Crapigna getting his kicks being the shortest Rider
Size doesn’t matter to Tyler Crapigna.
The 5-foot-7 Saskatchewan Roughriders placekicker — one of the CFL’s shortest players — simply shrugs when fielding persistent questions about his height.
“It’s the norm now,’’ the 23-yearold Crapigna said after Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “I’ve heard all of those questions over and over again. They are fair questions, but I’ve heard them all before so I know how to answer them.’’
Crapigna’s kicking has been as consistent as his answers since joining the Riders late in the 2015 season.
The Riders acquired Crapigna and a third-round selection in the 2016 CFL draft from the Calgary Stampeders for running back Jerome Messam and a fifth-rounder.
Crapigna, who shared in the 2011 Vanier Cup championship with the McMaster University Marauders, connected on all four of his fieldgoal attempts with Saskatchewan during the 2015 season.
In 2016, Crapigna has hit on six of seven field-goal attempts and four of five convert attempts with the 0-2 Riders.
Special-teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson noted that size is immaterial when it comes to kickers.
“The measurable that we look for in other positions don’t really apply to kickers,’’ Dickenson said. “As long as he can pull off each kick, which he has done a good job of so far, we don’t care if he’s six feet tall or five feet tall.’’
Dickenson feels that Crapigna’s lack of height may have contributed to his success as a kicker.
“A lot of these players who are a little smaller get pushed out of positions at an early age,’’ Dickenson said. “They were too small to play on the line or to play running back. Then they ended up playing positions to which they are better suited. Notes: Centre Dan Clark was helped off the field Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones didn’t think the injury was serious .... Defensive tackle Jonathan Williams, who was injured during practice on July 5, has a large brace on his left knee. Jones is unsure if Williams will be out for the remainder of the season, but the veteran will be on the sidelines for the immediate future ... The Riders play host to the B.C. Lions at 5 p.m. on Saturday.