Dan Plaster
Two-a-days are finally over!
A lot of smiling faces after the second practice of day eleven of Training Camp 2015. The whole day had a great feel to it, the weather, the players’ attitudes, the execution, even the fan turnout!
Let’s take a moment to mention the fans here in Saskatoon. Absolutely unreal. Last year, they came out during the first week and it really tapered off. This year, the crowds are obviously lower in the second week, but still strong, especially at the two practices at SMF Field.
I know Saskatoon is one of the best hockey cities in Canada, but with the work Saskatoon Minor Football, Saskatoon High School Football, the Hilltops and the Huskies have done, this is really turning into a very strong football city. The minor program is bursting at the seams at both tackle and touch, there are great high school programs led by the Holy Cross Crusaders, and not much more can be said about what the Saskatoon Hilltops and University of Saskatchewan Huskies have done on and off the field to grow the sport.
Combine that with the incredibly strong football programs in Regina and the addition of the programs in Yorkton, North Battleford, Estevan, Swift Current (and I could go on forever), is why Saskatchewan is one of the premier football provinces in Canada!
Alright, back to the field, and one of the toughest things about football, and that’s the business of the sport. Veteran receiver Alex Anthony was released by the Riders this afternoon. It’s tough to see a great kid like Alex go through the emotions of what football dishes out. I hope he gets another chance with a CFL team, because they will be very pleased with the work ethic on and off the field.
What this does show is the strength the Riders have at National receiver. It’s a deep bunch, led by veterans Chris Getzlaf and Rob Bagg, add to it a quickly improving Alex Pierzchalski, Scott McHenry moving back to receiver from fullback, first round pick Nic Demski and the revelation of free agent signee Alex Carroll and late round 2015 draft pick Melvin Abankwah. So, with all of this depth, this is why the Riders traded Cory Watson before camp began and now the release of Alex Anthony.
Just a few quick highlights from day eleven of Saskatchewan Roughriders Training Camp 2015:
On defence, the emergence of Tearrius George as a leader off the field. You will see him leading the discussion with the other d-linemen at the cafeteria, helping second year defensive lineman Derek Walker with his hand-work between drills, and just his overall demeanour as a leader of this group. With George, John Chick and Alex Hall, Coach Mike Sinclair will have a lot of help moulding this group into the best unit in the CFL.
On offence, they really clicked in skelly today (WR’s and RB’s versus the defensive backfield). Darian Durant completed five passes in a row including three to Ryan Smith and finishing with the second unit strike to Greg Hardin. The skelly session finished with a great catch by Chris Getzlaf (who jumped in with the third group) from Brett Smith.
Quotes of the day:
“Yah, it’s a lot easier, I’m a lot more comfortable, I actually get to grow with my teammates and I feel a lot better. Everybody is learning this new offence, everybody is getting accustomed to the defence, and we feel like a brand new team and the fact that we all get to go through camp together makes a big difference for me.”
Running Back Steven Miller on his first training camp with the Riders
“Just because it’s a grind, it doesn’t mean that you don’t enjoy the fact that you are out here playing football, the game that you love to play. For me personally, I love getting into the playbook and being out here with my teammates making plays and building confidence with the defensive scheme so that when we kick-off on the 27th, we are just flying around the football.”
Linebacker Shea Emry on the good things from training camp
The final RidersLive of Training Camp 2015 brought to you by Coors Light will be tomorrow morning at10:45. Click on riderville.com/riderslive for the show and keep checking with riderville.com for the best and most up to date info on your Saskatchewan Roughriders
