On offence, new coaching staff deal with mix of youth, experience
Harris returns to starting role at QB after missing much of last year with leg injury
As the Saskatchewan Roughriders get set to open training camp Sunday and prepare for the CFL season, many familiar faces and some new ones will be hitting the field in green and white.
Led by head coach Corey Mace, the Roughriders have an entirely new coaching staff with Mace also serving as the defensive coordinator and Marc Mueller as the offensive coordinator.
As for the players, there’s a mix of returning veterans plus a new crop of young players trying to crack a CFL roster before the regular season opener June 8.
Rookie camp begins in Saskatoon on Wednesday, then main training camp opens Sunday.
Saskatchewan will play its first pre-season game May 20 in Regina.
The club will then head back to Saskatoon for a few days before it plays its second and final pre-season game May 25 in Edmonton.
Following that, the team will return to Regina for the final week of training camp before roster cuts are made June 1.
Before then, let’s look at who is coming to camp with a breakdown of how the team looks at each position, beginning with the offence:
*denotes American
**denotes Global
QUARTERBACK
Returners: Trevor Harris*, Mason Fine*, Shea Patterson*, Antonio Pipkin*
Newcomers: Jack Coan* Departures: Jake Dolegala* Analysis: Harris is fully recovered from the tibial plateau fracture suffered last season that forced him to miss the final 13 games. The success of the season this year for Saskatchewan will largely depend on the performance of a healthy Harris and the rest of the offence.
Though there’s no battle for No. 1, there could be a battle for the backup spot. While Pipkin will handle short yardage, Fine — who signed a two-year extension this off-season — clearly has the leg up for the No. 2 spot over Patterson after Dolegala signed with the B.C. Lions during free agency. Can the rookie Coan show enough in camp to stick around?
RUNNING BACK
Returners: Frankie Hickson*, Thomas Bertrand-hudon Newcomers: A.J. Ouellette*, Jerrion Ealy*, Kennedy Brooks* Departures: Jamal Morrow* Analysis: No competition for the No. 1 spot at running back after the Riders signed Ouellette in free agency from the Toronto Argonauts. Hickson has proved to be a solid backup and Bertrand-hudon is certainly a valuable Canadian. What kind of spark will we see from Brooks or Ealy? Can they push Hickson for a roster spot?
The running backs will be coached by Anthony Vitale, who served as Saskatchewan’s offensive line coach last season.
FULLBACK
Returners: Bruno Labelle, Morgan Runge Newcomers: Clint Ratkovich* Departures: Albert Awachie Analysis: After seven years in Saskatchewan, Awachie signed in Toronto during free agency, which allows year’s backup Labelle to get more playing time this year alongside Runge, a 2023 draft pick.
The wild card here is Ratkovich, an American “superback” as he was known in college, who could push for a roster spot if the Riders can fit him in the ratio.
RECEIVER
Returners: Shawn Bane Jr.*, Samuel Emilus, Kian Schaffer-baker, Jerreth Sterns*, Brayden Lenius, Mitch Picton, Kendall Watson*, Kalija Lipscomb*, Mario Alford* Newcomers: Geronimo Allison*, Keesean Johnson*, Jake Parker*, Dazz Newsome*, Dohnte Meyers*, O’joshua Bunton*, Braydon Johnson*
Draft picks: Dhel Duncan-busby, D’sean Mimbs, Ajou Ajou Departures: Tevin Jones*, Juwan Brescacin, Jake Wieneke* Analysis: This will be one of the top camp battles to keep an eye on as there’s plenty of opportunity at receiver this year with two starting spots up for grabs.
Bane Jr., Emilus and Schaffer-baker will be in the lineup Week 1 while Sterns certainly has the leg up on the other American receiver position, though he will be pushed by former Nflers including Allison, Johnson and Newsome.
That leaves the other open spot, which could go to an American or a Canadian depending on who performs best in camp. It could be Picton or Lenius or any of the Americans.
This group will be coached by former Calgary Stampeders receiver Marquay Mcdaniel, who has held coaching roles with the Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes since his retirement.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Returners: Philip Blake, Peter Godber, Logan Ferland, Evan Floren, Zack Fry, Jerald Hawkins*, Jordan Tucker*
Newcomers: Jermarcus Hardrick*, Noah Zerr, Ryan Sceviour, Jacob Brammer*, Jonathan Hubbard*, Sadarius Hutcherson*, Trevor Reid*, Ryan Berta, D’mitri Emmanuel*
Draft picks: Kyle Hergel, Daniel Johnson (both unsigned) Departures: Logan Bandy, Evan Johnson, Colin Kelly*, Brandon Council*, Eric Lofton*
Analysis: Hardrick, a right tackle, was a big addition to the Riders offensive line this off-season after adding Godber, a centre, last year.
There will be a camp battle at left tackle this year with the likes of Tucker, Hawkins, Hubbard, Brammer, Hutcherson, Reid and Emmanuel competing for the spot.
Guard is also another interesting position to keep an eye on. With Blake at left guard, Ferland is the easy choice to start at right guard after being the team’s top lineman last year, but O’day signed Sceviour — a former all-star — for a reason. Where does he fit?
O’day has also said Blake could slide to tackle if needed. Lots to be decided at camp along the offensive line.
This group will be coached by former CFL and NFL offensive lineman Edwin Harrison, who was the Toronto Argonauts’ running backs coach for the last two seasons.
Tomorrow, we will feature the defence and special teams.