A point of emphasis: I am writing this as an extremely interested and embedded observer of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, by whom I am employed as the resident writer and arthritic historian.
This story is not intended to convey the impression, even with the slightest subtlety, that the players accentuated below are receiving special attention from the coaches, player-personnel staff, et cetera.
At the highest level, the priority is to appraise each prospective member of the 2023 Roughriders thoroughly and equitably.
The evaluation process kicks into another gear today, beginning at 5 p.m., when the Roughriders play host to the B.C. Lions in the pre-season opener for both teams.
As a primer, here are five players to whom I will be paying particular attention:
SHEA PATTERSON
Patterson has altered the dynamic of the quarterbacking competition with a series of standout showings at Coors Light Riders Training Camp.
Had he been merely ordinary, there wouldn’t be a battle, really. The Roughriders would simply retain returnees Mason Fine and Jake Dolegala as understudies to Trevor Harris. Fine and Dolegala would be vying for the No. 2 spot. End of story.
Patterson, however, has created a wide-open, three-headed battle due to his strong throwing arm, mobility and command of the offence.
“I love Shea,” Harris said on Tuesday. “He has been lighting it up this last week. You can tell that certain light bulbs are clicking on for him.”
Harris, who also sings the praises of Fine and Dolegala, added this observation about Patterson: “He has lots and lots of arm talent. He’s super-athletic and he has a super-bright future. I really have a lot of admiration for him.”
Harris and Patterson were teammates in Montreal, where the latter signal-caller spent some time operating the Alouettes’ short-yardage offence in 2021.
Patterson’s comfortability in those situations adds yet another element to the intrigue regarding the quarterbacks.
JAVIAN HAWKINS
Entering training camp, the backfield situation appeared to be cut and dried.
The roster, after all, includes two skilled returnees at running back — Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson.
So, really, where is there room for anyone else?
The arrivals of Hawkins, B.J. Emmons and Rodney Smith have compelled the coaches to ponder that question.
The 6-foot-0, 220-pound Emmons is a robust runner who has impressed the Roughriders’ brass since joining the practice roster last October. In 2021, he rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown in three NFL pre-season games with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Smith, at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, was twice a 1,000-yard rusher with the University of Minnesota Gophers before ascending to the NFL. He rushed for 156 yards and one touchdown with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
And then there is Hawkins, who in 2019 set a University of Louisville Cardinals single-season record by rushing for an eye-popping 1,525 yards.
A smaller back at 5-foot-9 and 196 pounds, Hawkins ran the 40-yard dash in an economical 4.46 seconds at the 2021 NFL Combine.
“He’s a nice player,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said of Hawkins. “He shone for us at rookie camp. Then he turned an ankle and missed a few days. It seems that now he’s getting back and getting his groove on.
“He’s going to get a lot of action as a running back in the game and we’re also going to give him some returns.”
Dickenson also speaks highly of Emmons and Smith, so the running back battle merits close scrutiny on Saturday.
Although Morrow and Hickson are veterans, Dickenson and General Manager/Vice-President of Football Operations Jeremy O’Day will find a way to carry over at least one of the newcomers into the regular season — the practice roster being an option.
“We’re going to keep one, maybe even two,” Dickenson said. “That’s J.O.’s call. They’ve all done such a good job. You hate to lose any of them.”
Hickson and Morrow are being rested on Saturday. Listed at running back on the position chart for the B.C. game are Emmons, Hawkins, Smith and veteran national ball-carrier Kienan LaFrance, the latter of whom has also had an impressive training camp.
BRYAN COX JR.
The 28-year-old son of three-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Bryan Cox has adhered to family tradition by being an impressive player on defence.
Lining up as an end in Saskatchewan, Cox is making a strong push for a position on an already-formidable defensive line.
“He has done a nice job,” Dickenson said. “Everything in practice really points to him being a really good player for us. Now we want to get him out there in a game.”
C.J. REAVIS
Reavis is ticketed to start Saturday at strong-side linebacker — a position ordinarily occupied by 2022 West Division All-Star Derrick Moncrief.
Moncrief is recovering from shoulder surgery. It is hoped that he will be available in time for the June 11 regular-season opener in Edmonton against the Elks.
“That’s not a for-sure thing, but that’s our goal,” Dickenson said.
Given that there is some uncertainty, the performance of Reavis bears watching on Saturday and in the June 2 pre-season finale versus the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“Reavis is the one Sam linebacker with experience, so he has a really good shot at playing a lot,” Dickenson said.
ADAM KORSAK
This much, we know: The punter will be a Global player.
Kaare Vedvik, from Norway, is entering his third season as a Roughrider. He is being challenged by the Australian-born Korsak, who was chosen third overall in the Global Draft on May 2.
Korsak, who spent the past four seasons at Rutgers, was the 2022 recipient of the Ray Guy Award — which is presented annually to the NCAA’s top punter.
“He’s a good player,” Dickenson said. “I’m curious to see what his skill set looks like in the CFL. He has done a good job fitting in so far. We’re probably going to give him half the game on Saturday.”
Ideally, of course, the offence will move the ball with such remarkable efficiency that the services of a punter will not be required.
“That would be great,” Dickenson said with a smile, “but I think we’ll probably punt a few times.
“It’s the CFL. It’s different than the NFL, so we’ll punt some balls (on Saturday).
“We’re going to rotate them. You’ll see one guy with the first punt. The other guy will get the second and we’ll go from there.”
