Riderville.com
Day two and the final day of minicamp 2014 had just one, but very intense session. To avoid the oncoming heat and humidity, it was an 8:15am Bradenton start (6:15am Regina time). The 57 players in camp were more than likely a little mentally fatigued with their third practice in a little over 24 hours, but none of them let it show.
Here’s the mix of players that were in camp:
– Fresh out of college and are using this camp as a possible option if their NFL possibilities don’t pan out
– Players that have bounced around multiple NFL practice rosters
– Former NFL players with 10 or more games under their belt
– Current Rider players who were with the team in 2014
– And there are some with other CFL experience.
That is usually the mix that has been at past minicamps but this year the veteran NFL players that attended came to camp in good shape and competed very well and pushed all others in camp.
The toughest portion to gage is the lineman. Both the offensive and defensive lines thrive in contact, and even with the limited contact you can have in a camp without shoulder pads, it still doesn’t give the full scope of their abilities. This is
what their game film is for.
One of the most important factors to this camp for the coaches is to put a face to the game film and see how the player is physically, mentally and how they would fit within the Rider locker room.
For a look at the final session of minicamp, head to the facebook album here.
Now the tough part. It’s up to the coaches and football operations staff to mull over the tape and see who will be invited to Training Camp 2014 at Griffiths Stadium beginning with the first on field sessions on June 1st.
