RIDERS DEAL WITH COLDER WEATHER

Murray’s musings, mutterings and monster from a dreary Day 13 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp that was mercifully cut short at the University of Saskatchewan’s Griffiths Stadium

FOOTBALL WEATHER

The weather forecasters were bang-on when they predicted cold temperatures and rain for Friday in Saskatoon. The rain stayed away until midway through Friday ’s session, but it was still only 8 C with winds gusting to 37 km/ h.

Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, ended practice 45 minutes earlier than scheduled due to the conditions. A hearty cheer by the players and coaches greeted the dismissal.

COLD HANDS PEOPLE

Some of the receivers were fighting the football due to the cold temperatures. There were drops on punt and kickoff returns and on passing routes.

The rain contributed to some of the errant throws and the cold added to the mishandled returns.

HUMBOLDT STRONG

on The Sunday Riders for will a noon-hour be in Humboldt barbecue and walk-through. The trip is a part of the CFL team’s support for the community that was rocked by a bus crash on April 6 that killed 16 members of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos club.

Quarterback Zach Collaros knows the Riders can’t do a lot to ease the pain, but “anything we can do to put a smile on their faces is going to be good for the community.”

The Riders are also expected to announce details for a “Humboldt Strong” home game on June 30 against the Montreal Alouettes.

INJURY UPDATE

the Jones status didn’t of offensive have any lineman details Josiah on St. John, the first-overall selection in the 2016 draft. St. John left Thursday ’s practice early with an undisclosed injury. Jones only said that St. John would be out for “a while.” Slotback Chad Owens was apparently injured Friday after landing awkwardly on his left shoulder while attempting to catch a pass. Owens was tended to by the train- ing staff, but was able to walk away.

There wasn’t any update on Owens’ status after Friday’s practice.

MURRAY’S MONSTER

Finding a backup to veteran centre Dan Clark has been a challenge. The unexpected retirement of Jeremy Zver early in training camp contributed to Dariusz Bladek moving from guard to centre.

Bladek was progressing until he suffered an injury in Sunday ’s loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos. With Bladek on the sideline, Dalton Houghton has been filling in.

Houghton was a defensive lineman at Minot State before being switched to an offensive lineman at the Riders’ spring mini-camp in Florida. Houghton hasn’t looked out of place at centre or even at guard. Houghton’s willingness to switch to a new position earns him Murray’s Monster.

FAN DAY

The Riders’ annual Green and White Day is Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The event begins at 1 p.m. with Jones, assistant vice-president of football operations and player personnel John Murphy and assistant vice-president of football operations and administration Jeremy O’Day taking part in a State of Rider Nation address.

The two-hour practice is at 3 p.m. Players will be available for photos and autographs after the practice.