RIDERS ENTER WEEK 3

Two-a-day workouts are behind them as the Saskatchewan Roughriders enter Week 3 of 2014 Training Camp presented by Groundforce Drilling.  They are practicing daily at 11:30-1:30 at Mosaic Stadium as they prepare for Friday’s home preseason game against Edmonton (7:00 pm, 620 CKRM).   Here are some quotes from the club from early in the week beginning with quarterback Darian Durant.

ON SATURDAY’S 21-17 WIN OVER OTTAWA

DD:  I just liked how we moved the ball first and foremost.  Because that’s what it’s all about: moving the ball and putting points on the board.  Secondly I was glad to see the young guys come in and not have too many mental errors.  They knew were they were supposed to be, their time and spacing was good, and that’s what you worry about going into that first preseason game — if the younger guys are going to be in the spots where the quarterbacks want them and where they’re supposed to be.  I was very pleased with that.

ON THE 2014 ROUGHRIDERS

DD:  I think we’re well on our way.  I don’t think you can replace those stars and their production with just one guy.  It’s going to take a total team effort.  I like what I’m seeing from Ryan Smith, Brett Swain and Chaz Schilens.  Eron Riley is definitely stepping up and making a name for himself also.  I think with the combination of those guys, we have some backs that can break tackles and make tough yardage for us, so as a collective group we can replace that production and we’ll be fine.

ON REC ERON RILEY

DD:  I just think confidence.  When you’re a rookie, you’re so sure of what to do all the time.  I think he’s communicating with me a lot better and knowing the playbook more.  He put in the work with Coach Tucker each morning too so he’s more comfortable.  When you’re more comfortable, you don’t have to think as much.

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HEAD COACH COREY CHAMBLIN

ON THE OTTAWA GAME

CC:  The thing that impressed me the most was we knew we were going in with a limited game plan.  We just wanted to see how they played and how they did fundamental-wise.  I thought they did a great job in the way they reacted to everything that happened.  As far as what we have to work on, we have to get our game speed up.  We didn’t play as fast as we could play but we had so many young guys, there was no assimilation for it except for the game so you can see today we amped up practice to get them running so we can get our game speed up.

ON THE RUNNING BACK RACE

CC:  I’m looking for one of those guys to step up and take that spot.  What I mean by that is I told the guys ‘don’t be average, I want to see someone special at that position’.  I’m not looking for what we had last year.  I’m looking for what they bring to the table and what makes them special.

ON RB’S ALLEN AND TOSTON

CC:  Those guys did some good things.  Allen fumbled but he ran pretty hard.  Also Toston did some good things.  I’m looking forward to seeing Jermaine Thomas in this game Friday once he gets his legs up under him.

DOES A FUMBLE COST YOU A JOB?

CC:  It doesn’t erase all the good things.  It’s all in perspective but if it’s a habitual thing, then he’s a 50/50 guy.  I don’t think it’s habitual with Allen but we have to grade them on how they finish the game.  All those guys will split until we figure out who’s the one.

COMFORTABLE WITH THIS GROUP OF PLAYERS?

CC:  I think we have some spots filled for the most part.  The biggest thing I’m concerned with is the depth.  It’s either gonna come from the guys we have here, or the guys from other teams.  For the most part, we have enough starters on all three sides of the ball to win football games but the depth is still a concern.

ON RB JEROME MESSAM (CUT BY MONTREAL)

CC:  I talked to the GM this morning about him.  That’s a guy we’ll look into.  I’m not sure he’s going to be an option but when guys like that become available, you want to do your homework on them.

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REGINA – Ground has been broken for the stadium that will be the new home for the Canadian Football League Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Officials from the city, the province and the team were on hand as the first shovel went into the dirt at Evraz Place northwest of downtown Regina

Sean Hamblin, district manager of construction company PCL Management, said it will take a few months to notice any above-ground work at the site.

More than 300,000 cubic metres of dirt is to be removed over the summer – about 25,000 truckloads of material.

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said the new Mosaic Stadium will become one of the city’s landmarks.

The $278-million stadium is to be completed by August 2016.

The design was released last month and calls for a 33,000-seat facility that can be expanded to hold 40,000 fans for special events.

The stadium is to have wider seats, a sunken bowl for easier spectator access and expansive concourses. Although it is open-air, it features a translucent spectators roof that extends over the seats to provide protection from the elements.

The venue is being described as “roof ready,” meaning a full cover could be added at a later date.

The current stadium near downtown Regina originally started as a rugby field in 1910 and is known for its old wooden-bench seating and wind exposure.