CJFL Offseason Forecast: Wildcats looking to get back to playoffs

 

What’s Changing?

The core of the Edmonton Wildcats stays in tack heading into the 2015.  However, one of the biggest shoes to fill is the role of the General Manager.  Last season after the sudden passing of Al Park, the Wildcats were lucky to have Jason Dailey step into the role on an interim basis.  The Wildcats have gone through an extensive formal search and hope to announce the new General Manager just prior to their spring camp on May 7th.

The Wildcats have a pair of coaching changing heading into the season.  Jason Mclean replaces running backs coach Jim Nahrebeski and one of the biggest off-season additions is the hiring of Jeremy Bell as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.  Bell played a number of seasons with the Okanagan Sun before finishing his playing career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Bell will implement a program that the Wildcats have not seen before.

Graduating Players:

* WR Brad Quartel: Another All-Canadian season for Quartel in his graduating year making 45 receptions for a Conference high 819 yards and three touchdowns.  His 89 yard reception was a Conference high and he averaged 18.2 yards a catch.

* DL Isaiah Hoeppner: When the Wildcats needed pressure on a quarterback Hoeppner seemingly was the man to respond.  His 15 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks and a knockdown helped Hoeppner anchor the defensive line in his graduating year.

* DL Keaton Hoddinott:  The 2014 Past Commissioners award winner finished his final season with 16 solo tackles, 3 assisted stops, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

* LB Brett Morrow: With 33 solo tackles, Morrow led the Wildcats in 2014 finishing as a four year starter.  He collected 11 assisted tackles, a knockdown, a forced fumble and 81 defensive points.  Morrow will play for the University of Alberta Golden Bears this season.

What They Need:

With a number of quality players returning on the offensive side of the ball, the Wildcats are looking to strengthen their defence in the offseason.  Losing Hoeppner and Hoddinott on the defensive line, Morrow at the linebacker position and Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren in the secondary, the “D” becomes relatively young.  The Wildcats are looking for recruits that can fill those holes, along with adding depth to the offensive line.

Counting On:

Scoring points in 2014 didn’t seem to be a problem for the Wildcats, outscoring two of the four playoff teams.    This season they will look to the battery of quarterback Jordan Olson and receiver Ryan Smith, both fifth year players to lead the offensive.  Last year Olson completed 129 passes for a Conference high 1,973 yards and 10 touchdowns.  His 84.6% passer efficiency rating was second highest in the PFC completing 53.8% of his passes.

Smith on the other hand made 30 receptions for 569 yards and three majors.  Without Quartel, Smith will be the “go-to guy” for the Cats in the new season.

Defensively the Wildcats will rely on veteran defensive back Ryan Doram, a ball hawk who made three interceptions including one of a touchdown last season along with 19 solo tackles, 2 knockdowns and had a block.

The other defensive leader that will be relied upon is fifth year defensive lineman Marcus Goods.   He was very “good” last year with 22 tackles, 7 assisted tackles a team high 4.5 sacks.

The Wildcats will open Spring Camp at Rundle Park May 7-10, 2015, weather and field availability dependent.