TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: Roughriders boast admirable depth on offensive, defensive lines
A conventional, position-based training camp preview steers clear of combining offence and defence.
But when you consider Micah Johnson’s formidable presence on both sides of the ball in 2024, why draw a line between the lines?
Johnson, an All-CFL defensive tackle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, also performed admirably on the two occasions his job description abruptly changed due to injury-induced personnel shortages.
Most memorably, he played right guard for 1½ quarters during the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Defensive tackle Miles Brown (now of the Calgary Stampeders) also moonlighted as an offensive lineman during a 2024 season in which the Roughriders weathered a seemingly never-ending series of injuries.
Despite the constant shuffling on the offensive line, the Roughriders finished in second place, earned a home playoff game and advanced to the Western Final.
Now the Roughriders enter Coors Light Training Camp with a wealth of experience along the offensive line.
“I guess that’s one benefit to dressing 14 offensive linemen — or 16, if you count the two defensive linemen who played there,” Offensive Co-ordinator Marc Mueller says. “A lot of those guys have seen live bullets.”
Therefore, the competition will be intense when main training camp begins on May 11 at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Rookie camp, also on the University of Saskatchewan campus, is scheduled for May 7 to 9.
As the first spring workout draws closer, Riderville.com is doing a deep dive into the roster.
Today, we turn to the trenches and focus on the offensive and defensive lines.
NOTE: (A) denotes American; (G) denotes Global; (N) denotes National … players are listed in alphabetical order.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
#51 SEAN McEWEN (N): Three-time All-CFL centre is a first-year Roughrider.
#52 JERMARCUS HARDRICK (A): Two-time All-CFL tackle returns from a quad injury.
#53 PHILIPPE GAGNON (N): Started at guard for Montreal during 2023 championship season.
#57 BRANDON KEMP (A): 12 games of starting experience with Hamilton.
#59 BRAYDON NOLL (N): Dressed for four games in 2024.
#62 NICK JONES (A): Started at guard and tackle as a Riders rookie.
#63 LOGAN FERLAND (N): West Division’s reigning Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
#64 TREVON TATE (A): 10 starts (playoffs included) at tackle for 2024 Riders.
#65 DANIEL JOHNSON (N): Fifth-round Draft choice spent 2024 on practice roster.
#66 JACOB BRAMMER (A): Started five regular-season games and one playoff contest.
#67 ZACK FRY (N): Eight starts at left guard last season.
#68 NOAH ZERR (N): Made first four CFL starts last season — all at left guard.
JAHMIR ROSS-JOHNSON (A): Joins Roughriders after excelling at Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Head Coach Corey Mace echoes Mueller’s sentiments by touting the benefits of using so many offensive linemen in 2024 — a year in which Trevor Harris was the West’s All-CFL quarterback despite ever-changing pass-protection personnel.
“It’s kind of a silver lining, with what happened with the injuries,” the Roughriders’ second-year field boss says.
“We’ve got a lot of guys in there who have been battle-tested. It’s not a question of, ‘We like this guy. We think he can do it.’ We know the answers to some of these questions now.”
The O-line includes three players who have been finalists for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.
Ferland earned that distinction with Saskatchewan in 2024. Hardrick won the award with Winnipeg in 2023. McEwen was a member of the Toronto Argonauts when he received East lineman-of-the-year honours in 2017.
McEwen is ticketed for front-line centre duty after signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent in February.
“He’s a quality player, quality person, quality leader,” Mueller says of McEwen, having worked with him while on the Stampeders’ coaching staff.
“With a guy like him who has been in the league and had success in the league, there’s going to be very few surprises. It’s kind of like a version of Trevor.”
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
#4 MICAH JOHNSON (A): Fourth career All-CFL distinction last season.
#5 SHANE RAY (A): Denver Broncos’ first-round draftee in 2015.
#11 MALIK CARNEY (A): Has all the makings of a premier pass-rusher.
#42 MIKE ROSE (A): Three-time All-CFLer earned divisional laurels with Calgary in 2024.
#49 LAKE KORTE-MOORE (N): Roughriders’ first-round Draft choice in 2023.
#90 JORDAN SMITH (A): Jacksonville chose 6-foot-6 D-end in Round 4 of 2021 Draft.
#92 CALEB SANDERS (A): Uncannily quick defensive tackle adds kick-blocking skills.
#93 BENOIT MARION (N): Auspicious debut with Roughriders late last season.
#94 ERIC BLACK (A): Dressed for two games with Saskatchewan last season.
#95 HABAKKUK BALDONADO (G): Versatile lineman invariably produces when opportunity knocks.
#98 ALEX GUBNER (A): Four interceptions — as a D-lineman! — at University of Montana in 2019.
#99 CHARBEL DABIRE (N): Robust start in 2024 before suffering knee injury.
AARON PATRICK (A): Dressed for 12 NFL games with 2021 Broncos.
The Roughriders are blessed with eye-popping depth at defensive tackle, where there are four proven CFLers.
Johnson and Rose have seven All-CFL nominations between them. Sanders emerged as a force in 2024. Dabire was playing his best football before a knee injury ended his season in July.
“With the D-tackle rotation, we’ve got some really good ones, no doubt,” Mace says.
At defensive end, Carney is expected to provide consistent pressure as a second-year Rider.
“With Scoop coming back and being healthy, he’s going to have a tremendous year,” predicts Mace, who doubles as the Defensive Co-ordinator. “We’ve got some young bucks as well.”
One of the newcomers arrives with a wealth of experience. Ray has won a Super Bowl (with Denver in 2016) and a Grey Cup (with Toronto in 2022).
“With the addition of Shane Ray, I’m very familiar with him and understand what he can bring to a defensive line, specifically off the edge,” says Mace, who co-ordinated a top-flight Argonauts defence in 2022 and 2023.
The ranks of those who toil in the trenches should be expanded when the Roughriders add to their wealth of National players on April 29.
“Who knows what will happen in the Draft, but I think there’s some really good offensive linemen and some really good defensive linemen,” Mace notes.
“We’re really excited about that.”
