Training camp is a time to figure out who will fit best and where on your roster. For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, that process is underway on the offensive line after a pair of veterans have been ruled out long-term.
Following day 11 of training camp in Saskatoon, head coach Corey Mace updated two injuries to veteran offensive linemen. Mace confirmed Sean McEwen will be out for a while and Phillipe Gagnon also suffered a long-term setback.
“We got the results back and he ended up tearing his biceps. It might not be season-ending, which is good for him and us, but similar to Sean, it's unfortunate.”
In the absence of those two veterans, the Riders shuffled their first offensive line group on Wednesday morning. Zack Fry moved from centre to left guard, Jacob Brammer moved from left guard to right guard, and Logan Ferland moved from right guard to centre.
Ferland, the reigning West Division Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, is unfamiliar with the centre position but comfortable moving to it.
“The more I rep it, the better it feels. Sometimes a guy might prefer guard, run off the ball a little more, but understanding the game from a centre standpoint can really make you see it as a whole offence and not just your position.”
Mace is happy with his offensive line's versatility and ability to adjust to find the best fit.
“We were really pleased with what they look like on paper. Then when you get them here, we realized that we got some pretty good depth and guys that can do multiple things.”
Despite the early setbacks on the offensive line, nobody is hitting the panic button.
“There's nothing to worry about. We're all prepared for this. We've been through this situation before and are always prepared for it," Ferland said.
“The benefit we have, unfortunately, from last year and all the injuries we had, is that we have guys that have played a lot of positions. We have that depth and we have nothing to be worried about."
Also not on the field at today’s practice:
No. 5 – DL – Shane Ray
No. 92 – DL – Caleb Sanders
No. 15 – REC – Shawn Bane Jr.
No. 85 – REC – D’Sean Mimbs
No. 99 – DL – Charbel Dabire
Highlights from today’s workout included:
Receiver Daniel Wiebe made a nice move in man-to-man coverage to break free from his defender. As Wiebe broke towards the sidelines, he caught a pass in stride from Jake Maier and took it 40 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown.
Running Back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon started in the backfield at running back, but as the defence began to close in on the quarterback, he broke out of the backfield and found a soft spot in the zone. He then scampered down the sideline for a long touchdown run.
Tommy Stevens then entered at quarterback, on one of his first reps, he held the ball and waited to find a receiver. That receiver was Wiebe, who made an inside move on a defensive back to haul in the pass for a 43-yard touchdown.
Two plays later, it was the defence’s turn to make a play. Stevens had time in the pocket and saw a receiver cutting under the coverage. However, Aubrey Miller Jr. was able to read and react to the ball, under-cutting the play to make an interception and return it the other way for a touchdown.
The Roughriders continued to work on their passing game in the cold sleet in Saskatoon. With Jack Coan at quarterback, Tommy Nield cut to the middle on a post pattern, past a defender in zone coverage. Coan’s pass was on the mark, finding Nield, allowing the former Toronto Argonaut to dash into the end zone.
Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp continues on Thursday as the team continues to prepare for their first game of the pre-season on Saturday in Winnipeg.You can hear the game on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network starting at 11 a.m.