Insider Talk is a weekly feature on 3DownNation that features anonymous quotes from people around the CFL — players, coaches, personnel people, executives, and agents — regarding the latest news around the league. It’s a combination of insight, analysis, rumours, and friendly gossip.
This week’s Insider Talk is full of discussion regarding potential head coach candidates, Ottawa’s search for a general manager, the league’s best Canadian player, and Toronto’s matchup nightmare.
Enjoy this week’s quotes and come back next Wednesday for another edition of Insider Talk.
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If I were hiring a head coach my list of candidates would be (Calgary special teams coordinator and assistant head coach) Mark Kilam, (Ottawa special teams coordinator) Bob Dyce, (Hamilton defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach) Mark Washington, (Winnipeg offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) Buck Pierce, and (Calgary offensive coordinator and offensive line coach) Pat DelMonaco.
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Why would any external candidate want the Ottawa GM job at this point? You don’t get to pick your head coach and they’ve already re-signed over a dozen players. Come on. At this point any serious candidate may as well wait for 2022 because if that team is bad again next year they’ll blow it up and do another GM search.
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If Ryan Rigmaiden is the new general manager in Edmonton, I could see him hiring Chris Jones as his head coach.
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Here’s what I think is going to happen: the Redblacks will make a big deal of interviewing (GM) candidates from across the country but they’ll ultimately keep (interim GM) Jeremy Snyder. He’s been so active. Nothing about him re-signing so many of their players screams “interim” to me.
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The best Canadian player in our league is (Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ defensive back) Tunde Adeleke. He’s as good as anyone.
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Calgary reached out to (free agent linebacker) Wynton McManis before the playoffs but he wanted to keep pursuing NFL opportunities. Obviously, that’s worked out for him (after signing with the Miami Dolphins).
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Do I think (two-time OUA MVP and 2022 CFL Draft-eligible) Tre Ford can play quarterback in the CFL? Yes, but it’s tough to say who will have room for him. It’s also not easy to carry a third or fourth quarterback now with our rosters structured the way they are. You’d almost rather convert him to receiver just so he has a better chance of dressing.
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(Toronto Argonauts’ defensive tackle) Shawn Oakman is a nightmare for interior blockers to matchup against. He’s just so long. He’s like Willie (Jefferson) in that he’ll disrupt passing lanes even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback.
