Rids

This is true that it comes down to the evaluator.
 
Honestly you can run a scouting department with an excel spreadsheet and submitted word doc reports to a shared online Google drive. It would cost you 10 laptops, 10 hotspot devices and the travel to go see 1000 players each off season. However the advantage to signing up for a service like this one is that you gain 15 years of history with a click of a button. The hours of research saved likely equal out to the cost of the service. Your GM doesn't have to dig around trying to find a proper contact for the player or who they are currently represented by or dig deep to find out if their representation is certified for the CFL. You can check to see their previous playing and testing history from a reliable source (40 yard dash time clocked by a reliable source vs crazy Uncle Leo is a valuable tool!!). 
 
If I've had players send me false information, you can only imagine what pro teams get from these players. Especially the ones bordering on desperation for their final shot at playing in the League which turns into desperation to playing in any League. 
 
I talked to a Dallas Cowboys scout once that was contacted by a receiver that was two years out of school. This receiver played at a good D2 school, had a reasonable career and playing resume. Included in what he sent to the scout was a workout tape showing marked improvement in his bench press and overall testing numbers. The 40 time in there showed the stopwatch on the screen to prove the time. So they brought him in for a workout. Turns out his great dash time was actually clocked at 37 yards instead of 40. Needless to say he didn't get an offer.

This is true that it comes down to the evaluator.
 
Honestly you can run a scouting department with an excel spreadsheet and submitted word doc reports to a shared online Google drive. It would cost you 10 laptops, 10 hotspot devices and the travel to go see 1000 players each off season. However the advantage to signing up for a service like this one is that you gain 15 years of history with a click of a button. The hours of research saved likely equal out to the cost of the service. Your GM doesn't have to dig around trying to find a proper contact for the player or who they are currently represented by or dig deep to find out if their representation is certified for the CFL. You can check to see their previous playing and testing history from a reliable source (40 yard dash time clocked by a reliable source vs crazy Uncle Leo is a valuable tool!!). 
 
If I've had players send me false information, you can only imagine what pro teams get from these players. Especially the ones bordering on desperation for their final shot at playing in the League which turns into desperation to playing in any League. 
 
I talked to a Dallas Cowboys scout once that was contacted by a receiver that was two years out of school. This receiver played at a good D2 school, had a reasonable career and playing resume. Included in what he sent to the scout was a workout tape showing marked improvement in his bench press and overall testing numbers. The 40 time in there showed the stopwatch on the screen to prove the time. So they brought him in for a workout. Turns out his great dash time was actually clocked at 37 yards instead of 40. Needless to say he didn't get an offer.

The system isn't a standardized scouting program. That word standardized showed up in this thread. 
 
The Dan Rambo organization has a database with 110,000 players in it with their playing history, agent contact info and it's updated on a daily basis with the most recent transactions. On the other side of the program teams can log in from anyplace in the country. The scouts are able to input their thoughts, grades and details on players they've seen while the general manager can log in and check on where they are at for reviewing players. I've known some individuals that have worked for FBXchange but haven't seen all of the new capabilities on the team management side yet. Not sure if scout A submits a report on a player if scout B can see that report or only the GM. 
 
 
 
 
Every tryout brings 60 to 85 players out. Players pre-register so you have an idea of 95% of the players that will be there ahead of time (some late additions always). Using a program like this you can put all these player names into a list and print them out so you can see their backgrounds.
Then tie in the scouting combines where you'll get to see another 100 to 150 at a time and you can take the top testers and add them into a list as well. Some of the mobile options are really interesting (although some of the locations make any sort of internet connection next to impossible). 
 
There are quite a few programs similar to this. Some are bare bones that you purchase (one time fee vs monthly cost) and then have to populate, some are nice that let you upload/download from an excel file, basically some are better than others. FBXchange is designed by somebody with a solid knowledge of what the CFL teams need which is a pretty nice feature all in itself. 

The system isn't a standardized scouting program. That word standardized showed up in this thread. 
 
The Dan Rambo organization has a database with 110,000 players in it with their playing history, agent contact info and it's updated on a daily basis with the most recent transactions. On the other side of the program teams can log in from anyplace in the country. The scouts are able to input their thoughts, grades and details on players they've seen while the general manager can log in and check on where they are at for reviewing players. I've known some individuals that have worked for FBXchange but haven't seen all of the new capabilities on the team management side yet. Not sure if scout A submits a report on a player if scout B can see that report or only the GM. 
 
 
 
 
Every tryout brings 60 to 85 players out. Players pre-register so you have an idea of 95% of the players that will be there ahead of time (some late additions always). Using a program like this you can put all these player names into a list and print them out so you can see their backgrounds.
Then tie in the scouting combines where you'll get to see another 100 to 150 at a time and you can take the top testers and add them into a list as well. Some of the mobile options are really interesting (although some of the locations make any sort of internet connection next to impossible). 
 
There are quite a few programs similar to this. Some are bare bones that you purchase (one time fee vs monthly cost) and then have to populate, some are nice that let you upload/download from an excel file, basically some are better than others. FBXchange is designed by somebody with a solid knowledge of what the CFL teams need which is a pretty nice feature all in itself. 

The system isn't a standardized scouting program. That word standardized showed up in this thread. 
 
The Dan Rambo organization has a database with 110,000 players in it with their playing history, agent contact info and it's updated on a daily basis with the most recent transactions. On the other side of the program teams can log in from anyplace in the country. The scouts are able to input their thoughts, grades and details on players they've seen while the general manager can log in and check on where they are at for reviewing players. I've known some individuals that have worked for FBXchange but haven't seen all of the new capabilities on the team management side yet. Not sure if scout A submits a report on a player if scout B can see that report or only the GM. 
 
 
 
 
Every tryout brings 60 to 85 players out. Players pre-register so you have an idea of 95% of the players that will be there ahead of time (some late additions always). Using a program like this you can put all these player names into a list and print them out so you can see their backgrounds.
Then tie in the scouting combines where you'll get to see another 100 to 150 at a time and you can take the top testers and add them into a list as well. Some of the mobile options are really interesting (although some of the locations make any sort of internet connection next to impossible). 
 
There are quite a few programs similar to this. Some are bare bones that you purchase (one time fee vs monthly cost) and then have to populate, some are nice that let you upload/download from an excel file, basically some are better than others. FBXchange is designed by somebody with a solid knowledge of what the CFL teams need which is a pretty nice feature all in itself. 

The system isn't a standardized scouting program. That word standardized showed up in this thread. 
 
The Dan Rambo organization has a database with 110,000 players in it with their playing history, agent contact info and it's updated on a daily basis with the most recent transactions. On the other side of the program teams can log in from anyplace in the country. The scouts are able to input their thoughts, grades and details on players they've seen while the general manager can log in and check on where they are at for reviewing players. I've known some individuals that have worked for FBXchange but haven't seen all of the new capabilities on the team management side yet. Not sure if scout A submits a report on a player if scout B can see that report or only the GM. 
 
 
 
 
Every tryout brings 60 to 85 players out. Players pre-register so you have an idea of 95% of the players that will be there ahead of time (some late additions always). Using a program like this you can put all these player names into a list and print them out so you can see their backgrounds.
Then tie in the scouting combines where you'll get to see another 100 to 150 at a time and you can take the top testers and add them into a list as well. Some of the mobile options are really interesting (although some of the locations make any sort of internet connection next to impossible). 
 
There are quite a few programs similar to this. Some are bare bones that you purchase (one time fee vs monthly cost) and then have to populate, some are nice that let you upload/download from an excel file, basically some are better than others. FBXchange is designed by somebody with a solid knowledge of what the CFL teams need which is a pretty nice feature all in itself. 

This is a clear cut situation but the case for Thibault isn't that clear cut. In fact his Laval teammate fulfilled your scenario. Yannick Morin-Platte who was the fastest guy at the 2012 East-West Bowl. Career production 31 GP 50 receptions 576 yards 3 TDs, had a great CFL Combine but couldn't make the Stampeders after being a 3rd round draft pick. Goes back to Laval and puts up another 150 or so receiving yards again.
 
It's a guy that's put in a lot of work in the weight room and on the training field but doesn't fit a role on the football field. Not a starting receiver, not a starting safety, not a starting cornerback. So what is he? I believe he'll be drafted and likely 2nd or 3rd round but does he make the team or the PR? If he makes the team does he do more than cover kicks? 
 
You all know a player's CIS production will not give him any edge at all moving into the CFL. This isn't like the NFL-NCAA relationship in any form. Every NFL player personnel guy could tell you a handful of things about Johnny Manziel during the season last year and probably about his last game, how many CFL player personnel guys could tell you anything about Billy McPhee or how his season was going last year? Or, since it's the CFL, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - they all knew who he was but did they know how McGill played that Saturday? If you can't produce at the lower level there will be a question mark about being able to produce moving up. The CFL isn't a step faster than the CIS it's 3 or 4 steps in most cases.

When 45% of the leagues non-imports are playing on the OL it makes drafting those positions a major focal point. 

It's true that only 20 to 25 players from any given draft go on to CFL careers lasting 3 seasons or more. However part of the reason behind that is that in CIS you need players at all 24 positions but in the CFL if you don't have NI depth you have no need for any NIs at that position. 
 
 
 
That is especially visible on defense. Most teams line up with 5 NI starters on offense (3 OL, 2 R) and then slide in 2 on defense (many cases it's a DL and S). 67% of all the non imports in the 2012 CFL season were OL and receivers. Doesn't leave a lot of room for players in other positions. 
 
Even though there were 27 starting middle linebackers last year in the CIS there's no need for any of them unless they can shift to WLB as primarily all of the MLB and SLBs in the CFL are imports. But there was also 27 starting WLBs and SLB in the CIS so there's 81 starting linebackers looking for spots on 9 teams except there aren't 81 spots available. In the 2012 season there were 4 Non-Imports that made the starting line up as linebackers and 21 others on the 46 man rosters around the league. That made up for 14.37% of the total NIs in the league that season. Moving that forward you've got 25 spots available (albeit most on special teams) with a turnover of approximately 30% a year making it 7.5 spots available each off season. 

It's true that only 20 to 25 players from any given draft go on to CFL careers lasting 3 seasons or more. However part of the reason behind that is that in CIS you need players at all 24 positions but in the CFL if you don't have NI depth you have no need for any NIs at that position. 
 
 
 
That is especially visible on defense. Most teams line up with 5 NI starters on offense (3 OL, 2 R) and then slide in 2 on defense (many cases it's a DL and S). 67% of all the non imports in the 2012 CFL season were OL and receivers. Doesn't leave a lot of room for players in other positions. 
 
Even though there were 27 starting middle linebackers last year in the CIS there's no need for any of them unless they can shift to WLB as primarily all of the MLB and SLBs in the CFL are imports. But there was also 27 starting WLBs and SLB in the CIS so there's 81 starting linebackers looking for spots on 9 teams except there aren't 81 spots available. In the 2012 season there were 4 Non-Imports that made the starting line up as linebackers and 21 others on the 46 man rosters around the league. That made up for 14.37% of the total NIs in the league that season. Moving that forward you've got 25 spots available (albeit most on special teams) with a turnover of approximately 30% a year making it 7.5 spots available each off season. 

Aaron Picton is out. Got it sorted out this afternoon and have to fix my list. Under the old rules he would've been part of this draft class but under the new rules he's part of the 2015 Draft. Now he did have the opportunity to enter this draft like Anthony Coombs did but chose to delay. 
 
Sam Sabourin by all accounts should be 2014 Draft as he suited up as a freshman. As to the combine you need at least 3 CFL teams to request you to attend before they extend an invite. I would've suspected that he would've received that but perhaps it's a little gamesmanship going on. I think he's likely a 3rd round pick maybe even as high as late 2nd (picks #16 through 27)
 
I don't see Karl Lavoie on the opening day roster in 2010 but will dig in a little more on him.

Aaron Picton is out. Got it sorted out this afternoon and have to fix my list. Under the old rules he would've been part of this draft class but under the new rules he's part of the 2015 Draft. Now he did have the opportunity to enter this draft like Anthony Coombs did but chose to delay. 
 
Sam Sabourin by all accounts should be 2014 Draft as he suited up as a freshman. As to the combine you need at least 3 CFL teams to request you to attend before they extend an invite. I would've suspected that he would've received that but perhaps it's a little gamesmanship going on. I think he's likely a 3rd round pick maybe even as high as late 2nd (picks #16 through 27)
 
I don't see Karl Lavoie on the opening day roster in 2010 but will dig in a little more on him.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - NFL interest and NFL opportunity. Skipping the CFL Combine. If no NFL offer appears likely returns to McGill for a 5th season.
Pierre Lavertu - likely returns to Laval for another season
David Foucault - currently making his rounds through the NFL Regional Combines.
 
Other OL options:
Mattias Goosen - can play C or G at the CFL level. Can't return to school so he's available for rookie camp in May. 
 
Aaron Picton - experience playing RT but likely a RG in the CFL
Adam Hughes - to take him second overall is a big reach but could be a consideration later as a 6'5" LG that could play the right side too. 

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - NFL interest and NFL opportunity. Skipping the CFL Combine. If no NFL offer appears likely returns to McGill for a 5th season.
Pierre Lavertu - likely returns to Laval for another season
David Foucault - currently making his rounds through the NFL Regional Combines.
 
Other OL options:
Mattias Goosen - can play C or G at the CFL level. Can't return to school so he's available for rookie camp in May. 
 
Aaron Picton - experience playing RT but likely a RG in the CFL
Adam Hughes - to take him second overall is a big reach but could be a consideration later as a 6'5" LG that could play the right side too. 

Thanks for the vote of confidence Noeller...I think I heard it as the opening line of the next Luke Bryan "hit"....

im actually impressed he has made 2 tackles lol.

This would be true if there was only 1 other team in the running but the value goes up as teams express their interest.

a lot of the issues with renting closer to down town calgary are being made worse with all the places damaged by flooding. I was always able to find something that wasn't too bad to rent before I bought my house but I never tried to live that close to the core and I was never on my own either so if you're splitting rent it's not so bad. 
 
I am going to take offense to calgary being labeled as cowboy town too, it's really not, there's far more douchebags than cowboys around.