Today’s Workout Highlights:
The day began with players coming out of the tunnel ready to go to work on the second last day of Training Camp.
Brett Lauther was on the field early putting the ball through the uprights from various lengths.
Positional groups then started to assemble and warm-up prior to the official start of the work-out. The whistle would sound, the music would start, and it was time for special teams work to begin. The focus was on field goals and Lauther was tested from as far away as 52 yards and all of his kicks sailed through the uprights from both hash marks.
After the special team’s work was done the players broke down into their positional groups for some preliminary work.
Next came the offensive and defensive walk-thrus for more playbook installation.
After those sessions the players went right back into their stretch and warm-up period.
Following the warm-up the players broke back down into positional drills with varying focuses around the field. From Blitz pick-up for the running backs to the offensive lineman working on double teams and overloads.
Once that portion of practice was complete the Riders went into a teams period. Here are how the plays broke down:
- Trevor Harris would start at Quarterback. His first play was a hand-off to A.J. Ouellette.
- Harris next play was a hand-off again to the new free-agent signing. He was met in the hole this time by Jameer Thurman.
- Harris stayed at the controls for the third offensive play. It once again was a hand-off to Ouellett who started to his left and then cutback to the right.
- Mason Fine would come in on the next play and make a pass to the near side flat complete to Ajou Ajou.
- Fine’s next play was a hand-off to Frankie Hickson who was stopped in the hole by Zakoby McClain.
- Antonio Pipkin was in next and his first play was a screen pass in the flat to Samuel Emilus.
- Shea Patterson was up next his first play was a hand-off to Frankie Hickson. He would start towards the left-hand side of the line, but he was stopped quickly by the combination of Late Korte-Moore and R.J. McIntosh.
- Patterson would then throw a completed pass to Joe Robustelli.
The last completion would end the period and the team would break off into Special Teams play.
Once the clock expired on the special teams work Coach Mace fired the whistle and got the team ready for their individual battle drills. The Offence played 7 vs. 7 while the lineman were 1 vs. 1. Here is the breakdown of the offensive session:
- Trevor Harris finds Samuel Emilus complete on the right side.
- Harris next pass was complete to Kian Schaeffer-Baker on a dig route.
- Next play Harris would look to his left and find Ajou Ajou.
- Following the competition, Harris would drop back, load up and find Joe Robustelli on a long competition.
- Shea Patterson would get a turn at the controls next. His first pass was just over the outreached arms of Mitchell Picton.
- Patterson next would fire across the middle to an open Kian Schaeffer-Baker.
- Mason Fine came out next and his first pass was complete in traffic to Ajou Ajou.
- Fine then would spot an open Shawn Bane Junior coming across the middle for another competition.
That completion brought that portion of practice to a close.
Following those one-on-ones’ the offence and defence went into a walk-thru period. Meantime, at the south end of the field Brett Lauther came on to continue kicking field goals. From 30+ yards.
Next up it was a team’s session once again with the offence taking on the defence. Here is the breakdown:
- Harris would throw to the far-side flat incomplete for Ouellette.
- Next play Harris would scramble and then find Ouellette in the flat.
- On the next play Harris would once again find Ouellette underneath.
- Next play Harris hands off to Hickson.
- Jack Coan would come in to quarterback following that play. His first play he finds a wide-open Samuel Emilus.
- Harris would come back in and throw a ball complete to Frankie Hickson.
- Coan would come back in on the next play and hand the ball off to Thomas Bertrand-Hudon.
- Antonio Pipkin comes in next and throws a nice ball to Mitchell Picton on a full roll out.
- Pipkin would then hand the ball off to Clint Ratkovich.
- The session would then wrap up with a hand-off to Clint Ratkovich.
After the play the offence would back up to their own 35 to start a new series:
- On the first play Mason Fine would come in and use a hard count. It didn’t draw the defence, but the offence jumped along the line. Drawing cheers from the defence.
- On the next play Fine fires too high for Mitchell Picton.
- After the incomplete pass, the defence dials up the pass rush and force a throw from Fine just wide of the intended receiver.
- Shea Patterson would come in next and complete a middle screen to Frankie Hickson.
- Patterson flushed out of the pocket on the next play and his pass intended for Ajou Ajou is dropped and incomplete.
After the incompletion the Riders would move to the Red Zone.
- Trevor Harris is the Quarterback first. He is forced to throw his first pass away as he runs out of time and room while rolling to the far side of the field.
- On the next play Harris throws a slant route for KeeSean Johson that sails over his head and almost intercepted by Rolan Milligan Jr. However, the coaching staff would call pass interference on the play.
- Move the ball to the 1 yard-line. Harris would hand it to A.J. Ouellette who would find a seam and into the end zone.
- The football would once again be backed up to the 10-yard line for Jack Coan to come in to direct the offence. The defence showed great coverage and with Charbel Dabire on his heels Coan is forced towards the sideline where he throws the ball away.
- After the incompletion Coan’s pass is intercepted by Nicario Harper who steps under Geronimo Allison in the corner of the end zone for the pic.
The whistle would sound, and the players would go into a cool down stretch followed by the singing of Happy Birthday to Jermarcus Hardrick.
Today’s Weather:
Partly Sunny skies were anticipated for the morning workout at Mosaic Stadium. However, the skies threatened with a 70% chance of rain, or thundershowers anticipated in the afternoon. As was expected the was minimal gusting to 26 km/h from the west.
Not on the field:
LB Nick Wiebe
DB Jaxon Ford
OL Daniel Johnson
OL Noah Zerr
REC D’Sean Mimbs
REC Dehl Duncan-Busby
REC Jake Parker
REC Dhonte Meyers
DL Anthony Lanier II
DB Amari Henderson
FB Bruno Labelle
Break-out Play of the Day:
The last play of the session may have been the best one. Jack Coan was at Quarterback in the red zone drill. He would drop back to pass looking for Geronimo Allison at the back of the end zone. Looked like a pass that would just drop into his arms, however, out of nowhere Nicario Harper would fly into high point the ball and intercept the pass and start running it back the other way.
The One to Watch:
Brett Lauther was extremely active in the session kicking from all over the field. He talked about experimenting with his stroke in the pre-season, but he again looked good in practice send kick after kick through the uprights from various lengths and field positions.
