SASKATOON — Football teams don’t typically regard a tie as the ideal outcome.
At this time of year, though, it isn’t a bad thing.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence and defence are at a virtual stalemate after six days of Coors Light Training Camp.
That was the assessment on Friday when Head Coach Corey Mace and quarterback Trevor Harris met the media at Griffiths Stadium.
“Our defence is making things tough,” the West Division’s reigning All-CFL signal-caller said.
“When you’ve got Marcus Sayles and Rolan Milligan Jr. to one side (in the secondary) and you’ve got Tevaughn Campbell as a corner and DaMarcus Fields as a returning starter (at halfback) and the safeties who are competing and Brooksie (Antoine Brooks Jr.) backing up C.J. Reavis (at cover linebacker) … you’ve got guys over there.
“You’ve got Jameer Thurman at (middle linebacker) and C.J. Avery at (weak-side linebacker). They make things difficult.
“We’ve gotten the better of them a little bit and they’ve gotten the better of us a little bit, but as my favourite book ever — the Bible — says, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ I think we’re seeing that every day.”
Mace was quick to concur.
“I would say the highlight (of camp) is the compete level,” he said. “I heard Trev talking about how the defence has got a bit of the offence and the offence has got a bit of the defence, and he’s not wrong.
“The compete level is so high that it’s not lopsided. It’s pretty even from that standpoint. It’s not from a lack of anything on either side. It’s just that guys are competing their tails off and taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to them.”
Mace didn’t expect anything different.
“I don’t think there are any surprises,” he said. “It’s more just validating. We look at the roster in totality going into camp and we feel really good about the depth.
“Usually, some guys will stand head and shoulders above other guys. This year, with the full crop of guys that we have here, everybody’s in the conversation.
“I don’t know if anything’s really standing out from that standpoint. It’s just the totality of everybody that’s getting after it.”
This is the Roughriders’ second training camp under a Mace-led coaching staff. Most of the key players from last year have returned, but there is nonetheless competition across the board.
“I think we’re ahead (of 2024), but you’ve got to be careful about that, because when you start comparing, that’s really not what it’s about,” Harris said.
“It’s about comparing yourself to yesterday. You can look back at last year, of course, but to me it’s about, ‘How were we yesterday and how were we today?’ That’s really where we’re at — comparing ourselves to early on in camp and making sure your floor is high and your ceiling is high.
“Your bad days can’t be too bad and you want your great days to be super great. You always have expectations for yourself but, to me, it’s just about making sure we’re getting better every day.”
GREEN AND WHITE DAY
The Roughriders move to SMF Field on Saturday before returning to Griffiths Stadium for a Monday morning practice and the concluding week of Saskatoon-based workouts.
SMF Field, located on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, will be the venue for Green and White Day.
Gates are to open Saturday at 1 p.m. Attendees will be treated to performances by the Harvard Media Rider Cheer Team, the 620 CKRM Rider Pep Band and Gainer the Gopher. As well, there will be face-painting, inflatables, music and games.
Beginning in the main hall at 1:45 p.m., CKRM’s voice of the Roughriders (Dave Thomas) will moderate a panel discussion that will feature Mace, Craig Reynolds (President-CEO) and Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager). Following the panel discussion, the floor will be open to fans’ questions.
The players will take centre stage at SMF Field, beginning with a mini-Bring ’Em Out at 3:45 p.m. The Roughriders’ on-field activities are to begin at 4 p.m. and last about an hour.
Players will then be available to sign autographs for fans who line the fences.
“(Saturday’s event) is kind of our first run at what it looks like for our pre-game routine and rituals, so we’ll get good practise at that while getting ready for our (first) pre-season game,” Mace said.
“Then we’ll put ourselves in different situations throughout the Green and White (session) that prepares us for what teams are trying to accomplish, being our opponents. It’s kind of us polishing up some things that we want to look at before we head into pre-season work.
“Ultimately, (the players) are going to have a call, they’re going to have to execute it, and they’re going to have to communicate. Those are all things we preach daily.
“We’ve got a great fan base and for everybody to be out there and to be able to interact with their favourite players, we look forward to that.”
Saskatchewan opens its pre-season schedule on May 24th against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Thereafter, the Roughriders will practise at Mosaic Stadium, where Winnipeg is to provide the opposition in a May 30th game that is to begin at 7 p.m.
The Roughriders and Ottawa REDBLACKS will open the CFL’s 2025 regular season on July 5th, 7 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.
