Much fuss was made this past off-season about changes to Calgary’s defence. Specifically, there was external concern about who would patrol the linebacker corps. If 11 days of training camp are any indication, Saleem Rasheed will soon step into a leading role.

A third-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2002, Rasheed played five seasons in the National Football League (four with San Fran, one with Houston). He didn’t play last year but has been quick to the pick up the CFL game and his skills translate nicely to the big field.

He’s known for his wheels. Whether he’s in pursuit, going after the quarterback or dropping into coverage, his top-end speed and quickness are very evident. His hustle is well-documented and, with the potential of new faces on defence, he could quickly be thrust into leadership role.

We won’t know exactly what to expect until bullets start flying on Friday night, but Rasheed already sits atop the depth chart at the middle linebacker position.

At the strong-side position, Shannon James and Dwaine Carpenter are competing for the top job, while veteran Marc Calixte provides depth and special-teams contributions. Newcomer JoJuan Armour is locking horns with veteran Trey Young at the weak side, so some high-profile players will be fighting for jobs in Friday’s pre-season home game against Edmonton.