RIDERS’ MACDOUGALL SET TO START AT SAFETY.
Keenan MacDougall doesn’t have time for regrets.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back is too busy preparing for Saturday’s home CFL game against the Edmonton Eskimos to wonder what might have been.
MacDougall signed with the Riders as a free agent during the off-season after spending three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders are playoff bound while the 2-13 Riders have been eliminated from post-season contention.
“You can’t predict the future, but you go into a situation with a positive mindset and hoping that things will work out,’’ MacDougall said after Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “They don’t always go as planned, but I don’t have any regrets (about signing with the Riders) at all.’’
The Riders’ plight may have created an opportunity for MacDougall to make his first start at safety. MacDougall, 25, is among a number of young players who are getting a chance to play because the Riders are out of the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
MacDougall, a native of Saskatoon and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, sees the chance to actually play on defence as more than an opportunity to showcase what he can do.
“There is some personal pride as far as our team goes,’’ he said. “We also have a couple of big games against some of the top teams in the league. We have to show what we can do for next year.’’
It has been a trying season for MacDougall. The Riders initially looked at him as a linebacker and special-teamer during training camp. He then injured a shoulder while covering a punt early in the Riders’ first game of the 2015 season.
After returning from the six-game injured list, MacDougall played on special teams. The Riders then decided to move international safety Tyron Brackenridge to linebacker and start national Matt Webster at safety.
“The injury at the beginning of the season pushed back (MacDougall’s) development a little bit,’’ said interim head coach Bob Dyce. “Then he had to come back from a six-week injury and some people ahead of him got more reps.
“When we transitioned into the Canadian safety, Matt just had a little more experience (than MacDougall),’’ Dyce added. “I’m excited to see Keenan get some more reps as we go forward. Both him and Matt represent two Canadian guys who can play that spot.’’
MacDougall’s promotion may be among a number of personnel changes to the Riders’ defence. Jake Doughty was practising Thursday at middle linebacker. Doughty’s expected return to the active roster after being sidelined by a knee injury moves Jeff Knox Jr. to outside linebacker. Harris remains as an outside linebacker. Brackenridge’s status remains uncertain.
Markus White is also expected to start at defensive end because Alex Hall is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Hall suffered the injury in the Riders’ 30-15 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct. 9.
The Riders intended to promote other young players into more significant roles on Saturday, but it appears some of those plans have changed.
“There were some guys who we planned to give that opportunity, but they aren’t going to get that opportunity because they weren’t quite ready,’’ Dyce said. “This is a business, and as much as we want to move forward, due to respect to the guys who are ready to play. We’re not going to put anyone out there who’s just not ready to perform at the level we need them to be at.’’