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With the 2014 CFL Draft set to take place Tuesday in Toronto, CFL on TSN analyst Duane Forde breaks down the top prospects. Today, he looks at running backs and linebackers. RUNNING BACKS 1) Anthony Coombs (RB, Manitoba) You Should Know: His coming out party was a 14-carry, 147-yard game against the United States Under-19 National Team as a member of the World Team in the 2012 International Bowl.The Good: He has averaged at least seven yards per carry in each of his four CIS seasons and that average improved every year, leaving him with a career average of 7.5 yards/carry.The Bad: Durability may be a concern, as he has missed time with minor injuries each of the last three seasons. 2) Pascal Lochard (RB, Laval) The Good: This versatile 60”, 215 lbs. back rushed for 184 yards – three yards shy of his career high – en route to earning MVP honours in the 2013 Vanier Cup. The Bad: Its not a knock on his ability or potential but, with the very crowded Laval backfield, he has rarely played more than half of the offensive snaps in a game. 3) Alexandre Dupuis (FB, Montreal) The Good: He battled back from surgeries on both knees in 2012 to become an RSEQ All-Star last season.The Bad: No one will question his toughness or work ethic but he might be a little limited athletically. 4) Robert Farquharson (RB, Guelph) The Good: Over the last two CIS seasons, his average of 112.9 rushing yards per game ranks first among Class of 2014 running backs, just ahead of Coombs (112.7).The Bad: A hamstring injury suffered during training camp limited him to only four regular season games in 2013. 5) Aaron Milton (RB, Toronto) The Good: He “plays faster” than he tests, and, considering that his 63”, 215 lbs. frame has room to carry more weight, he could eventually contribute as a fullback.The Bad: Hes coming off a shoulder injury that has left him a little behind in terms of upper body strength. Other Contenders: Guillaume Bourassa (Laval) – career high 66 carries, 402 rushing yards in 2013; 4.71 40-yard dash at CFL Combine was 2nd fastest among RBs behind Coombs Jordan Botel (Mount Allsion) – 2013 AUS nominee for Hec Crighton Trophy; has averaged 102.3 rushing yards/game over the last two seasons; played FB for CJFLs Vancouver Island Raiders in 2008-09, blocking for current B.C. Lion Andrew Harris Mackenzie Sarro (Calgary) – 64”, 245 lbs.; tied fellow FB Dupuis with 23 bench press reps at CFL Combine; had only one carry, seven receptions in two years with the Dinos Also On The Radar (alphabetically): Connor Anderson (York), Jeremy Andrew (Saskatchewan), Jean-Christophe Beaulieu (Sherbrooke); Errol Brooks (York); Zack Clarke (Acadia), Zack Davis (York), Sean Murphy (McGill), Raul Thompson (Concordia); Kurt Tonowski (Saint Marys); C.J. Zsoldos (Waterloo / London Beefeaters) LINEBACKERS 1) Casey Chin (Simon Fraser) You Should Know: He was a four-year starter and three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Star during his career with the Clan.The Good: He increased his tackle totals significantly each season, capping his career with an average of nearly 12 per game as a senior.The Bad: Listed at 510”, hes not physically imposing. 2) Max Caron (Concordia) The Good: He won the Presidents Trophy as the Top Defensive Player in CIS football as a sophomore and possesses a very high football IQ.The Bad: His physical upside may be limited, as hell turn 25 this summer. 3) Jesse Briggs (McGill) The Good: Ranked among the top LBs in all testing categories at the CFL Combine, with his 4.57 40 being the key to boosting his stock.The Bad: Hes not seen as a particularly physical player, and his on-field productivity hasnt necessarily matched his athletic ability. 4) Beau Landry (Western) The Good: He offers versatility, having been named a First Team All-Canadian as a defensive halfback in 2011 and again as a linebacker in 2013.The Bad: At the next level, he may find himself as a “tweener”, not possessing the speed of top defensive backs or the size of most linebackers. 5) Travis Bent (Concordia) The Good: Physical and aggressive, he had his best season in 2012, leading the Stingers with 61.5 tackles.The Bad: As highly touted as his teammate Caron when they entered the Stingers program in 2010, he hasnt yet reached that potential. Other Contenders: Christopher Johnson (Toronto) – 510”, 220 lbs.; compares well physically and athletically to drafts top LBs Sam Sabourin – was among the drafts elite prospects until he chose to retire due to concussion concerns; three-time All-Canadian could still be a late selection Thomas Miles (Manitoba) – second on Bisons with 39 tackles in 2013; also long snaps Also On The Radar (alphabetically): Aram Eisho (McMaster); Cody Kezama (Regina); Matt Lalande (Saint Marys); Pier-Yves Lavergne (Montreal); Eric Noivo (Concordia); Stephen Osman (McGill); Omar Smith-Jackson (Bishops); Richard Zacharias (Saskatchewan) Analysis: Ill discuss these two position groups together, as there are a number of similarities in terms of how theyre evaluated for the draft. While Jon Cornish, Andrew Harris, Shea Emry, and Henoc Muamba are household names for CFL fans, the reality is that the vast majority of the leagues non-import running backs and linebackers are depth guys, who will play far more snaps on special teams every week than they will on offence or defence. Since its difficult for teams to justify using first round picks for players who arent projected to play regularly on offence or defence, you generally dont see a lot of RBs and LBs selected in Round 1. In fact, in the last ten years, there has only been one draft in which the first round included more than one player from either of these two groups (Keep in mind that while Mike Edem, Shomari Williams, and Justin Phillips may have been listed as LBs, they were all drafted to play another position). In 2005, Akron LB Cam Yeow went second overall, McMaster RB Jesse Lumsden was chosen sixth, and Kentucky fullback Alexis Bwenge was the eighth overall selection. A significant factor leading to that anomaly was that the Class of 2005 was strong at neither offensive line nor receiver, the usual “marquee Canadian positions”. Coincidentally, a similar dynamic exists in this years draft class, which should open the door for the top running back and linebacker prospects to be among the first nine picks.At running back, the obvious choice is Coombs. In his eight Canada West games last season, the Winnipeg native rushed for 100+ yards four times and had 100+ receiving yards three times. The CFL Combine revealed both his willingness to pass block and his ability to compete as a receiver. All things considered, he is the best non-lineman in this draft class. On my board, Chin also ranks among the top three non-linemen available and projects as a potential future starter. Last season, the Simon Fraser product racked up 119 tackles in 10 games (11.9/game) to lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Four years ago, another 510” linebacker finished second in the GNAC with 96 tackles in 11 games (8.7/game). That player was current B.C. Lions star Adam Bighill, whose 196 tackles over the last two CFL seasons equals Montreals Chip Cox for the most in the league during that span. Granted, the number of tackles made can be a misleading statistic but, given his range and productivity, Chin should be given every opportunity to contribute on defence as well as special teams. Custom Detroit Lions Jerseys . -- Justin Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight decision, leading Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Sunday and extending the Tigers winning streak to a season-high five games. Christian Jones Jersey . The turf is scheduled to give way to actual grass that is bright green, so we dont have to complain any more—we just have to wait a few years. 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The former Toronto FC designated player played three of his 15 professional seasons with the team.In this weeks Three-Man Weave, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane are joined by Elias Sbiet, co-captain of North Pole Hoops, a leader in covering Canadian hoop stars at every level, to talk the Sterlings Monopoly Money, who can help keep Melo in Gotham, why the Raptors might go after Bramptons own Tyler Ennis in the Draft and of course, cover issues in the NBA Playoffs. Will this $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers affect the future pricing of NBA team deals? Watson: This is somewhat of an anomaly. It was the second biggest team sale in the history of sport, after the Los Angeles Dodgers went for $2 billion in 2012. Between New York and LA there is no bigger market in sports, which definitely played a factor in price. In addition to the fact this wasnt an owner looking at prospective buyers; it was more of a garage sale with billionaires coming out of the woodwork to bid. Sbiet: There are other teams in the NBA that would have higher bidders, so yes it would affect future pricing. The Lakers are estimated to be worth close to $1 billion, and if the Buss family wanted to sell, there would be potential buyers at their door and the Lakers would be in position to ask for more than $2 billion when considering the rich history. The other factors involved in the sale of a team such as; the citys population, team success and current value would be more compulsory for future pricing. Strickland: No. The expected financial windfall of the Sterlings is based on exigent circumstances, which have been well-documented within multiple media platforms. On top of the fact that the real estate is in a major market and huge free agent/player destination never hurts this price. Dont expect to see numbers like this coming up for a future sale of the Utah Jazz or Cleveland Cavaliers. Its simple geo-economics...and all mathematics. After Tyler Ennis pre-draft workout, do the Toronto Raptors trade up for the hometown point guard? Watson: Tyler Ennis would be a great pick up for any NBA team, hes the best point guard in the Draft. It would only make sense for them to do that if they arent willing to pay Greivis Vasquez or worse not pay Kyle Lowry this summer. Both are concerns, but Ennis has the type of poise that Damian Lillard had when he came in the league and exceeded expectations. Sbiet: In a record setting NBA Draft for Canadians, it would be a smart move for the Raps to keep the basketball culture rolling in this country by adding one to the roster, especially someone as celebrated and accomplished as Ennis. Hes someone you dont have to worry about as management or a coaching staff. Ennis is a true professional that will adapt quickly and earn respect from the team as a leader. On the defensive end his length and continuous development in lateral speed will help against the NBAs explosive guards. Every rookie is going to have to make adjustments coming into the league but Ennis is not one who will struggle to make them. On the other end, if they were to trade up is Ennis the piece they need or are looking for in T.O? Strickland: Depends on circumstance. In our #1On1 Mock Draft here on TSN.ca, I had Tyler going number six to Boston, which is pretty high, but also insurance given the persistent Rajon Rondo trade rumours. There is a feeling that Wheel & Deal Danny Ainge is in business to do business and Masai Ujiri is always looking to protect and serve the Raptors. Ennis would provide Ujiri with a solid contingency in the event either Kyle Lowry or Greivis Vasquez are lost to free agency. Its a long shot, but if the asset management play is right, I roll those dice to put a hometown guy who can be an impact player on my roster. If Carmelo Anthony would "embrace" Mark Jackson as coach, should the New York Knicks try and keep the pending free agent happy? Watson: The Knicks need to make decisions on coaching based on their ball club and not what their star wants. There is no guarantee that Anthony will stay and barring a miracle, the Knicks will have to endure some losses before they get to the winning pedigree of a couple of years ago. They need a coach who can command the locker room, Jackson is that guy, it just shouldnt be predicated on Melo. Sbiet: Im not a fan of the idea of "if" Carmelo embraces Mark Jackson. Yes, Melo is a superstar but superstars are being allowed too much control over management. If he wants to walk then let him go. Jackson could be exactly what New York needs in terms of someone that can get the Knicks personnel on one page. He revived the scene for the Warriors and has built a contending winning culture in the state. Of course theres a lot of pressure if he were to walk into New York, but his rock steady composure translates onto his players and that could make a major difference in his first year. Mark Jacksons record improved gradually to a 51--31 season.dddddddddddd Anthony and the Knicks would be fortunate to land Jackson. Strickland: Mark Jackson should have some sway in the executive offices and the locker room of the Worlds Most Famous Arena. As a well-respected colour commentator turned relatively successful coach and a popular former Rookie of The Year with the Knicks, Jackson has the star power to aid Phil Jackson in having Carmelo stay in Gotham. But they have no real assets, no draft picks, a paucity of keen playmakers and no leadership right now. Would you stay? Bon Voyage, Melo! Who is doing a better coaching job in the Western Conference Finals, Scott Brooks or Gregg Popovich? Watson: In various stretches both, however Scott Brooks adjustments inserting Reggie Jackson into the starting line-up and giving key minutes to Jeremy Lamb, while benching Thabo Sefolosha have paid dividends. Plus, setting a quickened tempo in the game using the fast break on the Spurs old legs, has worked to the Thunders advantage. Sbiet: Pop, but its not a no brainer, utmost respect for Brooks. Coach Popovichs control of substitutions and play calling is an art form of its own. At this point and time the Spurs are executing so well and on many possessions, dissecting OKCs defence, especially in transition. The three games that belong to the Spurs have not just been won, but dominated. Coach Pop injects his bench at key turn around points in the game and his bench responds with major contribution. You know I cant be on here without adding a little Canadian flavour. Lets refer back to that nasty dunk by Corey Joseph after splitting the D. Strickland: Its damn near blasphemous to suggest someone can outcoach Gregg Popovich. I almost slapped myself for pondering. Perish the thought! However, lets give credit where its due. Scott Brooks dug himself and his Thunder team out of its own playoff grave once again by letting go of his fierce loyalty to his starting lineup, pulling Sefolosha for more offence with Reggie Jackson and giving Steven Adams more time in the middle over Kendrick Perkins. It didnt hurt that Brooks may or may not have employed the services of Mr. Miyagis Healing Hands to get PF Serge Ibaka back in the lineup to stop the hemorrhaging of points in the paint and create court comfort for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to tie the series at two wins apiece. Pop and the Spurs counterpunched deftly in Game 5. Now Brooks has to show and prove once again in Game 6 or else its #TackleBox Season. What happens to Larry Birds Pacers if they lose the Eastern Conference Finals? Watson: Something has to happen, the Pacers havent been right since January. Paul George is a keeper, but after that, do what changes are necessary. This team was built to make it to the NBA Finals, and they havent got over the hump. I like Coach Vogel, but one of his assistants, Nate McMillan, has had experience as a head coach in the NBA if Bird is willing to make a change. Either that, or pray that one of the Big Three leaves Miami. Sbiet: You never know what to expect with the Pacers. Will Hibbert show up? Will they quit their antics and play basketball? The drama thats been surrounding the team means theres been internal affairs that have been lingering. Outside of Frank Vogel, George and Luis Scola most pieces are replaceable or at least worth it for Larry Bird to shop around. The Pacers need a backcourt that can consistently come out and defend teams with serious fire power at the three point line. Strickland: Full scale upheaval, starting with Frank Vogel, who has proven to be a solid coach. But the perceived inability to hold his talented but flawed locker room from strife and turmoil in the midst of fighting for what should have been a singular goal will be considered. He would have not been the man to drive the Pacers past the Miami Heat and into the NBA Finals. The question of re-signing mercurial do-everything guard Lance Stephenson is also at the top of President and GM Larry Birds list. Small market teams are loathe to exceed the salary cap threshold and Indiana, already locked into well over $52 million in cap space next season for four of their starters, face an unenviable situation where Lance will get overpaid for his services. The Where is the Issue: Where does he go and where does all of this leave the Indiana Pacers? It would seem they would be lost in the hinterland of teams like the Cleveland Cavs of the mid-late 80s and Sacramento Kings of the late-90s/early 2000s who were on the cusp of greatness, but always seemed to fall just short in their quest for NBA championship glory. The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1), Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and guest contributor with an injured calf coming through those locker room doors this week, Elias Sbiet (@Elias_NPH). ' ' '