Mcknight gives Riders’ depth a good kick
REGINA — Brody McKnight wants a chance and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are willing to give him one.
The Roughriders acquired the non-import punter/placekicker from the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday for two fifth-round selections (the 39th and 40th overall picks) in the 2013 CFL draft. The Riders also received a sixthround selection (49th overall) in the upcoming draft from the Eskimos.
“My goal coming into Saskatchewan is to be the starter,’’ McKnight said Friday from his Vancouver home. “I’ve been working out three or four days a week since January with that in mind. I’m a competitive guy and I work hard. I expect to be the starter on any team.’’
McKnight hasn’t had that opportunity since being drafted in the first round (eighth overall) by the Montreal Alouettes in 2011 out of the University of Montana.
Shortly after the draft, the Alouettes traded their firstround selection in the 2012 draft to the B.C. Lions for kicker Sean Whyte.
McKnight returned to Montana in 2011 and joined the Alouettes in 2012 after tryouts with the NFL’s New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. Whyte was established as the Alouettes’ starting kicker, leading to McKnight being dealt to the Eskimos on Sept. 12 after Edmonton punter Burke Dales suffered a season-ending foot injury. The Alouettes picked up Derek Schiavone and firstand fourthround selections in the 2013 CFL draft as part of the deal.
Gran t Shaw was already set as Edmonton’s kicker, which limited McKnight to three games last season.
McKnight’s lone field-goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown in a 51-8 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 15.
The Roughriders now have four kickers — McKnight, Chris Milo, Chris Bodnar and Ricky Schmitt — under contract.
McKnight is taking the latest developments in his career in stride.
“You can only worry about what you can control,’’ said McKnight, 23. “With the situations in Montreal and Edmonton, I gave it my best and I performed at a high level.
“Sean Whyte has proven himself in Montreal as well and you can only have one kicker on the field at a time.’’
Roughriders assistant general manager Jeremy O’Day said there had been talks about acquiring McKnight with the Eskimos for a couple of weeks.
“What this does is give (head coach) Corey Chamblin and (special-teams coordinator) Bob Dyce some flexibility,’’ O’Day said.
“Corey isn’t a big fan of one guy doing (punting, placements and kickoffs). Hopefully one guy will distinguish himself as the best kicker and the other as the best punter. Those are the guys we’re going to go with.’’
O’Day expects Milo and McKnight to compete for the place-kicking position.
Bodnar and Schmitt (the only import among the quartet) are to compete as punters.
O’Day was impressed by the strength of Schmitt’s leg during limited duty late in the 2012 season, which could help overcome his import status. Schmitt posted a 42.8yard average on eight punts in the 2012 West Division semifinal.
“He has a powerful leg and he brings something to the table that the others don’t,’’ O’Day said.
“Someone will have to beat him out coming into camp. If they do, then they help you with the ratio. We still think very highly of Ricky and he’s not someone who won’t have a chance to compete.’’
O’Day didn’t rule out Milo handling all of the kicking duties in 2013. Milo handled those duties in 2011 and part of 2012.
“We also think highly of Milo,’’ O’Day said. “How that will shake out in training camp remains to be determined. It’s nice to have options.’’
McKnight is fine with whatever role he lands with the Riders.
“I’m predominantly a field-goal kicker and kickoff guy,’’ McKnight said. “I can punt regularly and I can also do the rugby punt as well.’’
O’Day realizes it is unusual to have four kickers on the roster, but isn’t too concerned right now.
“We’re not at training camp yet,’’ O’Day said. “Hopefully we’ll have some good work at our mini-camp (in early April in Bradenton, Fla.) and we’ll know where they stand and where they fit. Bringing four guys to training camp would probably be a lot, but we want to make sure that we have the right guys in the right combination.’’