As the Edmonton Eskimos prepare to play the Calgary Stampeders in Monday’s Labour Day Classic, they made a move to help their kicking game.
On Saturday, the Eskimos signed sixth-year kicker Chris Milo who will step right into the fire on Monday in Calgary.
Head coach Jason Maas says Milo will handle the field goal kicking while Hugh O’Neill will take care of the punting.
“Hugh has done a tremendous job stepping in for Whitey (Sean Whyte) particularly in punting, his punting has been lights out,” Maas said. “The field goal kicking is the part he’s not been the best at. He’s done a great job for us up to this point but I know Milo is a very good field goal kicker. There’s no situation he hasn’t been put in and been successful.”
In four games in place of the injured Sean Whyte, O’Neill recorded an 80 per cent success rate in field goals and 66.7 per cent on coverts. His punt average is 46.6 yards. Milo is a career 81 per cent in his field goal attempts playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Ottawa Redblacks. He was with the Redblacks last season during their run to a Grey Cup championship. His career-high in field percentage is 88.9 per cent, established in the 2015 CFL season.
Milo’s only practice of the week came on Saturday with his new team, but he says it shouldn’t be an issue come Monday in Calgary.
“For us kickers and the specialists, I guess it’s an easier transition if you want to say,” Milo said. “You don’t have to learn a whole playbook. I just have to put it through the uprights.
“I’ve worked with (long-snapper) Levi (Steinhauer) in Saskatchewan and I’ve worked with (holder) Danny (O’Brien) in Ottawa, so I guess it’s just a good fit.”
Milo was hired by the Eskimos as a scout for the Quebec University league of Usport. He received a call from Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland about his desire to bring him in to kick.
Sean Whyte was placed on the six-game injured list following the game on Aug. 4 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Maas says Whyte is expected back this season but may be out longer than first anticipated.
“Sean’s out but he’s out for a while longer.”
At practice on Saturday, receiver Vidal Hazelton, defensive backs Arjen Colquhoun and Josh Woodman and linebacker Terrance Bullitt all did not take part in practice.
Kickoff for the Labour Day Classic on Monday from McMahon Stadium in Calgary is 1 p.m. 630 CHED will have live coverage starting with Countdown to Kick-off at 11:30 a.m.
Two former Eskimo players waived
Saturday is roster cut-down day in the NFL and two former members of the Eskimos didn’t make the grade. Linebacker Deon Lacey has been waived by the Miami Dolphins and receiver Derel Walker has been waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both can still be placed on the team’s practice roster if they are not claimed by another NFL team by tomorrow. If not, both will become free-agents.
Comments