CJFL Offseason Forecast: Huskies looking to stay consistent in 2015

After a very hot start in 2014, the Edmonton Huskies slowed in the second half of the season and missed a playoff berth.  In 2015 the Huskies will be another year older and will look for consistency to punch their ticket to the post season

What’s Changing?

The leadership of the Huskies remains the same for 2015 as General Manager Bob Bula returns for his 28th season with the club working again as the General Manager for the team.  Bob was joined by Tom Van Amsterdam last year who returns to bring his enthusiasm and passion for football in the Assistant General Manager role.

Iain MacLean enters his third season as head coach with some changes and new faces on the coaching staff.  Sammy Okpro will take over play calling for the Defense in 2015 as he will enter his first year as coordinator after serving the past two seasons as the teams DB coach.  The defense has added Colt William as DB coach and moved Eric Theroux from his running back position to the linebackers.  Offensively Chris Fricker joins the staff as the teams running back coach and run game coordinator.  Coming to the Huskies from the Parkland Panthers High School Program, Fricker a Huskie alumni and 7 year CFL vet brings a great deal of knowledge and passion to the running game and the staff as a whole.

Graduating Players:

* QB Trevor Erdmann – The most noticeable difference on the field in 2015 will be behind center.  Erdmann graduates the program and will be suiting up for the University of Albert in the fall following a season in which he completed a Conference high 136 passes for 1,757 yards and 11 touchdowns.  The Ardrossan, Alberta native leaves the Huskies after five years as the all-time passer in Huskie history and in the top 10 all time in CJFL.

* OL Shawn Walter – Shawn leaves big shoes to fill on the inside of the Offensive Line.  The graduating center played a huge leadership role on and off the field.

* WR – Marc Laplante – The utility man in the receiving core will leave a void this year.  Marc lined up at every receiving position throughout his four year career with the Huskies and filled in as a kicker when required.

* DB Dillon Garry – The vet of the DB core leaves the Huskies after five seasons.  Dillon started every game over the past three seasons.  In 2014 he collected 25 tackles and one knockdown.

What they need:

The best player plays philosophy returns in 2015.  With all positions on the line and competition the basis of Huskie culture fierce training camp battles have become the norm.  Returning a strong core in 2015 the Huskies need players in key roles to come into their own for the 2015 season.  Receiver, Defensive line, and linebacker will all be positions that the team will be looking to young players to step into.  Offensive line depth is also a priority.

Counting On:

Consistency is the mantra in 2015 for the Huskies.  A very young team in 2014 will look to improve on all facets of the game in the upcoming season.  Offensively Jimmie Airey showed flashes in previous years and the offensive line looks to be mature and improved.  The commitment to the run game will ease the transition for the quarterback competition that will unfold in camp.

Defensively look for the high pressure aggressive nature of the Huskie defense to continue under Coach Okpro.  Daniel Loggale and PFC rookie DB Chase Paylor will be counted on in the secondary as well as Jassen Brown who came into his own in the second half of the season at the linebacker position.

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