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Brandon Isaac took his time picking a CFL team, but in the end, he went to a system where he was most comfortable.

And that wasn’t with the Calgary Stampeders.

The two-year Stamps linebacker-defensive back officially signed with the Toronto Argonauts Tuesday, spurning offers from Calgary and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

By signing with the Argos, Isaac is reunited with defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, who left the Stamps after four years in charge of the defence.

“It’s great to be back with coach Jones,” Isaac said. “We have a solid relationship, and we are both hard-working guys who want to win. I am so fortunate to be back with him.”

Isaac has been a free agent since Feb. 15, but he waited out to see if the NFL came calling before opting to return for a third CFL season.

In 28 regular-season games, the South Carolina product had 46 sacks and three sacks.There is a good chance Isaac slides in to play the same coverage linebacker spot he occupied with the Stamps in 2011.

“He is versatile and can play six positions within our defence, plus he is able to blitz,” Jones said in a statement. “He is a hard worker with tremendous character and is a film studier. We are excited he’s decided to join us at the Argos.”

Isaac joins former college teammate Cory Boyd with the Argos, and he’s excited to switch teams.

“This is a great opportunity to be with an organization that is on the way up and doing the right things to become a winning program,” Isaac said.

“I have watched them grow as an outsider, and now I want to come in here and make big plays.”

Extra points

The Stampeders announced Tuesday they have signed import LB Deron Mayo and import DL Michael Stover while releasing import LB Daren Stone after one injury-plagued season … The Montreal Alouettes signed undrafted Canadian QB Kyle Quinlan to a two-year contract. Quinlan led McMaster Marauders to its first Vanier Cup last season … The Blue Bombers extended the contract of import LB Dustin Doe and signed non-import
OL Samuel Nemis. Doe played three games with the Bombers in 2011.
— QMI Agency

Here is Stampeders GM-head coach John Hufnagel’s scouting reports on the eight selections the team made in Thursday’s CFL Canadian Draft.

First round (5th overall)
Ameet Pall, DL, Wofford
5-11, 240 lb.
Hufnagel says: “Excellent pass rusher with a great motor. He can contribute on special teams. He will be a defensive end but he’s played the three technique in certain defences. I can see him coming in on second and long situations and being a defensive tackle. Having that pass-rush ability, he can do that.”

Third round (15th overall)
Keenan MacDougall, DB, Saskatchewan
6-2, 208 lb.
Hufnagel says: “Him being hurt last year (knee) was a concern to a lot of people. We wanted to add depth to the safety position. He feels good right now. I hope he has an injury-free year for us.”
Third round (19th overall)

Billy Peach, OL, Jacksonville University
6-4, 323 lb.
Hufnagel says: “They put their tackles on an island. He has good feet. He has grown as a player. He’s a hard worker and he knows he needs to improve. His best position might be centre and that was attractive for us.”

Fourth round (27th overall)
Bradley Erdos, OL, Simon Fraser University
6-3, 285 lb.
Hufnagel says: “He’s an athletic offensive tackle. He has good explosion in run blocks. He can play in space. Mike Gibson (the offensive-line coach) is thrilled to have both Peach and Erdos.”
Fourth round (30th overall)

Adam Berger, DB, Simon Fraser University
6-0, 205 lb.
Hufnagel says: “Here is a playmaker. He’s instinctive. He will contribute on special teams. He does that at SFU, not only covering but in the return game. He does a great job. He’s a halfback, and maybe an in-the-box safety. He has enough speed to cover the back end too.”
Fifth round (31st overall)

Mike Filer, OL, Mount Allison
6-2, 295 lb.
Hufnagel says: “I liked his performance at E-camp. He earned his invitation. In the one-on-one situations, he was one of the two best. He competes and is a warrior. He’s not real pretty but he gives you what you want.”

Sixth round (43rd overall)
Jordan Spence, DL, Eastern Oregon University
6-3, 270 lb.
Hufnagel says: “We drafted him because of potential. The man has potential. We drafted him where we should have drafted him.”

Sixth round (45th overall)
Wilkerson Desouza, LB, Toronto
5-11, 227 lb.
Hufnagel says: “(Special teams co-ordinator) Mark Kilam likes this player as a special teams contributor. You don’t know what type of injuries you may get.”

— Buz

John Hufnagel has his man, and the Calgary Stampeders have filled their biggest need in terms of depth.

In a trade-filled first round of the CFL draft, the Stamps stayed with their spot at No. 5 to grab Ameet Pall, a defensive lineman out of Wofford.

“He’s a versatile player,” Hufnagel said. “He’s an explosive player who can play sideline to sideline. He’s had a bunch of sacks. He had five this past year and 12 the year before.

“His coaches can’t say enough about this young man. He’s a consistently hard worker on the football field, in the classroom and the weight room.

“They would love to have 11 Ameet Palls on their defensive team. He’s a leader both on the field and off the field. He will contribute on special teams and compete solidly at the defensive line position.”

The Saskatchewan Roughriders took Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan with the first overall pick, then there was a bunch of trading.

The B.C. Lions traded up to get the No. 2 pick from the Edmonton Eskimos and selcted Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jabar Westerman.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers traded for the No. 3 pick, getting it from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and they took offensive lineman Tyson Pencer, who played with the junior Okanagan Sun last season.

The Eskimos made a smooth move in trading down, as offensive lineman Austin Pasztor was still on the board for them at No. 4, and then they grabbed receiver Shamawd Chambers with the sixth pick.

Calgary Dinos offensive lineman Kirby Fabien then went seventh to the B.C. Loins.

— Buz

A few years ago, it would have seemed unlikely for any quarterback to go into the CFL Canadian Draft with high expectations.

Maybe things have changed. A year ago, the Calgary Stampeders used their fourth-round pick (29th overall) to snag Brad Sinopoli out of the University of Ottawa.

Thanks to Sinopoli, now a player such as Kyle Quinlan could realistically expect to hear his named called May 3. All the McMaster Marauders product is hoping for is a chance to show a CFL team what he can do during a full training camp, just as Sinopoli did when he earned the third-string role.

Quinlan, who is nominated for the prestigious BLG Award for top CIS athlete, has even more credentials from Canadian university football than Sinopoli did. He led the Marauders to the Vanier Cup title and averaged gaudy numbers (342 yards passing per game in regular season, more than 40 points per game in playoffs).

They both have similar builds being tall with strong arms. Quinlan might have more of an advantage due to his running ability. He rushed for 106 yards against the tight Laval Rouge et Or defence in the Vanier.

The problem with the CFL import ratio is quarterbacks never factor in. Teams dress 20 Canadians, 19 imports and three quarterbacks among their 42 active players. If a Canadian happens to be a non-import, he doesn’t count against the ratio. The Stampeders dressed 21 Canadians every game last season.

If the CFL were to give the teams the option of dressing another import elsewhere if they had a Canadian QB (make it just 20 non-imports and 22 imports), maybe more homegrown pivots would get put on rosters.

There are other reasons why Canadians don’t get used as QBs. The majority of the coaches in the CFL are American, and they scout the U.S. for talent. There is generally thought to be a better level of coaching in the U.S. college ranks, and kids growing up south of the border get more snaps before they turn pro.

When it comes to a Canadian advantage, Quinlan can only think of one.

“Canadian quarterbacks grow up in the game,” Quinlan said. “It should be a huge advantage on our American counterparts. We should be able to understand the nuances of the Canadian game. The only advantage we would have is that familiarity with the Canadian style.”

Still, if Quinlan does get a shot, he feels good about his chances.

“With a lot of Canadian quarterbacks getting a shot, as long as you put yourself in that position to be evaluated on an even pace as the Americans, it should be good,” said Quinlan, who would have to decide if he would go Sinopoli’s path and forego his final college season.

“If I’m lucky enough to get that opportunity, I will have to weigh the pros and cons of a fifth year at McMaster or sticking in the CFL. It would be a good problem to have if I’m fortunate enough to have it.”

—————————
New jersey launched May 2
The Stampeders — and the entire CFL — will have a new look on the field this season. The Stamps will be unveiling their new duds May 2, a day before a handful of new players join the team through the Canadian Draft.

The Reebok-designed jerseys should be interesting as the technology in clothing has come a long way the past few years. Both home and away jerseys will be debuted at the ceremony at McMahon Stadium.

— Buz

Fiscal responsibility has taken over in the CFL.

No team broke the 2011 salary cap of $4.3 million, the league announced Thursday. With no one going over the cap, commissioner Mark Cohon didn’t need to dole out any punishment and therefore the draft order remains the same.

“The success of our Salary Management System underlines our teams’ commitment to putting a great product on the field and following sound business principles at the same time,” Cohon said.

“The work our Board of Governors and our football leaders have done on this issue is an important building block in our league’s strong foundation.”

This is the first time there was no cap breaker since the system came in during the 2007 campaign. There will be even more spending room this season, as the cap increases to $4.35 million.

— Buz