Intensity and accountability the focus of Rider training camp

Today’s Workout Highlights:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders jogged onto the turf at Mosaic Stadium wearing pads for today’s training camp workout.

The workout began with a individual positional warm-up.

That went into field goal drills with Brett Lauther looking sharp.

Next it was into a teams walk-thru period for both the offence and the defence.

After the teams the group came together for a team stretch and warm-up across the field.

Once the warm-up was complete it was back into individual position drills with varying focuses across the field.

When the whistle sounded it was time for the offensive and defensive line to move into a one-on-one competition while the Quarterbacks, Receivers, and Defensive Backs moved into a receiver vs. defender battle. There as a lot of cheering at both ends of the field as the positional groups were rooting for their teammates. If judging by the decibel levels it would appear that the receivers and offensive line were the winners of the battles.

Once the battles were won it was on to a special teams period.

After the punt cover and positioning was worked on it was time for a teams period with the offence vs. defence. The play breakdown:

• Antonio Pipken started first at Quarterback. His first play was a hand-off to A.J. Ouellette.
• Trevor Harris then came in for the next play his play-action pass was complete on the far side to KeeSean Johnson.
• Next offensive play Harris on a quick hitter finds Samuel Emilus.
• The next play sees Harris hand the ball to Frankie Hickson. Nice job by the defence to control the gaps and not allow for much of a gain.
• On the next play Harris finds Emilus on a slant for a first down.
• Jack Coan comes in next and hands the ball off to Clint Ratkovich.
• Coan’s next pass to the far side of the formation was complete to Kalija Lipscomb.
• On the next play Coan would hand the ball off to Thomas Bertrand-Hudon.

Following the play the whistle would sound and the players would move back into a special teams walk-thru.

Following the work that focused primarily on kick-off and kick over it was back into a teams period.

The play breakdown went as follows:

• Trevor Harris would start at Quarterback. His first play was a fake hand-off to A.J.Ouellette followed by a pass down the seam for a Touchdown to Kian Schaeffer-Baker.
• Harris next pass was complete on the far side to Mitchell Picton who made a move in the open field and headed for the end zone.
• On the next play Harris would find Jerreth Sterns in the flat and thanks to a big block from his fellow receiver he was able to turn it upfield for a nice gain.
• Harris would then connect with Kalija Lipscomb in the backfield but the defence reacted quickly and stopped the play for a minimal gain.
• On the next play Harris would once again connect with Picton for a nice completion on the near side.
• Harris would remain at Quarterback and would look deep for Geronimo Allison. The ball delivered a bit high and wide of the target would fall incomplete.
• Thomas Bertrand-Hudon would carry the ball on the next play for a short gain.
• Harris would then make way for Jack Coan to come in and his first plan was a completed pass deep down the seam for a touchdown to Kian Schaeffer-Baker.
• Coan’s next pass was complete to Jerreth Sterns in the slot on the far side.
• Mason Fine would come in next. His hard count would draw the defence off side, much to the displeasure of the coaches. His pass though would be complete to Mitchell Picton.
• Another hard count from Fine. No movement on the line but then he would find Joe Robustelli on a post route into the middle of the defence.
• Shea Patterson’s reps came next. His first play was a pass complete to Clint Ratkovich in the flat.
• Patterson would read the defence on his next play and find an open Sterns for close to a first down.
• The defence would bring the heat on the next play… And with defenders within an arms reach, he would sling it over the middle. Just out of the reach of Samuel Emilus.
• Jack Coan would come back in and he would throw a pass complete to Sterns on the opposite side of the field.

A whistle would then sound and the Riders would pause to reset the offence and defence for another teams period.

• Mason Fine would start the session off. He would pass the ball in the flat to Oullette for close to a first down.
• Fine would then thread the needle to Sterns for a touchdown through the middle.

Following the play Head Coach Corey Mace would call for substitutions.

• Shea Patterson comes in. His first play is a hand-off to Oullette which is read nicely by Habakkuk Baldonado for no gain.
• On the next play Patterson would spot Geronimo Allison in the corner of the end zone but coverage from Katley Joseph was too tight for a first down.

The Whistle would sound following the play with Coach Mace calling out we need two first downs.

• On play one Trevor Harris at his own five yard-line would use a hard count to draw the defence offside.
• Next up was a run to Oullette who would find an opening between the right guard and tacks for a minimal gain.
• Oullette would test the same gap on the following play. Not a much room but he fit.
• Next play Harris would find Oullette out of the backfield. C.J. Reavis was there to limit the gain.
• Next play is a seam pass complete to Kian Schaeffer-Baker who holds onto the ball despite a heavy collision with DeMarcus Fields.
• Jack Coan would come back onto the field after a brief delay. His first down play was able to draw the offence off-side. BUT he then completes the pass to Lipscomb.
• The ball is then spotted on the 15 yard line. Coa’s pass to the far-side is complete to Ratkovich but Katley Joseph is right there to stop the play after a couple of yards.
• Coan’s next pass is an incompletion to Picton in the flat.

The Whistle would then sound to end the session.

Following the conclusion of the drill the team would go into a cool down period where they were addressed by Coach Mace. After which the defence was sent to run sprints as punishment for repeated penalties.

Today’s Weather:

Brilliant sunshine poured down on Mosaic Stadium for today’s training camp workout. The forecast called for Mostly Sunny skies with a Wind SE 15-25 and a High of 21.

Not on the field:

REC – Dhonte Meyers

REC – Dhel Duncan Busby

FB – Bruno Labelle

DB – Jaxon Ford

LB – Nick Wiebe

REC – Brayden Lenius

DB – Amari Henderson

REC – D’Sean Mimbs

LB – Melique Straker

DL – Micah Johnson

OL – Daniel Johnson

OL – Noah Zerr

Break-out Play of the Day:

Jack Coan would come into the teams drill and on his first play of the session he would trop back to pass and read the defence, finding a wide open Kian Schaeffer-Baker for a 40 yard touchdown. Impressive play all around by the offence.