Dan Plaster
Day ten of Roughriders Training Camp 2015 feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is no longer a train. With the first CFL pre-season games kicking off early this week and the Riders exhibition opener Saturday night in Fort McMurray against the Edmonton Eskimos, it feels more like a game week than training camp.
The basic offensive and defensive game plans that will be implemented are now being refined, and adjusted. It’s tough, because with such a short training camp, there is a fine line between implementing the new schemes on both sides of the football and evaluating the talent that is on the field.
For the potential first stringers to get as many reps as possible with the offence is crucial, and it really began this week with Darian Durant and his contingent of receivers. Next is to have the rest of the offence have the basics down because the first string will only be on the field for a handful of snaps against the Eskimos, from there it will be up to the rest of the team to shine and make a spot for themselves on the club.
I had an opportunity to go one-on-one with Darian Durant today. Along with the help of riderville.com analyst and Durant’s former roommate, Luc Mullinder, it was a fantastic show (Watch here.). Darian is one of the most engaging personalities on the team. Here are a few things that really came through:
– Durant is a true sports fan. There are a few players that say they watch sports, but he watches almost any football or basketball game that is on TV and can talk almost any sport.
– He also pays very close attention to what is said in the media. I like this, keeps everyone on point.
– I can tell he is a good and loyal friend to those that are close to him. This is through his interactions with Luc and the good words he passed along during the broadcast.
– He is keenly aware of the rest of the goings on in the CFL.
– Most of all, Darian is both positive and excited to get the season underway and show what this new offence can do.
Day ten highlights:
– Lots of work on the special teams today. All six units received work, with the first, second and third team rotations.
– Steven Miller, Tristan Jackson and Ryan Smith did the bulk of the returning.
– Full skelly today had 11 plays full out then bolstered with 11 walk-through.
– Darian Durant worked with both the number one and number two sets of receivers and running backs.
– The track at Griffiths Stadium is atrocious, it is too close to the field and in rough shape.
– Heavy action between the offensive and defensive lines during one-on-one drills.
– Special Teams Coordinator, Bob Dyce is going to have a lot of fun with the punt coverage unit as he tries to adapt to the new rules regarding punt coverage (front 5 must hold the line until the punt is away, then they can release).
– Jamel Richardson, Weston Dressler, Alex Hall, Tyron Brackenridge and Jerome Messam all missed practice this afternoon. Anthony Allen had his reps with the ones, Marcus White took the end spot in place of Hall, Ryan Smith continued to spell off Dressler, while Keenan MacDougall went in for Brackenridge (and because he is a National, Derek Walker came in to play with the ones at defensive tackle).
Quotes of the day:
“My job can be very simple, just get the ball into the hands of the playmakers and let them do what they do best. For me, it’s just about being accurate, putting the ball into their hands in a position that they can do something with it. If I do that, we have the playmakers across the board to make huge plays against anybody we play against.”
Darian Durant on his job with the new offensive system
“Once you get to this part of camp, you are going to get those tweaks. Whether it’s groins, knees, and things like that. That’s where we are right now, nothing major, just a little maintenance for these guys so that we can field a team for that first pre-season game and we don’t have to play the “ones” as much as we have to play the ones. They can get through the pre-season healthy and start the season fast and full speed in the first game.”
Head Coach Corey Chamblin and keeping a few vets out of practice
