Offence has familiar faces
New QB Collaros looks as if he’ll start, rest of offence features familiar faces
REGINA Questions hover over the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence with their main training camp kicking off Sunday in Saskatoon.
Which Zach Collaros will the Riders see at quarterback? The 2015 version who lit up the CFL before suffering a season-ending knee injury or the 2017 QB who lost eight consecutive starts with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before being benched?
Who will play left offensive tackle, considering that Bruce Campbell — who started 12 games in 2017 — is still on the free-agent list?
What role will running back Jerome Messam play in the offence?
With those questions in mind, the Regina Leader-Post’s Murray McCormick breaks down Saskatchewan’s offence. On Friday, he will delve into the defence and special teams. Players are listed in alphabetical order. An asterisk denotes an international player.
QUARTERBACKS
Returnees:
Brandon Bridge, Marquise Williams* David Watford*
Newcomer: Zach Collaros*
The skinny: Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, has remained steadfast that there will be an open competition at every position, including quarterback. He can say that, but the signs indicate that Collaros will be the starter when the season begins. The Riders wouldn’t have traded a second-round pick in the 2018 CFL draft for Collaros and signed him for a reported $430,000 to serve as a backup. It won’t be a bad thing if Bridge, Williams or Watford push Collaros and each other for the starting position. Competition makes players better, even if the outcome is obvious.
RECEIVERS
Returnees:
WR Rob Bagg WR Devon Bailey WR Duron Carter* SB Antwane Grant* SB Bakari Grant* SB Caleb Holley*
SB Chad Owens*,
WR Mitchell Picton
WR Denzel Radford
SB Naaman Roosevelt* WR Joshua Stanford
WR T.J. Thorpe*
Newcomers:
WR Shaq Evans*
WR Jake Harty
WR Jordan Williams-Lambert* The skinny: The Riders have more receivers than they do openings. The projected starters are wide receivers Carter and Bagg and slotbacks Roosevelt and Grant, with the final spot to be determined. Holley may be pencilled in as a slotback, but could be pushed by any of the other receivers. There are opportunities for the nationals to step up as the Riders search for the next Bagg, who recently turned 33.
RUNNING BACKS/ FULLBACKS
Returnees:
RB Christion Jones* RB Cameron Marshall* RB Trent Richardson* RB Marcus Thigpen*
FB Albert Awachie
FB Spencer Moore Newcomers:
RB Jerome Messam
RB Bryce Vieira
The skinny: The return of Messam doesn’t guarantee he will be the starter, because there isn’t much Canadian depth at tailback. The Riders will likely alternate Messam with whichever international cracks the roster. Considering how well Marshall played in the first 10 games of last season before being sidelined by a knee injury, he could be the front-runner among the internationals.
He was healthy by the playoffs, but remained on the sideline due to the performances of Thigpen and Richardson. Thigpen’s role is uncertain because he has been suspended for the first two regularseason games after a positive drug test late in the 2017 season. Richardson won’t be at training camp while dealing with personal issues. Fullback is solid with Moore heading into his sixth season and the steady improvement of Awachie.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Returnees:
G Emmanuel Adusei
G Dariusz Bladek
C Dan Clark
T Thaddeus Coleman*
T Jarvis Harrison*
G Brendon LaBatte
OL Josiah St. John
T Terran Vaughn*
C Jeremy Zver
Newcomers:
G Travis Bond*
T Takoby Cofield*
G Dalton Houghton
OL Danny Sprukulis
2018 draft picks:
OL Dakoda Shepley OL Christopher Smith
The skinny: The Riders have three starters returning from 2017 — Coleman (right tackle), LaBatte (left guard) and Clark (centre).
A hole was created at right guard when Peter Dyakowski was recently released. The Riders may have a replacement at guard in Bond, who was a CFL all-star in 2016 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Right guard would seem to be Bond’s position, but Jones suggested that Bond could also play left guard.
Regardless, Bond could be pushed by Bladek, the Riders’ second-round pick (11th overall) in the 2017 CFL draft. Vaughn could be the leader in the position battle for left tackle and Cofield is also in the mix.
There could be an opportunity for St. John to step up after being the first overall pick in the 2016 CFL draft.
There isn’t a lot of experience among the backups, so that could be a concern if the Riders encounter injuries along the offensive line.
NOTES: The Riders announced Wednesday that they have signed 2018 draft picks Micah Teitz, Mathieu Breton and Tresor BuamaMafuta … Saskatchewan also signed free-agent running back Bryce Vieira of the Ottawa GeeGees … Regina-born Mason Nyhus of the U of S Huskies will be at training camp under the CFL’s Canadian quarterback internship program … Two Saskatoon Hilltops players — defensive back Colton Holmes and linebacker Cody Peters — have been added as territorial juniors.