PRE-SEASON TILT
Roughriders coaches have one last chance to evaluate players as the team hosts the Eskimos in pre-season action.
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders may have found their replacement for Kory Sheets while leaving questions at other positions.
Keith Toston outran his competition for running back in Friday’s 19-14 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos before an announced crowd of 15,353 spectators at Mosaic Stadium. Toston, Anthony Allen and Jermaine Thomas all headed into the final preseason CFL game for both teams as the contenders for the tailback position.
The Riders are searching to fill the void at running back created when Sheets signed with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders during the offseason.
On Friday, Toston, Allen and Thomas received numerous opportunities to showcase their skill behind the Riders’ starting offensive line. Toston was the most effective of the trio and showed off his power, speed, blocking and even catching the ball out of the backfield.
Toston exhibited that consistency in both of the Riders’ pre-season games. On June 14, he had three carries for 58 yards, including a 38-yarder where he flattened Ottawa’s Antoine Pruneau in the Riders’ 21-17 victory.
“Anytime I get a chance, I just go out and give 110 per cent,” Toston said. “I feel like I did pretty good this pre-season,”
On Friday, Toston had seven carries for 67 yards. Allen was next with a gamehigh 10 carries and 39 yards. Thomas had two carries for minus-seven yards. Toston’s focus was more on his fumble than worrying about landing a job.
“I can’t do that and the coaches are going to make a decision and we’re just going to have to roll with that,” Toston said. “Whenever I’m on the football field and the coaches bless me by putting the ball in my hands, I can’t give it up. That’s the No. 1 thing on my list when I go out everyday and in every game. I know that I can’t do that.”
The Riders have until today at 8 p.m. to determine their 46-man active roster and 10-player practice roster. Some players may also be added numerous other lists.
The Riders wrapped with a pre-season 1-1 record. Durant, who was a combined 14-for-19 for 189 yards in both games, was pleased with the Riders’ pre-season,
“I think we accomplished a lot offensively with that first unit,” Durant said. “We were able to put some points on the board, which is good. We were able to move the ball and that’s what you want to see going into the season. I like where we are. There is still a lot of work to do, but we made some good steps.”
While Toston may have answered the questions at running back, others remain. The Riders are still looking for replacements for slotbacks Weston Dressler and Geroy Simon. Dressler signed with the Kansas City Chiefs during the off-season and Simon retired after one season with the Riders.
Chaz Schilens, a first-year receiver, showed flashes that he could step up in Friday’s game. Schilens had four receptions for 48 yards and looked more comfortable with the nuances of the Canadian game.
Rookie Ryan Smith likely spent a sleepless night waiting for today’s word on whether he made the Riders.
“I hope so; we’ll find out (today) I guess,” said Smith, who dropped the only pass thrown his way. “It really sucked. I was really upset with myself — I still am — but, hopefully in practice I made enough plays to show these guys that I can actually make that play and it won’t happen again,”
The backup quarterbacking situation is a concern, with less-than-impressive performances from Tino Sunseri, Seth Doege and Adam Weber. Sunseri, who appeared entrenched as second on the depth chart, com- pleted just two of four pass attempts for 23 yards and was intercepted. Seth Doege completed one pass for 16 yards and Weber didn’t complete any passes on his two attempts. Doege and Weber did throw catchable balls to receivers that were dropped.
The Riders primarily used their starters in the first half to prepare for their regular-season opener on June 29 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium. Saskatchewan was rewarded with a 14-0 lead over the Eskimos. Durant connected with Taj Smith on touchdown strikes of 26 and 39 yards. Chris Milo converted both touchdowns.
“I sit by (Durant) during meetings and he’s just helping me out to get better,” Smith said. “He’s trusting me more now, to throw me the ball and I just accept it.”
Edmonton punter Grant Shaw scored both of the Eskimos’ first-half points on singles as the Riders went into the break leading 14-2.
The Eskimos struggled in the first half with starter Mike Reilly under centre. Reilly completed nine of 15 passes for 60 yards, the longest of which was 15 yards to TJ Guyton.
Durant looked sharper after a slow start. He completed seven of 11 passes for 113 yards and the two touchdowns to Smith, who had two receptions for 64 yards.
Edmonton rallied in the third quarter with Matt Nichols at quarterback. Nichols completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Adarius Bowman. The touchdown was converted by Zachary Medeiros, which reduced Saskatchewan’s lead to 14-9.
Running back John White then broke free on a 41-yard touchdown run. Medeiros’s convert put Edmonton ahead 16-14. Hugh O’Neill wrapped up the scoring for the Eskimos with a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
mmccormick@ leaderpost.com