TOSTON BIDING HIS TIME

The 1-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders held Day 2 of their practice week on Wednesday as they prepare to host the 1-3 Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium (8:00 pm, TSN, CKRM Rider Radio Network).  The team rotated through running backs Anthony Allen, Will Ford and Jerome Messam on Wednesday while first year back Keith Toston ran with the scout team.

Toston (pronounced TOAST-In) was arguably the Riders’ most productive running back in the preseason but hasn’t had a chance to play in the regular season.  He was asked how the running back “carousel” affects the team.

“It don’t affect a whole lot,” Toston explained.  “Most of the guys are like brothers when it comes to the running back group so we just try to stick together.  Whoever gets the reps, we just try to cheer that guy on.  We all go through the same amount of sweat and same amount of pain to be in this position to try to play.  We won’t have a rivalry against a teammate.”

The Oklahoma State product was asked his thoughts on the team’s starting running backs being benched, or cut, after fumbling the ball away.

“That’s a tough deal,” Toston admitted.  “I’ve disagreed with that since I got into professional football.  But that’s the nature of the business – you can’t turn the ball over.  That’s understandable.  You train so hard, and by just one mess up, you could be over there watching the game.  But I can see both sides of it.”

I told Allen I was impressed that he came back after the bye week since he hasn’t had the opportunity yet to show what he can do.  He had considered leaving in the past, but has decided to keep his dream alive and didn’t consider staying in the U.S. last week.

“No,” Toston revealed.  “I feel like my coaches and teammates see me practice hard every time we’re out here so I feel like I should be here and I still am here.  I’m just waiting for my chance, that’s it.  When I get my chance, I’ll make the best of it.”

Toston stood in the media scrum and handled the pointed questions with class.  Rider Radio analyst Carm Carteri asked Keith how it felt to see veterans Hugh Charles and Jerome Messam come in and be placed on the roster immediately while he sits in the shadows.

“That’s tough,” Toston continued.  “But I understand our number one thing here is to try to win a game.  I respect it and I’ll just keep pushing to get an opportunity.”

The Riders aren’t tipping their hand as to who will start in the backfield on Saturday.  Head coach Corey Chamblin says their evaluations continue ahead of the game.

“I think every back that was out there got a touch today,” Chamblin said after the workout.  “As we go down the stretch we have to make sure that more than one guy can play.  I really can’t tell you who’ll start and that’s an honest opinion.  Those guys are doing a good job rotating through and it depends on how we end up liking our packages and different things.”

Meanwhile slotback Chris Getzlaf missed the practice as he continues to recover from a lower body injury.  His status for Saturday’s game is uncertain.