RIDER MINICAMP DAY 1 REPORT

The Saturday morning workout is in the books here at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.  Here are some photos of the session…

Punter Brett Cameron gets some solo time with Special Teams Coordinator Bob Dyce.  Brett will join us on the SportsCage today at 4:00 pm on 620 CKRM.

Quarterback Jeff Godfrey from the University of Central Florida..

Tino Sunseri loads the gun with #80 Martel Moore as his target.  Tino was clearly the best passer in the workout…

#2 Seth Doege admires his pass.  The quarterback figures he can do a lot better, and says he will in the second session this afternoon.

Graduating Saginaw Valley State quarterback Jon Jennings.  He’ll be on the Cage as well..

#81 receiver Chaz Schilens (pronounced SHILL-Ins).  A former Jet, Lion and Raider.  He was the top receiver in the morning in my books..

Running back/returner #22 Clifton Smith.  He was a Pro Bowl returner in 2008 with the Buccaneers..

All smiles from coach Corey Chamblin as he confers with Assistant GM Jeremy O’Day…

Coach Chamblin addresses the team just before they break for the morning.  He advises the players to hydrate themselves before the afternoon session, and says they’ll be auditioning for punt returners and asked for anyone with experience in that area to line up.

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DAY 1 REPORT

– The Riders hit the field for their first workout at 9:15 am Saturday.  The session lasted exactly 90 minutes.

– The dew-covered field was incredibly slippery and players were losing their footing all over the place and spitting out divots.  “We’re chewing the heck outta this field,” said one Rider staffer.  I’m surprised with all the money spent on this facility there isn’t an artificial surface.

– QB Jeff Godfrey played for Danny Barrett at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, although D.B. is the running backs coach.  Godfrey started as a QB there but spent the past couple of seasons as a receiver.  He was a late addition to the mini-camp.

– RB/PR #22 Clifton Smith stands about 5’8″ but plays 6’6″.  He’s sturdy and didn’t drop a pass.

– Two receivers in particular had a tough time hanging onto the ball.  Coach Chamblin advised during the workout, “I’m not your track coach.  I don’t wanna see how fast you are.  I wanna see you catch!”

– QB Tino Sunseri is one of a handful of veterans in camp and was clearly the most-polished pivot.  He was launching long bombs like they were shot out of a cannon.

– #29 Troy Stoudemire spent some time with the Riders last year and was advising the rookie DB’s that, “This is a big-assed field!”

– #39 running back Jermaine Thomas out of Florida State University has some big-time wheels, size and great hands.

– #16 receiver Brett Swain is an NFL veteran with the Packers, 49ers and Seahawks and is very smooth.  Although he had a couple of drops, it appears he’ll get the benefit of the doubt.  There was a lot of rust amongst the group but that’s to be expected in the opening practice.

– As the workout wore on, tiny receiver/returner #86 Ryan Smith from the national champion NDSU Bison was impossible to ignore.  I tabbed him “The next Weston Dressler” and after the workout coach Chamblin laughed that he’s got a long ways to go to catch Dressler, but they share some of the same attributes and “not just the colour of their skin!”   Smith was very noticeable.  He’s only 5’7″, 175 lbs but he appears a bit thicker than Weston.

– #42 defensive back Hugo Lopez was extremely physical in pass coverage.  Coach Chamblin noted that would be called in CFL game action but the DBs are just trying to slow down the receivers early in camp.  As the mini-camp wears on, their coverage will be better.

– The first interception of the day came from defensive back Antonio Fenelus off of QB Jon Jennings.

– #72 linebacker Tyler Greenslade from the U of A took down RB Clifton Smith rather aggressively.  Smith popped up, high-fived Greenslade and the linebacker said, “Sorry bro”.

– It starts raining interceptions.  DB Donnie Fletcher picks off Seth Doege followed shortly by Jeff Godfrey who was intercepted by Marshay Green who returned it 110 yards to the house.

– #81 receiver Chaz Schilens and DB Rod Williams aggressively fought for the ball on one play and Schilens threw him to the ground, giving him a death stare.  Rider staff tells me this camp is a lot more intense than last year but these are rookies fighting for a job rather than the veterans who populated last year’s mini-camp.

– The first casualty – #84 receiver Duke Calhoun heads to the sidelines where an icebag is strapped to his knee.

– QB Tino Sunseri is picked off by LB Adrian Moten.

– Punter Brett Cameron starts a punting session with long-snappers Scott McKillop and Levi Adcock.  11 players lined up to return the punts.

– Chamblin noted after the first session that the difference is clear between the NFL vets and raw rookies out of college.  It’ll be interesting to see if the gap narrows as the camp goes on.

– We were interested to see if any Rider fans would be on hand and is it turned out, there were about 15 to 20 Saskatchewanians on hand who make Florida their winter home.  Lake Alma, SK’s Kenton Field is a long-time family friend and he stopped by on his Florida vacation.  It was nice to visit with the fans.

– Sunday morning’s workout is scheduled for 8:45 AM ET.

RP