REGINA -- It’s the time of year that can go a long way to making or breaking the success of a Canadian Football League team, and for their part, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are of the opinion things have gone exceptionally well.
Riders' head coach Corey Mace joined The SportsCage to break down how his team progressed with free agency and the news was nothing but positive.
Mace talked about how the free agency process works and how things came together so efficiently for the local CFL club.
“I have to give so much credit to [general manager Jeremy O’Day] and [assistant GM] Kyle Carson. These guys, they do so much work,” lauded Mace. “You should see our war room as we prepare for things like free agency and the draft -- it's a full meal deal. Everybody is all hands on deck from the coach's standpoint.”
An ongoing list gives the team targets to go after. From there it’s a matter of talking to player representatives and working to figure out how each athlete fits within the team.
“It’s getting a feel of gauging their interest in being a Rider, how much that's going to cost,” Mace said. “You can't open up the window and start working there. There's so much work that goes into it prior to even the window opening, so you have to have your ducks in a row to get started… I think they've been doing a lot of good work here for quite a few years, but I thought it was an excellent, excellent free agency for us.”
One signee that attracted attention is receiver Wayne Ruby Jr. A standout pass catcher who had an incredible career with Mount Union University, Ruby is an intriguing prospect even though he played NCAA Division III football.
“What he was able to do at his school and really at that level of football, he almost had 7,000 yards receiving throughout his college career. Immaculate talent. Certainly somebody I know a lot of guys in the building, not only coaches, but players, are excited to work with," Mace said.
“Usually there's always a couple guys that you're excited to see coming to camp, like KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers last year, this kid's one of those as well.”
Ruby could end up as one of the ‘hiding in plain sight’ type players, where they essentially come out of nowhere to find success. Mace also touched on a few other potential standouts.
“[Offensive lineman] Jacob Brammer was a guy last year that we were all excited to see him on the roster and I think he's going to turn out to be a really good player,” Mace said. “Aubrey Miller is an outstanding linebacker, a special teams demon. A.J. Allen, I think Rider Nation understands his pedigree when it comes to special teams play, but certainly you know what he's able to do potentially on defence as well. He’s got some tools in here.”
The key is to find those players opportunities given the depth the Roughriders currently have on the roster.
“It sucks because as a coach, and even in the GM side of things, we're looking and saying: ‘Oh, man, can we get in a position to get these guys some some tapes, get them out there, we want to see them.'” Mace said. “It works in your favour sometimes or sometimes it doesn't. Even with the guys who don't play when the floor is elevated in most places, which we feel we have with our depth here, you're in a good position.”
Mace and the SportsCage crew had plenty more to talk about and you can check out the complete interview by clicking right here or watching below.
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