TORONTO — It isn’t quite June yet but Training Camps officially open today, signalling the beginning of 2016 preparation in the CFL. All nine teams hit the field this afternoon with their entire squad intact. Most clubs hosted QB and Rookie Camps last week before veterans reported on Saturday.

The opening of training camp brings a close to one of the busiest off-seasons in recent memory. One where a Grey Cup winning coach took over the sidelines and front office of a rival club, where marquee players were on the move in a free agency to remember and where roster tinkering has led to an anticipated training camp.

CFL.ca looks at the most important storylines and pressing position battles on every team as the three-week lead-up to kickoff begins … READ MORE

All eyes on Quarterbacks

Go West to East and you will be hard-pressed to find a team that has their entire quarterback hierarchy sorted out. Starters in new places and backups fighting for their spot on the depth chart will make for a training camp full of intrigue.

That’s where the focus will be in Hamilton in the coming days, where Zach Collaros is slated to miss the start of the regular season while continuing his recovery from knee surgery. Jeremiah Masoli is the most likely option to start the season for the Tabbies after taking over the role late last year and thriving in the playoffs, but Jeff Mathews will be one to watch entering his second season along with Jacory Harris.

Henry Burris and Trevor Harris kick off their partnership in Ottawa as one of the league’s top one-two punches at the position but the REDBLACKS are making it clear that Burris is indeed the team’s no. 1 pivot.

Ricky Ray is the man in Toronto but how healthy will he be? Rookie camp indicated that he is back to his old form after recovering from a shoulder injury. With Harris gone who steps up if Ray goes down?

Still, the biggest questions come from Vancouver and Montreal.

In B.C. the Lions have the only open quarterback competition this training camp as veteran and former Most Outstanding Player Travis Lulay challenges young Jonathon Jennings for a chance to start the regular season. The Alouettes named Kevin Glenn their starter but intrigue surrounds young pivots Rakeem Cato, Brandon Bridge and, most of all, the recently-signed Vernon Adams.

New regimes to set the tone out West

Four of the five Western teams will open camp today with a different sideline boss since their last game. Mike O’Shea takes on his third year at the helm of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but for everyone else, change is the name of the game.

After moving into strictly a GM role in 2012, Wally Buono has returned to the BC sidelines after he and Jeff Tedford disbanded after one year. With the Leos looking to recharge after first round playoff exits in the last two seasons, how will the return impact Wally’s legacy?

In Calgary Dave Dickenson takes over his first training camp after be groomed as the successor to the club’s president and general manager John Hufnagel. A retooled defence and a few key personnel losses in the off-season could test the rookie head coach as he looks to continue the winning formula in Calgary.

And then there are the Riders and Esks. A well-debated off-season carousel of coaches saw Chris Jones head to Saskatchewan taking over their entire football operation just days after leading Edmonton to their first Grey Cup in a decade. The Esks countered by hiring a former quarterback and upstart sideline boss in Jason Maas who served as the offensive coordinator in Ottawa. Will Jones turn the tide in Riderville? Can Maas keep the Grey Cup hangover away from Commonwealth?



Training Camp need to know:

Teams are permitted to participate in training camp with 75 roster players in addition to 2016 CFL Draft picks; two additional national non-counters; and underclass national quarterbacks ineligible to sign a contract or play in a pre-season game as part of the QB Internship program, among others … The CFL Pre-Season schedule kicks off on June 11 when Winnipeg hosts Montreal and both pre-season weeks feature a triple-header … The first major cut-down day is June 14 as all CFL teams must reduce their rosters to 65 players (excluding non-counters) by 11:59 p.m. … The final cut-down day is June 18 as all CFL teams must reduce their rosters to 46 active players (excluding six-game injured list and those transferred to the one-game injured list) by 10:00 p.m.