DAYTONA HOMES MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

Here’s the initial report from Saskatoon for the Monday Morning Goalie on Day 1 of Roughriders Training Camp at Griffith’s Stadium:

– The morning period on Sunday was a get-acquainted session.  The players were reportedly on the field by 8:15 am although I didn’t make it up to the Bridge City until 9:00 am.  I drove through a driving rain for much of the trip up from Regina but by about Bladworth, SK the rain subsided.  However the morning workout was held under gray skies and cool temperatures.

– I didn’t take many notes from the first workout however the players and coaches did meet with the media for their only interview session of the day.  The quotes from head coach Corey Chamblin and GM Brendan Taman are contained in a blog post a few down from this one.

Quarterback Darian Durant admitted there’s a different vibe in this camp from last year and a lot of that has to do with the youth on the roster.  However they’re energetic and excited and it’s up to the veterans to lead the way for “the young ‘uns”.  Veteran defensive end Ricky Foley said they’re “super-motivated” to do something that’s never before happened in Saskatchewan: repeat as Grey Cup champions.

– I counted 26 media personnel on hand for the morning workout.  Unbelievable!  In the 90’s you could count the reporters on one hand.

– The afternoon practice began at 3:00 pm and it was mainly sunny, 18 degrees Celsius with an east wind at 19 km/h.

– The wind aided punter Brett Cameron who boomed a 55-yard punt that hit the right upright with 15 yards to spare in warm-ups.

– CFL legend Dave Ritchie is a guest coach and is making the rounds in a golf cart.  “You’ve gotta interview him,” quipped GM Brendan Taman whose parents were on hand for the day.

– The shortest player in camp is running back Matt Brown who checks in at 5’5″.

– Brown is also the lightest player at 165 lbs.

– The tallest player is OT Devin Tyler at 6’8″ while OT Levy Adcock is the heaviest at 320 lbs.

– Some of the veterans talked about wearing black armbands to display union solidarity while the CFL and CFLPA work out their labour gripes.  However not all players had them on.

– RB Neal Hughes is in his 11th training camp with the Riders however he missed the afternoon workout with a foot injury.  Born in 1980, Hughes is now the oldest player on the Roughriders after the retirements of Mike McCullough and Geroy Simon.

– Brendan Taman confirmed after the morning workout that Simon’s career is “finished” however there has been no official announcement of a retirement.  Corey Chamblin said that will have to come from Geroy himself.

– It would appear the quarterback depth chart looks like this: #4 Darian Durant, #8 Tino Sunseri, #5 Adam Weber, #7 Seth Doege and #0 Brandon Leyh.

– The first pass of the team session (12 on 12) was intercepted by veteran DB Terrell Maze.  QB Darian Durant motioned that it was tipped.

– They ran a lot of two-back stuff on Day 1 and the starting four receivers were Rob Bagg, Taj Smith, Chris Getzlaf and Chaz Schilens.  In the backfield were Jermaine Thomas and Scott McHenry.  The #1 offensive line, as you would expect, were:
FULTON-LABATTE-PICARD-BEST-HEENAN

– The #1 defensive group was:
DL: FOLEY-GEORGE-SUMLIN-CHICK
LB: PETERS-HURL-BROWN
DB: WILLIAMS-ANDERSON-BRACKENRIDGE-MAZE-JACKSON

– Back-up centre Corey Watman fired a snap over quarterback Adam Weber’s head, which prompted Weber to drop and do 10 push-ups.

– Rookie receiver Brett Swain is wearing #16 and while I didn’t notice him in the first workout, he worked his way into the top group in the afternoon when they went to a 5-R package.

– Darian Durant’s favourite target in the early going was veteran WR Taj Smith.  However in my estimation WR Rob Bagg was the top receiver of the day earning plaudits from Chamblin who yelled, “Good job Bagg!”  He out-fought CB Paul Woldu for the ball which caught Chamblin’s attention.

– There was evidence of off-season corrosion.  Rider Hall of Famer Wayne Shaw was in the crowd and chirped, “They look a little rusty!” as I walked past.

– A veteran starter on defense went down with a mild injury and as I raised my camera, Dwight Anderson yelled, “Man don’t take a picture of that!”  So I didn’t.

– In the second team period Brett Swain dropped a pass which prompted Anderson to turn to the crowd and yell, “I can’t hear you!”  A fan yelled back, “He dropped the ball!”  D.A. spends as much time playing to the fans as he does paying attention to what’s going on on the field.  We’re used to it by now and he’s still the best.

– The young age of the roster was on display by the fact a lot weren’t sprinting between plays and drills.  An offensive guest coach yelled, “Stop walking around!  Let’s go!”   They’ll get it soon.

– The defense is incredibly aggressive.  Rookie linebacker Donnie Fletcher stripped receiver Jade Etienne of the ball on one play.  Etienne, a Regina product and Huskie grad, came over from the Blue Bombers in the Drew Willy trade.

– Rookie Ryan Smith is wearing #2 and he’s the one we tabbed as “the next Weston Dressler”.  Darian Durant smiled, “Not yet”, and Smith was used only sparingly on Day 1.

– Macho Harris had a nice knockdown on a deep pass intended for Taj Smith.  He looks to be in 100% condition.

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Our table at Friday’s ring ceremony.  From left: Mrs. SportsCage, Cindy, Carm, Dan Farthing, Sue-Anne Farthing and Terry Ennis (Gainer the Gopher).

A photo of the Riders’ Grey Cup rings…

The Getzlaf’s, Milo’s and Dressler’s….

Gord and Twyla West….

Chris and Cara from the Riders..

A photo of the room…

Chairman Roger Brandvold and VP of Sales/Marketing Steve Mazurak…

Rod and Carm…

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THAT’S ALL! SEE YOU IN THE CAGE AT 4 PM!

RP
@sportscage