DAY 5 WITH THE RIDERS, ST. JOHN REQUESTS TRADE
Day 5 of Saskatchewan Roughriders Training Camp was held on another warm, sunny day at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on Thursday.
Many SportsCage listeners have been asking about how the kicking game is progressing with the three kickers in camp: Tyler Crapigna, Josh Bartel and Quinn Van Gylswyk. We got a good, long look at special teams on Thursday and we asked ST Coordinator Craig Dickenson for an assessment:
“I thought it was decent,” Dickenson stated. “We gave Josh the day off punting so he didn’t punt. That was Quinn out there and he hit some bombs. But as the wind picked up, he started pressing a little bit and didn’t do as well at the end so he’s got a lot to learn. He’s still pretty raw but we saw some real nice returns. That #1 (Qudarius Ford) is pretty good and Crapigna’s had an excellent camp. All in all, I thought it was pretty decent.”
The Riders’ John Murphy hinted on the SportsCage on Wednesday that the team may find a way to keep all three kickers with the club this season and Dickenson concurred.
“I think we should,” Dickenson agreed. “Certainly that’s not my decision but I’ll have input. I just think we got too much talent there and somebody’ll pick ’em up if we let a guy go. I think all three of them can contribute and you’d like to keep all your best players if you can.”
I noted to Dickenson that I haven’t seen any shanked punts by this group so far which is saying something through five days of training camp.
“They’re pretty good. I’ve seen a couple,” Dickenson laughed. “Of course I got a little more of a critical eye probably than you but they’re doing a good job. We’re working a lot on mechanics with all of them and we’re really putting a lot on Quinn’s plate. We’ll probably have to pull back a little bit but for the most part the young guy’s done well. And Josh and Tyler have had outstanding camps.”
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Meanwhile Sportsnet’s Justin Dunk is reporting the #1 overall pick in the 2016 CFL Draft – offensive lineman Josiah St. John – has requested a trade from Saskatchewan.
As was reported here extensively last night, contract talks between the Roughriders and the Oklahoma Sooners product have reached a nasty impasse and no further negotiation is scheduled.
However Dunk reports that although St. John’s camp has requested a trade, they have not received permission from the Roughriders to speak with other teams.
Stay tuned …
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Roughriders great Wayne Shaw has been a keen observer at training camp for several days this week. The member of the 1966 Grey Cup-winning Roughriders has been a long-time Saskatoon resident and always offers a sober assessment of the club.
“Well the only reality I can give, and I admire and respect the fans who are all positive and think the Riders are going to get to the Grey Cup this year but that’s really fantasy thinking,” Shaw cautioned. “If they can win half their games, it would be a minor miracle. And I’m not criticizing Jones. If he had Hughie Campbell as his Dad and could phone Hughie every once and awhile, he might, like Hughie’s son Rick, have a contender right away.
“But it’s going to take two or three years. Like there’s only one guy on defense from last year isn’t there? There’s a lot of great players but you gotta get them playing together. So I think if they win five, six games this year, that would be quite good.”
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The following is the Day 5 report from the 2016 Roughrider Training Camp presented by Coors Light courtesy of the Riders PR staff:
ROSTER MOVES
Add:
International defensive back Victor Dean Jr. (6’4 – 210 – Portland State)
Did not participate:
Dylan Ainsworth (day-to-day)
Justin Capicciotti (day-to-day)
Marcus Davis (day-to-day)
Johnny Dixon (day-to-day)
Jeff Knox Jr. (day-to-day)
Eric Norwood (injured)
Jordan Reaves (day-to-day)
Matt Vonk (6 game injured list)
Xavier Walker (day-to-day)
OVERVIEW
The players hit the Griffiths Stadium turf for Day 5 of training camp for one two-hour session.
The practice was fast paced with a definite focus on game like situations. Time was spent red zone situations, last minute drives, and some intricacies within the CFL game.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Rookie returner Qudarius Ford brought the morning crowd alive with a long punt return touchdown that included impressive breakaway speed.
The defence rallied on the next series as defensive lineman Ino Vitale jumped to deflect a pass as fellow lineman Jonathan Newsome made a diving interception.
FRIDAY
Players and coaches will hit the practice field at Griffiths Stadium for Day 6 for one practice session. The players will be on the field at 9:00AM with practice running until approximately 11:00AM.
GREEN & WHITE DAY
Green is the colour and football is the game! Watch the team scrimmage and practice as a full squad on Saturday, June 4th at SMF Field.
2pm – 4pm – Family tailgate party with special guests like Gainer the Gopher, the 620 CKRM Cheer Team and the Rider Drum Line.
4pm – Riders warmup/practice.
5pm – Mock Game – the 2016 Rider team takes the field for an approximately one-hour scrimmage.
So nice having him back. When he was let go, I thought it was a bad decision.
Wayne Shaw maybe knew a lot about football back in the 60's. He figures only Hugh Campbell can assemble a team in a year or his son in 2 years. Im sorry but Shaw is out of touch. Jones has been coaching longer and more successful than Rick Campbell has. So saying winning 5 games would be good is a poor statement. If the Riders only won 5 games this year that would be a disaster. The fans, Rider coaching staff and front office would be severely dissapointed.Was Shaw not listening to the Sports Cage. Jones has been through this… Read more »
While at camp today the back up qbs looked poor. None of them looked like they could start. Any chance a backup with some CFL experience will be cut from one of the eight other and deeper teams?
Love the Argo plan for tailgating before their games. Beer at $4 a can. Gosh, it would be wonderful if the Riders could do the same for the new stadium. Cheaper beer would go well with the more accessible and larger washrooms, and the better way in and out of our seats.
Wayne Shaw has it right on.
finally someone making some sense and being realistic.
Ahhhhh, the satisfaction of being proven right 🙂
I knew St. John would be a failure/the wrong choice for the Riders because I'm smarter than 99% of you mouth breathing idiots.
I just thought I'd drop by one last time to gloat.
I do love everything else that is going on in Rider Nation though.
GO RIDERS!!!
A guy in Lower Canada
Rod you know better than to let the rider in-breds know about people not wanting to play here. that is blasphemy and they have no idea what that means. they still think every "football" player in the world would die to play in hmm hmm regina. I love it when the nation realizes there is a whole world outside of their one branch family tree
I think St. John is getting some bad business advice from his agent. They don't have any leverage in this situation. The Riders hold all of the cards.
I say let the bum sit. If he thinks he is worth $400k over 3 years and has not shown up for even a snap, he is crazy. If he goes to the NFL I will wish him the best. The offers at the same level as last year's no.1 and no.2 picks should be more than fair. If he thinks he is worth the $400k then in a trade he should be worth at least 2 first round picks and I doubt if anyone will give us that.
Another first round disaster pick. At least Shomari played some games and tried.
Josiah St. John – has requested a trade from Saskatchewan.
this is what happens when you have 2 rookies like jones and murphy trying to run a team when they have no idea what they are doing. it started with chick and dressler and keeps getting worse.
heres an idea keep st.john and get rid of jones and murphy.
RE: "heres an idea keep st.john and get rid of jones and murphy."
I have a much better suggestion for you but I doubt it would make it past the moderator… Suffice to say you're a fool.
T. Brown
Don't trade him. Let him get a reality check. I doubt now he will ever be a Rider..so what? Sit for a while, fire your agent and plan to flip burgers.
Shaw was a good player in the day. Has his expertise in evaluation been tested? Did he predict a 3/15 season last year? It's his opinion. Good for him.
Betting .. likley to win GC (in order)
EE
Cal
Ham
Tor
Ott-SK Tie
BC
Mtl
Wpg
Shaw is wrong according to the oddsmakers.
Make him sit the full 3 years then. The CFL is unique where they hold the players rights for life.
Hey Wayne Shaw… Do you mean the same Hugh Campbell that never had to run his team on a salary cap. The same coach that had better back up players on pay roll then all the other teams. Sorry old timer times have changed and you are way out of touch. Jones took over a 4-14 EE Team and had them at 12-6 and in the Western final. They only had 5 returning defensive players that year. Then he won the Grey Cup in year two. Hugh Campbell with Eskimo money had 10 times the advantage than any other team.… Read more »
Some clown said, "it started with chick and dressler and keeps getting worse."
Dressler and Chick were the kingpins on a 3-15 team and were the highest priced players on the field. They wouldn't re-negotiate with the Riders but signed elsewhere for less.
If you are a Roughrider fan, give your head a shake. If you're not please quit posting your garbage.
SWC
If this Agent is the same agent that represented Mat O'Donnell, then the message should show that players represented by him are to be avoided. The league is run with a Salary Cap. Yes I would love to see all players making more money but reality is this is not possible. With the numbers being thrown around I wonder what will happen with Dan Clarke and Aaron Picton, Mat Vonk etc. I remember the Mat O'Donnell debacle. We eventually traded the No.1 Pick to Edmonton and received Squaut. For the numbers being thrown around our compensation should be 2 First… Read more »
I have to agree with Wayne in the fact that the fans have to be patient due to all of the changes. Maybe 9-9. But I predicted that in 2007 and look what happened. Insofar as ST John, I like Murphy's attitude. Hasnt played a down and wants the big bucks… Great for team morale. Trade him and get a player or draft pick or two. His agent needs a good kick in the butt….
That’s laughable that he (St. John) has requested a trade.
It’s highly unlikely that another team would sign him for what he is asking for either. The Riders should let him talk to other teams so they can all take turns laughing at his his agent and the requested salary.
Dressler and Chick were the kingpins on a 3-15 team and were the highest priced players on the field. They wouldn't re-negotiate with the Riders but signed elsewhere for less.
get you facts straight;
the offence was excellent last year and would have done great with a qb
it was jones and murphy that did not negitiate – read the history
no wonder rider fans have such a bad rep – get youe facts right.