For the last season-and-a-half the Edmonton Eskimos kicking game was shared by Grant Shaw, who handled punts and kickoffs, and Sean Whyte, who handled field goals.
The Eskimos decided against bringing Shaw back, leaving Whyte to handle all three kicking duties, something he hasn’t done since the 2014 season when he was playing for the Montreal Alouettes. Shaw says he needed to knock off some rust coming into training camp.
“I’ve been training real hard all off-season to get my strength and flexibility back and it’s starting to show,” Whyte said. “Honestly, I was a little worried coming in here. I’m like, ‘where is that power? But the balls I use in the off-season are so flat and used up and I’m not getting much pop. I use these new balls and I’m shocking myself.
“Everything feels really good, my body feels really good, a little heavy today but my body feels great.”
Whyte has a career 42.7 yard punt average. His best season punting came in 2014 with the Alouettes where he recorded a 44.9 yard average. Eskimos special teams coordinator Cory McDiarmid said even though Whyte didn’t punt during games last season, he was punting in practice.
“We saw what his abilities were and what he can do and we’re very comfortable with him,” McDiarmid said. “He’s a very solid punter, very strong leg. He’s dead on with his field goals and he can kick-off as well.
“He has the ability to do all three and that also frees up another spot to get another special teams type player on the roster as opposed to carrying two kickers.”
Over the last two seasons Whyte has averaged a field goal success rate of 93 per cent and led the CFL in 2016 with a 93.8 per cent success rate. He only missed three field goals, all from outside the 50 yard-line.
Whyte still has the services of veteran long-snapper Ryan King. The holder on field goals is different this season after the retirement of quarterback Jordan Lynch. So far quarterback Danny O’Brien has been the main holder on field goals, much to the approval of Whyte.
“I was a little worried about having a new holder because Jordan Lynch is probably one of the best I’ve ever had in my career,” Whyte said. “Just the fact that he’s a beauty and loves to have fun and makes every day fun. I asked Danny and Danny is a perfectionist and wants to be perfect at it. We also told him how Jordan used to be which was a goof ball and made every day fun. He talks about things that you probably shouldn’t be talked about when we’re kicking a ball. He’s (O’Brien) having a good time and he’s fitting in and filling in the role of Jordan Lynch really well.”
Wednesday’s session saw a few scuffles as the mental and physical fatigue started to set after six practice sessions in four days. Head coach Jason Maas’ main message to the players following practice was to pay attention to their bodies and if any tweaks come up it’s important to let the trainers know.
Receiver Shamawd Chambers left the second session Wednesday morning favouring his right hamstring. Receiver Brandon Zylstra rested his injured groin again Wednesday. There’s no further update on the left leg injury to linebacker Cory Greenwood, Maas said the team is still waiting on more information.
The Eskimos will have one session Thursday on The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium from 9:20 a.m. to Noon.
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