SASKATOON — There was something different about the two offensive linemen who took the field for the first time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday.
Only one of them had green hair.
“I’m already moving my family out here; that’s a level of commitment possibly higher than dying your hair,” guard Peter Dyakowski — the one without the green ’do — said after his first training-camp workout with the Roughriders at the University of Saskatchewan’s Griffiths Stadium. “But if Coach (Chris) Jones asks me to, I’d have a tough time saying no.”
Dyakowski and left tackle Derek Dennis — who let his younger sister touch up his green dye job — made their on-field debuts with the CFL’s Roughriders during Tuesday’s workout.
Dennis was in Calgary for the first two days of camp, testifying at the trial of a man charged in connection with the shooting death of former Calgary Stampeders defensive back Mylan Hicks.
Dennis, a highly coveted free agent whom Saskatchewan signed on the first day of the open market in February, admitted he was “pretty anxious” to get on the field for the first time.
The 6-foot-3, 341-pound product of Queens, N.Y., had reported to the Roughriders’ camp and had attended meetings with his new team, but that was all he was able to do before returning to Calgary.
“I wasn’t really in training-camp mode yet because I didn’t touch the field,” said Dennis, 28. “I just wanted to get all my personal matters out of the way and get back to playing football.”
Dyakowski, meanwhile, only arrived in Saskatoon on Monday. The Roughriders acquired the 33-year-old product of Vancouver from the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday in exchange for international receiver Armanti Edwards.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Dyakowski spent the first 10 seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before being released in February. He subsequently signed with the Argos, but was traded before he could even report to their camp.
All Stephen Sorrells knows is that his job got a little easier Tuesday when the duo hit the field.
“They’re two veteran guys who are both really good football players and who are extremely smart,” said Sorrells, who’s entering his first season as the Roughriders’ offensive line coach.
“Derek was in some meetings and has a little bit of an understanding (of the offence). Peter won Canada’s smartest guy or something, so if you multiply my IQ times 10, it still doesn’t equal his. He picks up on things extremely fast.”
In 2012, Dyakowski earned the title as “Canada’s smartest person” by solving challenges on a two-hour CBC television show. On Tuesday, he said teammates only seem to bring up his win when he jumps offside.
A 2012 East Division all-star, Dyakowski started 131 regular-season games for the Tiger-Cats. He also appeared in 10 playoff games and two Grey Cup contests, including the 2013 game at Mosaic Stadium.
Playing in that contest — which the host Roughriders won 45-23 — as well as many others in Regina during his career has given Dyakowski an understanding of his new home.
“Whenever we came out to play, the energy is terrific even though they’re all cheering against you when you’re on the opposition,” said Dyakowski, who suffered a torn patellar tendon during the 2013 Grey Cup game. “It’s a great place to be, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Now the question becomes: Where on the line does Dyakowski fit?
Dennis and Thaddeus Coleman are expected to be the starting tackles, Dan Clark likely will start at centre, and Brendon LaBatte has returned from a neck injury with an eye on reclaiming his spot at left guard.
Dyakowski could slide in at right guard (where sophomore Josiah St. John has been working with the first unit) or he could go in at left guard and send LaBatte to the right side.
“It’ll play itself out,” said Sorrells, who stressed that every spot is still up for grabs in camp. “With only having six guys on game day, those guys have got to be able to play a lot of positions. In camp, (Dyakowski and LaBatte) will both play left and right. Josiah will end up playing some right and left as well.
“It’s about finding the five best guys who work together the best — and those guys have got to be interchangeable.”
Dyakowski played right and left tackle and right and left guard in Hamilton before setting in at left guard. That ability to adjust could come in handy as the Roughriders look to set their line.
He also would accept a spot as a backup if that’s what’s asked of him.
“When you go to training camp, you go with the mindset that you’re going to be a starter; it’s a self-defeating attitude otherwise,” he said. “I’m going to put my best product out there and I’m going to welcome the coaches’ decision.
“If there’s a role for me as a backup, that’s fantastic. It’s a role and it’s a chance to play on a team and contribute. The last little bit (of his career) has taught me to really appreciate any opportunity, so whatever the role ends up being when camp breaks, as long as I’ve got myself a spot, that’s Step 1. The first part of winning a Grey Cup is being on a team.”
