Sanders cautious about return game rule change
You’d think a punt returner would look at the new rule brought into the CFL, giving the ball- handler some time before the dogs come at him, as something to celebrate.
Jock Sanders, though, isn’t so sure.
“We won’t really get a feel for it until it’s live,” cautioned Sanders, beginning his second season with the Stamps and fifth in the CFL.
One of two significant rule changes adopted during the offseason state is that the inside five lineman can’t move until the ball is kicked on a punt. That would imply all kinds of time for a return guy to dance around, but not so fast, says Sanders. “You can look at it all day and say it helps the returner, but you don’t know until it’s actually played,” he continued. “Some returners are used to those five yards and being able to get in and out, but now you might have 10- 15 yards before someone’s even there, so you never know. It’s a different challenge. You have to look at it from that perspective instead of always giving the advantage to the returners. The punters might do different punts, they might hang the ball higher now, so you never know until you see for yourself.
“Everyone says ‘ you’re going to have this much room’ and I hope so. I hope so.”
The 26- year- old also hopes for more significant time on the field for 2015.
“I’m looking to stay healthy,” the 5- foot- 7 Sanders said. “It was pretty frustrating, missing the most important game, the Grey Cup and not being able to help this team. But it’s a new year, different obstacles, and I’m ready for the challenge.”
CARIBBEAN PIPELINE
The Stamps are making the Caribbean a recruiting area of choice as they welcome the third player from that area into camp and second from the Bahamas.
They have linebacker Karl McCartney from Nassau. Last year, defensive lineman Frank Beltre, out of the Dominican Republic, joined the club. This year, it’s Rico Forbes from Freeport. A football hotbed? “It’s not, honestly,” smiled Forbes, a 6- foot- 6, 300- pound rookie offensive lineman. “We’re based on track and field. But I’ve always wanted to play football and the opportunity came up so I moved to Houston and started playing football in high school and it just took off.”
Sharing a place of birth with McCartney has provided an immediate and welcome connection.
“I didn’t know him before, but I have some friends who are friends with him and they told me about him,” explained Forbes, 26. “Once we met up, we’ve shared that bond. It’s great having someone here that I have something in common with.”
FRUSTRATION SHOWN
Day 2 of training camp was more like midway through a term in school, where you’re supposed to have the lesson down and the headmaster — in this case head coach John Hufnagel — isn’t going to take too kindly if you don’t.
There were a couple of instances on Monday in which Hufnagel displayed impatience with his charges, to be expected early on in proceedings.
“I wasn’t disappointed,” he pointed out. “It was a teaching practice. Sometimes because of a lot of new people they have to understand that they still have to get their mind into it right from the outset and I had to remind them.
“Probably more my mistake because I didn’t explain more thoroughly last night about what we expect. Hopefully I got their attention real quick.”
EXTRA POINTS: International OL Zebrie Sanders was released ... On the injury front, DB Fred Bennett ( back spasms) was slated to have a CT scan on Monday ... LB Glenn Love is expected to increase his workouts this week and Hufnagel would optimistically like to see him on the field during the second week of camp ... DB Jamar Wall ( personal) was back on the field Monday.