.html

Drew Tate isn’t the only Texan quarterback grabbing some early attention at the Calgary Stampeders training camp.

Bo Levi Mitchell, who grew up in Katy, just outside of Houston, has been trying his hand at the Canadian Football League this week and making a case for himself competing with Tate, veteran Kevin Glenn and the team’s fourth-round draft pick from 2011, Brad Sinopoli.

“I like what I’ve seen from Bo,” said head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said Monday. “He’s a very confident young man. He’s made some nice throws out there.

“He has a fairly good grasp of what we’re trying to accomplish offensively in a short amount of time, so I’m pleased.”
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Deadly Taylor seeks greater consistency
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Dea ... story.html

Larry Taylor made his debut with the Calgary Stampeders last season and, as expected, the kick returner did exactly what he’s famous for.

Absolutely shredding special-teams units in the Canadian Football League.

But there’s always room to improve. Consistency, for one, is a must.

“The thing about Larry is he’s a proven playmaker,” said Stampeders special-teams co-ordinator Mark Kilam following Monday’s morning session on Day 2 of Stampeders training camp. “He’s done his job and in this league, people know him as a playmaker. But he’ll be the first to say that we left some plays out there.

“There was a time mid-season last year where our return game started to slow down and we needed to get back to our techniques. I think bringing that each and every week is where our focus will be.”
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Confidence propels Wilson
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Con ... story.html

There’s no question Spencer Wilson is a different player than he was 12 months ago.

The 24-year-old Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman is moving better. He’s blocking better. He’s reacting better.

But according to Stamps offensive line coach Mike Gibson, the biggest area of improvement for Wilson won’t necessarily be found on the field; instead, you’ll find it between his ears.

“It’s confidence,” said Gibson on Monday after another impressive practice from the former Henry Wise Wood Warrior. “He’s always been a good athlete; now he’s confident in what he has to do. The little bit of playing time he got last year (Wilson dressed for the final two games of the regular season) I think gave him the confidence that, hey, I can do this. And now he’s showing it.”
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Christoph · Jun 5, 2012

Not good news about Jon Gott. If the underlying cause of his symptoms is a concussion that's two years in a row this has happened in camp. Now as we've learned from what happened with Crosby this year, other things can cause similar symptoms making a definitive diagnosis problematic at times. Hopefully he's okay and can make a push for the starting center position. More than anything, hopefully he's okay for his own physical and mental well being.

It'll be an interesting battle at linebacker in this year's camp. I know Juwan Simpson is hoping to return to his 2010 form, and I hop he does too, but I personally hope that a few players emerge on the defensive line so that Robert McCune can slide back into the linebacking corps on a permanent basis. Ideally I'd like to see a unit with McCune at middle linebacker with Simpson on the weak side and Demitrice Morley at SAM. I don't think Simpson was ever the dominating linebacker his Defensive MOP nomination would lead you to believe. He's never been a tackling machine but I think McCune can be. Unless Malik Jackson rebounds he'll be in tough to keep his position at Will, which is why I think Simpson just might end up there.

iso_55 · Jun 5, 2012

Gott didn't have air in his helmet when he got hurt last year? How can that happen to a player?? They have to be responsible for their actions, too. The helmet doesn't fit the same without air so how could Gott have not known?

Roundup for June 5th

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Roundup for June 5th

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Christoph Member

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