As Training Camp 2016 slowly meanders towards the Green & White inter-squad game on Saturday, both the offensive and defensive game plans are being implemented piece by piece. The competition between the two groups continues to heighten with the defence having a great day, but just 24 hours later, the offence has a great day.
Today in Day Five, it was the offence who had the advantage early with Darian Durant going 7-for-8 on the opening drive for a touchdown. After that, it was the defence flexing their muscles.
What this competition has revealed, is that this group of Rider receivers could round out to be one of the stronger units in the CFL. Only a few faces remain from a year ago, but the additions to the Riders during free agency make this a top-down solid unit.
The Canadians:
Rob Bagg (9th SSK/9th CFL)
Shamawd Chambers (1st SSK/5th CFL)
Nic Demski (2nd SSK/2nd CFL)
S.J. Haidara (2nd SSK/4th CFL)
Josh Stanford (8th Rd, 62nd overall 2016 CFL Draft, Kansas/Virginia Tech)
Randy Roseway (FA, St. Francis Xavier)
Kyle Kawamoto (FA, Okanagan {Jr.})
Rob Bagg will lead a set of Canadian receivers that need to be deeper and stronger than a season ago. Bagg will enjoy the move to slot and has put on a few pounds to take the punishment that happens with the tough catches inside.
Shamawd Chambers had a fantastic Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos and he parlayed that into a free agent deal with the Riders. He will be looked at to fill the role Chris Getzlaf held over the past few seasons.
First round pick in 2015, Nic Demski showed signs of greatness last season in limited action. He will be placed in an even bigger role now with a season under his belt.
S.J. Haidara returns for his second season with the Riders. He played sparingly with in 2015, but when he did hit the field, Haidara produced. His five catch, 38-yard effort in the final game of the season in Montreal, is a prime example.
Josh Stanford, Randy Roseway and Kyle Kawamoto are all new to the club. Stanford was picked in the final round of the CFL draft while Roseway and Kawamoto were free agent pick-ups that participated in the Florida mini-camp.
Experienced Americans:
Naaman Roosevelt (2nd SSK/2nd CFL)
Clarence Denmark (1st SSK/6th CFL)
John Chiles (1st SSK/3rd CFL)
Kendial Lawrence (1st SSK/4th CFL)
Marcus Davis (2nd SSK/2nd CFL)
Ryan Lankford (2nd SSK/2nd CFL)
Naaman Roosevelt returns to the Riders after having a breakout second half in the 2015 season. Roosevelt spent the first half of the year on the practice roster, but once on the regular roster he piled up 488 yards and five touchdowns with his best game being a five catch, 101-yard performance against the Edmonton Eskimos on October 24th.
Three very productive players were signed in the off-season beginning with former Toronto Argo, John Chiles. He is a big time deep threat that averaged over 16 yards per catch in his two seasons with Toronto.
Clarence Denmark was a late pick-up a week before Training Camp began. He had 57 catches for 718 yards a year ago with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and had a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2014. He could make a difference by being that solid third option for Darian Durant.
The final free agent pick-up this past off season was Kendial Lawrence. He may be the one of the better players on the roster that can both run out of the backfield and receive the ball. Best use will be when the Riders need big yardage on second down.
Marcus Davis (signed September, 2015) and Ryan Lankford (signed October, 2015) both played in one game for the Riders last season.
Fresh-faced Americans:
Ricky Collins (Texas A&M Commerce)
Quadarius Ford (South Alabama)
Shay Hodge (Mississippi)
Alec Lemon (Syracuse)
Marquez Clark (Central Oklahoma)
Ricky Collins spent time with the Green Bay Packers in 2015 before signing with Winnipeg and took part in their mini-camp. The Riders signed him before Training Camp began.
Shay Hodge may have the best college pedigree on the Saskatchewan Roughriders receiving core. He was Mississippi’s all-time leading receiver before Laquan Treadwell (11th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings this past NFL draft) broke his record. He has spent time with San Francisco, Washington, Cincinnati and Hamilton before signing with the Riders in January.
Alec Lemon spent two seasons on the Houston Texans practice roster in 2013 and 2014 before signing with the Riders this past off-season. Marquez Clark and Quadarius Ford were two of the many players the Riders signed out of their Florida mini-camp.
