FRIDAY EVENING RIDER PRACTICE NOTES

Luc

CKRM football analyst Luc Mullinder provided this update from Friday evening’s Roughrider workout at Griffith’s Stadium in Saskatoon.  Enjoy:

Friday, PM practise

• Right away you noticed a change in the demeanor of the team.  There was more excitement and anticipation as they got ready to “put it on film”

• There’s a new RB in town. Anthony Allen, wearing #26.  Fresh out of Buffalo Bills OTA’s.  He played his ball at Georgia Tech (Yellow Jackets)

• With all the complicated drills and skill positions flying around, the crowd was more enamoured with the QB accuracy drill, where the QB sty and toss the ball into a garbage can setup about 40 yards away. (Durant and Sunseri sunk the most if anyone’s counting)

• WAAAAY more energy moving in between periods.  The guys are excited to be out there competing

Skelly & Inside

• LB Chad Kilgore has been working with the 1’s all day today and it continues in Inside Run period.  (Ivy is hurt but they may be experimenting with him and Peters as a unit)

• Sam Hurl started out doing pass skelly

• Chris Getzlaf is back and in the 1st WR group.  Looked a little rusty with a couple drops

• People have been asking about safety Tyron Brackenridge. He reeled off his first interception today off of a Durant pass that sailed wide

• 77 (Alex Pierzchalski) ,71 (Mitch Thompson) & 74 (Kristopher Bastien) all caught balls with confidence. The trio looked like they were “just playin ball” and that’s the feeling you need.

• As for Inside Run, it was a PHYSICAL 15 mins…Both sides were getting after it with the D-line dominating the first part but the O-line eventually tightened up and started creating push as the drill went on.

• The “FRESH LEGS” award goes to #26 Anthony Allen … He broke a couple runs off and ran through a couple tackles.  Keep in mind, he just got here so he had better look quick and shifty

Team 

• Both team periods were clearly a dress rehearsal for the Mock game.  A lot of guys were being rotated randomly and the younger guys got a lot more reps. The playbooks also opened up on both sides.

• Today we saw the defense a lot more active than we’ve seen all thru the first part of the week.  The major variable was the addition of Richie Hall incorporating parts of his blitz package, and bringing the safeties and DBs.  Macho Harris was an example of this, as he came off the edge untouched twice for two sacks (against the 2nd unit mind you)

• The O-line struggled at times to handle the added defender coming into the box and it resulted in a lot more sacks and TFLs.

• But all wasn’t lost on offense.  They ran the ball well with the first unit headed up by Keith Toston #42.  Arm tackles are clearly not going to work with #42.  You’re going to have to put a hat on him. If we can get a back that can create a minimum of 4-5 yards every play, it would do wonders for Cortez’s play selection and Durant’s confidence

• John Chick was limited in both team periods, but the first one he went for 2 sacks and a tackle in his first 3 plays.  The whole first team D-line looked good actually.  You can see that they are familiar with each other’s playing style

• Our back-up D-line guys had a tough time when they went up against the experience of our first team hoggies, the drop off is notable, but those guys are also young and will get better. (Not to say they looked bad)

• DB’s #29 (Troy Stoudemire) and #1 (Marshay Green) continue to build momentum.  #29 had two big plays coming down out of coverage recording what would have been a couple TFLs.

• Notable was QB #7 (Seth Doege) throwing his 1st TD of camp to Rob Bagg! That 3rd spot at QB is definitely still unspoken for, so hopefully that gets him some confidence moving forward.

Player of the Day: Tyron Brackenridge … He was all over the field with the additional plays being added.  Finished off with a sack, 2 PBU’s and an INT

All in all, it was a much better practice that the guys can build off of.  There’s a lot to correct, including the few miscues in blocking assignments when dealing with an extra defender.  But the positive thing, and I’m sure Coach Chamblin can attest to this, is that the EFFORT and ATTITUDE were there.  Their willingness to compete was NOT average today and that is something that an eager coaching staff can definitely work with!

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JDRF


– The annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure goes Sunday morning at Wascana Lake by the Saskatchewan Legislature.  It actually starts east of Wascana Park by the Queen Building with registration at 9:00 am and the walk beginning at 10:30 am.  There will be drinks and snacks at rest stops plus entertainment and BBQ lunch at noon.  For more information or to get pledge forms, call Randy Durovick at 306-543-5451 or email regina@jdrf.ca.