The Eskimos completed their pre-season schedule Friday night before two CFL teams even played a game.
So while the Eskimos were disappointed to drop a 20-3 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in front of 19,273 spectators at IG Field, they also understood the situation.
“We’ve got six practices under our belt and played two games,” said Logan Kilgore, who was started at quarterback while Trevor Harris remained in Edmonton along with receivers Greg Ellingson and Ricky Collins Jr., running back C.J. Gable and pretty much the entire starting defensive unit.
“Definitely a difficult task, especially with a lot of new guys to the CFL,” Kilgore said on the 630 CHED post-game show. “To come out with basically a couple of installs (learning a game plan) and play a game, have a short week and turn around and go on the road and play another game, things like red-zone packages (inside the opponent’s 20-yard line) and all that kind of stuff will definitely come later in (training) camp.”
With the Eskimos lineup bereft of many recognizable names, the coaches had a chance to watch a lot of newcomers show what they could do on offence, defence and special teams.
But training camp isn’t over yet.
“Guys have to stay locked in,” Kilgore pointed out. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, especially on both sides of the ball, a lot of jobs still up for grabs. Get back to Edmonton and refocus. Just realize we’re back into camp mode.”
Kilgore, who spent four seasons in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2014-17, is shaking off a little more rust than most players. He last played in 2016 (seven appearances, two full games) and was interviewing for coaching positions when he received an invitation to training camp during the off-season.
“I reached out to a bunch of my mentors and coaches,” said Kilgore, 29. “My college head coach, Rick Stockstill, he’s 58 or 59 years old, said if he got a call tomorrow, he’d go play in a heartbeat. You’ve got to do it while you can.”
Kilgore, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 109 yards while playing all but one series in the first half, is trying “to help the team any way I can” while getting back into the swing of things.
“I had a couple of missed opportunities,” he said. “Definitely didn’t like turning it over in the red zone on the (quarterback) sneak; a little disappointed not to put up more points, but overall pretty solid.”
While Kilgore also fumbled a quarterback sneak on the goal line in the first pre-season game – a 22-7 victory over the BC Lions at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium last Sunday – because of a poor exchange with the centre, this time he was stripped of the ball while carrying it with only one hand.
“The guy who flew over the top made a good play on it,” he said. “Got to put two (hands) on it.”
The Eskimos had assembled a seven-play drive from the Edmonton 54 to get to the Winnipeg one-yard line.
Long-snapper Ryan King honoured his grandfather, who recently passed away, by carrying the 35-year Canadian Forces veteran’s beret to the field for the national anthem. King later recovered a fumbled punt return at the Winnipeg 12-yard line, but two Kilgore pass attempts were incomplete, and Sean Whyte kicked a 19-yard field goal late in the first half for the Eskimos’ only points in the game.
Danny O’Brien, a six-year CFL veteran who has been a backup QB in Edmonton the last two years, played one series in the second quarter and most of the second half. He completed five of 10 passes for 24 yards.
O’Brien couldn’t capitalize on a 75-yard kickoff return by 2019 draft pick Shai Ross in the third quarter as Edmonton went 0-for-3 in the red zone. After getting a first down at the Winnipeg four-yard line, the Eskimos had a run for no yards and two incomplete passes into the end zone – including one that Ross couldn’t hang on to as he was tackled.
“I’ve been kind of beating myself up over it ever since, but it was a great return,” said Ross, a Winnipeg native who played at the University of Manitoba. “I had 11 great blocks out there. I saw a big hole and just hit it full speed. The rest took care of itself.
“I wish I could have got to the end zone, but I won’t make that mistake again,” he added.
Still, it was a night to remember for Ross, 25, who was chosen in the fifth round, 40th overall, only four weeks ago.
“Coming back to where I played college, where I grew up my whole life, 25 years in Winnipeg, the fan base that I had out here today was absolutely amazing,” he said. “I had so many people here. The No. 1 person would be my daughter. Any time I get to take the field in front of my daughter, it’s an absolute blessing. I feel so honoured to be able to do that.
“My whole family was here – my mom, all my aunties, all my uncles, my brothers and sisters. It was a really special moment.”
Of course, it was also an opportunity to show the Eskimos coaches what he is capable of doing on a CFL field.
“I feel like I’m adjusting well,” Ross said. “The speed of the game is a little bit quicker than I’m used to.
“We’ve still got a few days left of training camp. I’ve got to do everything I can to continue to show these coaches that I have what it takes to play at the next level. That’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Rookie quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe played the last 10 minutes of the game, completing six of 12 passes for 56 yards, including five passes on a nine-play drive late in the fourth quarter.
Bryce Bobo caught a game-high four passes for 38 yards while wide receiver DaVaris Daniels had a 20-yard catch early in the game and 2016 first-round draft pick Tevaun Smith had two catches for 25 yards and two kickoff returns for 46 yards.
Defensively, strong-side linebacker Brian Walker led the way with seven defensive tackles and a knockdown, defensive ends Ben Sorensen, and David Perkins had quarterback sacks, while defensive back Tyquwan Glass, who played nine games with the Montreal Alouettes last year, had four defensive tackles, a special teams tackle and knocked down a pass.
The Eskimos defence didn’t give up a touchdown during the two pre-season games until Winnipeg native Dylan Schrot got behind the Edmonton secondary to score a 48-yard pass-and-run TD late in the fourth quarter.
“A lot more plays came to me than in the first game,” said Glass, who played cornerback against BC, but strong-side defensive halfback against Winnipeg.
“I haven’t had a quick pre-season like this (before),” he added. “I’m just looking forward to what’s coming next.”
The Eskimos have Fan Day, presented by Carefree RV, on Sunday, with practice from 2-3 p.m. followed by a full-team autograph session at 3 p.m. at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
Daily practice sessions will continue until Thursday, with the final roster announced next Saturday.