Day 1 Camp Report

The following is the Day 1 report from the 2014 Roughrider Training Camp.

 

ROSTER MOVES

ADD:                           NImp   DL       Dylan Ainsworth

                                    Imp      DL       Carlton Powell

                                    Imp      WR      Demarco Sampson

                                    Imp      OL       Ryan Tillman

                                    Imp      DL       Derek Walker

                                    NImp   LB       Brandon Whitehouse

SUSPENDED:           Imp      WR      Devin Aromashodu

                                    NImp   LB       Tristan Black

                                    Imp      WR      Eron Riley

                                    Imp      WR      Geroy Simon                        

 

 

PLAYS OF THE DAY

The afternoon teams period opened up with a Terrell Maze interception. The third year defensive back made a one handed catch after the pass was originally tipped at the line of scrimmage. 

 

The offense responded on the next play as veteran pivot Darian Durant hooked up with receiver Taj Smith on a deep ball over the middle.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

1^st year linebacker, Chad Kilgore on his first day of a CFL Training Camp, “Day one of NFL training camp we just walked through stuff not in pads. First day here, we hit the ground running, it’s exciting.” 

 

FANS SHOW SUPPORT

A few hundred fans strolled into the University of Saskatchewan’s Griffiths Stadium on an overcast and cool day for the Riders first full practices of the year. The excitement was high as fans cheered loudly following a couple of outstanding plays.

 

FAN ACCESS

Select players will be available to fans for autographs along the west fence line following the afternoon practices throughout the week.

 

TOMORROW

Players and coaches will hit the practice field at Griffiths Stadium for Day 2 of training camp with two practice sessions. The first walk through practice will take place at 9:45, while the second will start at approximately 3:00.

Newcomers To Watch At Rider Camp

Training camp for the 2014 Saskatchewan Roughriders is underway as the two-a-day workouts have started meaning 2013 is officially over and all that is left is the memories. As the team starts the long journey to what they hope is a repeat in 2014. As is the case across the CFL, there are many new players looking to make an impression. Here is a list of newcomers in green and white you may want to pay attention to over the next couple of weeks.

 

WR DEVIN AROMASHODU

A late signing by GM Brendan Taman, the receiver comes to Saskatchewan with a solid NFL resume. The Auburn grad spent several years in the NFL catching 78 passes with 5 of those catches going for touchdowns. Aromashodu has the speed to go deep and can be counted on to make the tough catch inside if called upon as well.

WR KRISTOPHER BASTIEN

Some in CFL circles suggest the Riders got a steal when they took Bastien with the 26^th overall pick in the 2014 draft as he might have been the best receiver in the CIS last season. Scouts believe he is the complete package and that he will have a tremendous CFL career. If that is to happen, there is no better place than Saskatchewan as the team has had several great Canadian receivers over the years,

P BRETT CAMERON

If one made a football team based on his lineage, Cameron would be a sure-fire addition to the Riders. His father Bob was a long-time punter for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and is a CFL Hall of Famer. Cameron is trying to follow in his dad’s footsteps and comes to Canada after a successful college career at the University of North Dakota. With Ricky Schmitt no longer in the equation, the job is open and Cameron would like to seize it and start doing what his dad did many years ago.

LB CHAD KILGORE

The Riders are looking for a middle linebacker and while Kilgore may not go into camp listed number one on the depth chart, one has to think the coaching staff will give him a good look at the position. He recorded almost 400 tackles during a four year college career at Northwest Missouri State. His hustle and desire to get to the football is what will stand out the most.

 

RB CURTIS MACNEAL

No one knew what they had in Kory Sheets when he started with the Riders in 2012 and no one knows about the crop of running backs coming into this year’s camp looking to replace the Grey Cup MVP. MacNeal may get the first shot and he certainly has the resume to back it up. MacNeal led the USC Trojans in rushing as a junior in 2011 gaining over one thousand yards.  At 5 foot 7, he was thought to be too small to do his thing in the NFL and that size could hamper him in the CFL as well, but he has the tools to be a running back in the CFL.

LB ADRIAN MOTEN

After bouncing around the NFL, the University of Maryland product is hoping to find a home in the CFL. Moten is a playmaker and can play all three positions. He is also a very solid pass-rusher which may make him enticing in a Cam Wake type of role. That’s a role he would love nothing more to fill since he considers himself to be a hybrid of the former CFL defensive player of the year who is now a star with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

 

WR RYAN SMITH

No, that isn’t Weston Dressler wearing #2. Its Ryan Smith, but he could be considered a Dressler 2.0 as the comparisons to him have already been made. He is a Dressler clone and while Weston played his college ball at North Dakota, Smith did his thing at North Dakota State. He may have been the player that impressed the coaching staff the most at the Florida mini-camp earlier this season and they are looking forward to seeing what he can do against more experienced players at training camp. If he is another Dressler, he is sure to be a fan favourite very quickly.

WR MITCH THOMPSON

Mitch Thompson may be a long-shot to make the football team this year, but the Regina Thunder receiver has proven he has what it takes to advance his game to the next level. Thompson has an incredible set of hands and was considered one of the best in the game in the CJFL last year. His 9 catch, 189 yard, two touchdown game in the Canadian Bowl victory against Vancouver Island showed many what he can do.  If he performs well at camp and a practice roster spot is available, don’t be surprised if its offered to Thompson who will be battling with many other Canadian receivers in what should be an interesting battle to watch.

Dressler Continues To Impress In Kansas City

It is looking more and more as if many in the Rider Nation may be purchasing a Kansas City Chiefs #13 jersey as Weston Dressler continues to show people with the Chiefs what he showed here with the Riders for nine years. Here is the latest complimentary column on Dressler's attempts to stick with the NFL club.

The Ring Is The Thing

Here is what the Riders Grey Cup ring looks like.....

.

......that's some damn nice bling if I do say so myself. 

(Picture courtesy Chris Milo and Saskatchewan Roughrider football club)

Mike McCullough Retires

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today non-import linebacker Mike McCullough is retiring from the Canadian Football League.

McCullough is a veteran of eleven CFL seasons playing 185 career regular season games – including a streak of 110 consecutive – ranking him 16^th on the franchise’s all-time games played list. The Kingston, ON native was originally selected by the Green and White in the third round (23^rd overall) of the 2003 Canadian Draft  

 

Last season, the 34-year-old played the final nine regular season games, after suffering an injury in training camp, registering 24 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles and two quarterback sacks. He also started the West Semi-Final, West Final and Grey Cup at linebacker.

For his career, McCullough totaled 187 defensive tackles, 113 special teams tackles, 11 quarterback sacks, and one interception.

At the conclusion of the 2010 season, McCullough received the inaugural Jake Gaudaur Veterans Award recognizing the CFL player that best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s Veterans. He was also the recipient of the Mosaic Community Award in 2008 and 2009 which is presented annually to the Rider player who contributes the most to his community.

He is a two-time Grey Cup champion having won with the Roughriders in 2007 and again in 2013.

 

 

This And That

What and I many others thought was a joke a few months go is now reality. The CFL is going to be hit with a players strike barring some last minute settlement.  While a strike is now reality, it doesn't change the fact that the league and the players will pay for this.  Say what you will about the CFL, but its not big-time. Its not a millionaires boy club like the other pro sports are.  Here in Rider Nation, we will painfully and patiently wait for the game to return but I don't know if that's the case in other centres.  The question now is how long does this go. I have heard the players want to send a message and that they would be content in losing the first exhibition game and having an abbreviated camp. We will see. I still think the players are being a little unreasonable in their salary cap demands as you don't go from driving a 79 Pinto to a  brand new Lamborghini overnight. They have to pull back a little and have the CFL increase things a little. An 11 or 12 percent hike in the salary cap would work for me.

In the meantime and in between time, what are you going to do Rider fans without your daily dose of football now that football season has arrived. You can't watch the Grey Cup every night----well you can, but you know what I mean.

I think Marwan Hage was a little overdramatic when he stated no CFL football this season at all, but the man is entitled to his opinion as we all are.

At least we don't have to worry about any Humpty's ads for a while.

Other thoughts running through my muddled mind in no particular order...

  --Dustin Tokarski deserves a starting job with some NHL team next year. He gave Montreal a chance when no one thought they had one against the Rangers once Carey Price went down. If only Montreal had some offence.

  --PK Subban is not and will never be an elite defenceman in this league in my mind with all the giveaways he has. He's another Mike Green!

  --Can we just admit the Hawks and Kings are the closest thing we have to an NHL dynasty and do we as hockey fans deserve that series to go 7. What a great matchup that has been.

  --Am I the only one who thinks the Canadian Tire guy is a real d-bag?

 --WWE fans, I think the next step for John Cena is to become a member of the Authority.

 --I want to know what the numbers are for the National Spelling Bee. Who is watching that when you have the NHL and NBA playoffs on along with MLB. CMON!!!! That's C-M-O-N!!

  --The Kansas City Royals have hit 21 homers in the month of May with two days to go....Edwin Encarnacion has hit 16 in May alone.

  --Jose Bautista throwing Billy Butler out at first base from right field last night was just awesome!

  --While I understand the excitement of Blue Jays fans, I caution them that there are still 100 games to be played. A lot can change. If they are on top in mid-July, start getting excited.

  --Start getting excited for the Regina Red Sox. They play their home opener Sunday afternoon against Swift Current. Scruffette has a ball tournament in Moose Jaw that wraps up Sunday, but its over by noon, I'll be at Currie for sure on Sunday.

  --I had been told by two sources that former Saskatoon Blade Jason Christie was going to be the team's new head coach, but I had cold water thrown on that notion by two people Thursday.

  --In 2000, the first Swedish goalie drafted was Mikael Tellqvist by the Leafs. 120 picks later, the Rangers grabbed some guy named Lundqvist. Oops!

  --I really wonder how Canucks fans feel knowing Alain Vigneault is off to the SC final.

   --Is the winner of the Chicago/LA series the closest thing we have to an NHL dynasty these days. Then again, if you don't do what the Habs of the 70's, the Islanders of the 80's and the Oilers of the 90's did, is it really a dynasty?

  --I find it rather embarrassing that Regina High Schools seem intimidated by out of city teams thus they don't want them participating in their leagues anymore. Its a joke that Lumsden and Balgonie have been given the boot. What school led the high and mighty charge on this?

  --Tiger Woods has let another major go by because of his bad back. It just cements the thought Tiger will not pass Jack Nicklaus for most majors won.

That's all I got. Have a great weekend!

 

Talks Break Down

Labour talks between the Canadian Football League and the CFL Players' Association broke down Thursday after the league reviewed a new proposal from the players and then left the meeting.
However, a CFLPA source told TSN that players will be told to attend training camp this weekend "in good faith" until the union reviews all its options.
CFLPA executive members Brian Ramsay of the Edmonton Eskimos and Jeff Keeping of the Toronto Argonauts confirmed they will report when training camps open.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon then released the following statement: "This afternoon, the Canadian Football League has sent its best offer for a new collective bargaining agreement directly to the players. Unfortunately, this best offer was rejected by the CFLPA executive committee this morning. We strongly believe it is a fair and equitable agreement for both parties. We want football. We want our season to start on time. But not at the cost of the unrealistic proposal put forward by the CFLPA. We do hope the CFLPA executive committee will put this offer to CFL players for a vote."
CFLPA president Scott Flory also issued a statement that addressed financial, health and safety as well as option year concerns expressed by the league. "We have just presented to the PRC an offer in the hopes of getting a deal done today. We feel as though we have listened and addressed all of their issues. We eagerly await the response of the PRC."
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Ricky Foley showed his disappointment at the latest developments on Twitter on Thursday.
"The amount of compromise the players are making right now in meetings is not being matched by the owners...Fans need 2know this #Riders... The owners main issue was they didn't want Revenue Sharing...We have agreed 4the good of the league to essentially take it off the table... If owners would just compromise as much from their 1st offer as the players have done this morning in meetings a deal would be done #Riders"
With the current CBA set to expire at midnight Thursday, the league and players met amongst themselves, in different meeting rooms, starting at 9am et and came together shortly after 11:30am et along with a mediator.
They parted 25 minutes later. Quick comments from both sides have only been possible as members of both groups move between meeting rooms.


(Canadian Press)