Receivers a healthy mix of veterans, newcomers
With the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp fast approaching, the Leader-Post’s Ian Hamilton is previewing each of the CFL team’s positional groups. Our eight-part series began Tuesday with a look at the special teams. The running backs (Wednesday), offensive line (Thursday) and quarterbacks (Friday) followed. Today, we focus on the receivers.
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp will feature a number of receivers who weren’t at the CFL team’s camp in 2014.
The presence of one passcatcher in particular has offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine excited.
Veteran receiver Weston Dressler missed the Roughriders’ camp last season because he had signed in the off-season with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
By the time he was cut by the Chiefs and returned to Saskatchewan, it was Aug. 28 — and the Roughriders had played eight regularseason games to that point.
In the 10 contests Dressler played after his return (nine in the regular season and the West Division semifinal), he had just 31 catches for 355 yards and one touchdown.
The work of returning those numbers to Dressler’s usual level will continue during Saskatchewan’s training camp, which begins May 31 in Saskatoon.
“There was no doubt when I came here that Weston was going to be an important part of what we want to do,” says Chapdelaine, who was hired in the off-season to replace George Cortez.
“Every offence has a receiver who becomes a guy you work around and certainly Weston is the guy who is going to be focused on ...
“Coming into camp right now as opposed to joining us halfway through the season is great because he’ll not only be part of the learning process and the growth of what we’re doing, but also he’s a leader. It’ll be so important to have that leadership right from the get-go.”
Dressler heads up a receiving corps that already features a veteran core.
Proven commodities Rob Bagg and Chris Getzlaf are slated to be the two starting Canadians, with Dressler and former 1,000-yard man Taj Smith likely to man two of the import spots.
The coaching staff put those veterans through their paces during the team’s mini-camp in Bradenton, Fla., and Chapdelaine was pleased with the way they grasped concepts and accepted different workloads.
“We wanted to see their ability to move around and be found on the field in different places because we are a multiple-formation system,” Chapdelaine says.
“We like to move people around, not just for the sake of changing things but to seek the matchups and to optimize the use of the skill sets of people. All of those guys did a great job of that.”
The fifth receiver spot currently is vacant, but a number of veterans could fill the void. Auditions will continue during camp.
“Jamel Richardson was in camp (in Florida) with us and on paper he’s certainly of great potential and interest to us,” Chapdelaine says of the former Montreal Alouettes star, who’s recovering from a knee injury.
“We’ll have to see how his recovery from the ’scope (on his knee) turns out, but we’re optimistic that it will be OK. Having said that, there are guys like Korey Williams, who was here last year, and Ryan Smith, who has tremendous athleticism.”
Non-import options
There also are options among the non-import crew, with returnees Alex Anthony and Alex Pierzchalski, free-agent signee Alex Carroll and first-round draft pick Nic Demski.
“We’re in a good place as far as the depth of our Canadian talent, but we’re still in a position where we wouldn’t mind seeing someone forge ahead and move forward within those young people,” Chapdelaine says. “Time will tell as far as that goes.”
The Roughriders have added American depth as well through the off-season, with the likes of Greg Hardin, Eric Thomas and Devin Wilson joining returnee Chaz Schilens.
In 2013, Saskatchewan’s passing game produced three 1,000-yard receivers in Dressler, Getzlaf and Taj Smith.
In 2014 — when starting quarterback Darian Durant missed the second half of the season with an injury to his right (throwing) elbow — Bagg led the receiving corps with 803 yards.
In the off-season, the CFL adopted a new rule limiting downfield contact on receivers in hopes of giving the league’s offences a boost. What kind of impact that will have on the Roughriders’ receivers should become evident during camp.