RIDERS PAYING PRICE FOR MENTAL MISTAKES
Murray’s musings, mutterings and monsters from Day 12 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp at the University of Saskatchewan’s Griffiths Stadium:
PENALTIES FOR PENALTIES
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, hasn’t backed down from penalizing players for pre-snap penalties. Jones is still unhappy that the Riders were assessed 12 penalties for 98 yards in Sunday’s 35-12 pre-season loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos.
CFL rules prohibit teams from fining players for penalties. Jones has skirted that rule by implementing a physical penalty for pre-snap infractions, whether it’s on offence, defence or special teams. Each time an individual player commits a pre-snap penalty, such as offside, illegal procedure or delay of game, the whole group has to complete up-and-downs. That’s when players drop to their stomachs, get back up to their feet and repeat.
On Thursday, the offence committed four penalties and the defence one. Each group was subject to the discipline.
Jones is serious about cleaning up the mistakes because he plans on leaving the physical penalties in place for the entire season.
MURRAY’S MONSTERS
Defensive linemen Zack Evans and Eddie Steele shared Murray’s Monster honours on Thursday.
It’s not for what they are doing on the defensive line that earned them the honour. It’s the fact that they have both been taking snaps at right guard as well as their regular rotation on the defensive line.
The changes are part of Jones’s method of dealing with the small CFL rosters and having replacements in place if the team encounters injuries.
The willingness of Steele and Evans to adjust to another position is enough to earn them Murray’s Monster.
THIGPEN THE MAN
If Marcus Thigpen wasn’t facing a two-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, he would be the front-runner to be the Riders’ starting tailback.
He continues to show his breakaway speed and quick step through holes. The experience he gained in 2017 has also helped him understand the playbook.
The Riders will have to wait for Thigpen to be eligible in 2018 before adding him to the active roster. Once he returns, he will provide the Riders with options at tailback. Thigpen and Jerome Messam provide an intriguing mix of power and speed at the position.
CARTER WATCH
Could Duron Carter add quarterback to his list of positions with the Riders? The wide receiver/defensive back completed one of three pass attempts late in Thursday’s practice. Carter’s lone completion was to running back Bryce Vieira, who had to slow down for the catch. Based on that effort, Carter might be better off concentrating on his other two jobs.
INJURED LIST
Offensive lineman Josiah St. John can’t buy a break when it comes to injuries this year.
St. John, the first-overall selection in the 2016 CFL draft, tweaked a hamstring shortly before the Riders’ training camp opened. He made his training-camp debut on Wednesday, and was limited to only a few drills.
Early in Thursday’s practice, St. John may have re-injured his hamstring and was tended to by the training staff. He walked off the field under his own power, but was moving slowly.
Jones didn’t have an update on St. John’s status.