RIDERS PICK EIGHT IN 2014 CFL DRAFT
The Roughriders altered their draft order in Tuesday’s 2014 CFL College Draft when they completed a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Riders received two of Hamilton’s 2nd round picks (11th, and 17th overall) in exchange for Saskatchewan’s 1st round pick (8th overall).
The Riders then sent the 17th overall selection to Winnipeg in exchange for the Blue Bombers third round picks (20th and 26th overall).
The Riders are pleased to announce they selected University of Western-Ontario defensive end Dylan Ainsworth with the eleventh overall pick in today’s CFL Canadian Draft.
Ainsworth (6’3 – 225 lbs.) has been selected by the Green and White after playing three seasons with the Mustangs. In 2013 the Delta, B.C., native earned CIS Second Team All-Canadian honours after recording 16 tackles, four sacks, and seven tackles for loss.
With the 18th overall selection the Riders took wide receiver Alex Pierzchalski from the University of Toronto. Pierzchalski registered 149 collegiate receptions for 1,617 yards and 13 touchdowns in 32 career games.
With the 20th overall selection the Green and White picked kicker John Mark from the University of Calgary. In eight 2013 games, Mark made 15 of 17 field goals (88%) and added 62 punts for 2,600 yards (41.9 yard average) including a 63 yard long.
With their second pick in the third round, 26th overall, the Riders selected wide receiver Kristopher Bastien from Concordia University. Bastien recorded 37 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns in eight 2013 games.
With their fifth pick the Riders selected defensive back Matt Webster from Queen’s University 39th overall. Last season Webster had 16.5 defensive tackles and two interceptions in just four regular season games.
With the 45th overall selection the Riders selected offensive lineman Kyle Paterson from the University of Regina. The Weyburn, SK product has played 20 games for the Rams through four seasons.
In the sixth round, 54th overall, the Riders called linebacker Travis Bent from Concordia University. Last season Bent played eight games registering 29 defensive tackles, five tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception.
With their last pick, 63rd overall, the Riders selected offensive lineman Terry Hart from St. Francis Xavier. Last season Hart played seven games for the X-Men.
I don't know about you but this swapping a higher round pick for 2 lower round picks.. not once but twice is just plain weird. It's almost like Taman and Chamblin were going after quantity far more than quality. Maybe it's because we lost several Canadians this off season. Rumour has it that many of the players left because Chamblin doesn't care about Canadian players as much as some of the other teams head coaches. Once the Riders Canadian talent is dwindled to nothing. Then and only then will Chamblin realize that its your Canadian talent that makes or breaks… Read more »
Nice try cupcake!
Y'er welcome!
Anon #1, you have such amazing insight into Chamblin's and our former players feelings. You've nailed it, Chamblin is a terrible coach who will never win in the CFL. Oh, wait…
Brad T
Yeh, I have a tough time with that logic too.
I'm left feeling empty after this draft, time will tell but it feels like the Riders were the big losers of this years draft….feeling disappointed
Anon #4 the comment I made W's after speaking to a Canadian player that was recently a Rider. Keep in mind this was only Chamblin's 2nd year and 1st year with so many free agents. I had no idea how some of the Canadian players felt until that comment was given to me yesterday during different business. Also Butler didn't leave because of the money. He was offered a fair contract here. He left because Chamblin still couldn't tell him where he fits in. Most players of that cailibur are told where their starting spot will be. That wasn't the… Read more »
They did the same thing last year by picking up like 3 5th round picks and it worked out amazing picking up Steinhauer and Moore
I think this coaching/ management team has earned the benefit of the doubt with their roster decisions. Think about it for a second.
Butler leaving was no different than LaBatte coming home but his career with the Riders was a mystery to me. His first year he got to play safety, he had several interceptions and game changing plays. His reward was to just play special teams the next year because Richie wanted someone else at Safety. Last year it was learn another position as the brass decided he should play linebacker. He'll be an All-Star in Hamilton for the next ten years and I blame Richie for that one, not Chamblin.
Remember a guy named Craig Butler? He was a nobody before he was drafted. I think he turned out to be a pretty darn good. Steinheaur was a late pick and ended up being our rookie of the year. The Riders drafted Shomari Williams number one overall and he is considered to some a bust. It's too difficult to determine who will be good and who won't. Take a look in a year or so and then we can accurately determine who did well and who didn't. Until then have patience.
Matt Webster is an extremely hard worker and his athletic numbers could give him a chance to contribute right away on specials and maybe find a home at safety. Don't judge these picks before they play in camp!
Making up 'rumours' about Corey Chamblin is destructive writing. If Chamblin had no respect for Cdn players he not only would not be a Head Coach in the CFL, but he would simply 'not be' in the CFL. If you want to start disdain within the locker-room and get the players feeling distant from one another due to Cdn-American conflict, then continue to flame this distasteful rumour. However if you want to support the Riders and you have respect for what Corey Chamblin has accomplished, including the unity the team members have, then please stick to the more positive realization… Read more »
Hey Kel I don't disagree with you. In fact being a pro active fan is something we should all be. Again I didn't start the rumour honestly. When it was told to me yesterday by a recent ex Canadian Rider player I was shocked. So I will leave it at that and suggest that maybe it was nothing more than sour grapes by said player
Go Riders Go
Quote …. "Rumour has it that many of the players left because Chamblin doesn't care about Canadian players as much as some of the other teams head coaches. Once the Riders Canadian talent is dwindled to nothing. Then and only then will Chamblin realize that it’s your Canadian talent that makes or breaks you." That’s an interesting comment considering we have some of the top Canadian content in the league and we lost how many non-imports to free agency this past off-season? Wait for it, 2. That’s right, 2 players left. One, Butler, who cashed in and went home. Don’t… Read more »
So we have second hand info about what one non-import ex-Rider supposedly thinks. Somehow that translates into what other ex-players think along with what Coach Chamblin thinks. Please forgive me, but this isn't enough evidence for me to believe that Chamblin is going to run all our Canadian talent out of town. This sounds like the same reason Burris left. He also wasn't guaranteed a position for the upcoming year, he was told he had to earn it. I hope Coach Chamblin has this opinion of all of his players, that they have to earn their spot on the roster… Read more »
My apologies Anonymous, I missed your response to Kel. I agree with you that this might simply be sour grapes, and that all you are guilty of is sharing an interesting comment that may be of interest to the reader's of Rod's blog. I can certainly agree with your final comment, GO RIDERS GO!
Brad T