Roughriders moving on without Kory Sheets
REGINA — George Cortez doesn’t have the time nor the inclination to bemoan the offseason departure of running back Kory Sheets.
“Every year that I’ve been in the league, we’ve never played the next year with the same team as the year before,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach said. “Having new guys is just a fact in the CFL. Once Kory made the decision to sign with the Oakland Raiders, we moved on. He’s not on our team anymore and we wish him good luck.”
Sheets was a very productive running back in his two seasons with the Riders. He then exploded for a Grey Cuprecord 197 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Riders’ win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last year.
The timing of those performances was fortuitous because Sheets was heading into free agency.
The Riders head into training camp in Saskatoon this season looking for another Sheets in imports Curtis McNeal, Clifton Smith, Keith Toston and Jermaine Thomas and non-import Andre Lalonde. Smith is the only import running back with CFL experience, having dressed for one game with the B.C. Lions in 2013.
There is good depth among the non- imports listed as fullbacks. Neal Hughes, who is heading into his 11th season with the Riders, is a team leader on special teams as well as contributing to the offence. Spencer Moore returns after his rookie season in 2013. Scott McHenry also played fullback and receiver in 2013. The Riders signed Matthew Burke, who spent five seasons with the Bishop’s University Gaiters.