Mini-Camp Minis
Welcome to 2012 Saskatchewan Roughriders season.
The coach is hired, the players signed, the schedule out, the renovations being completed... it's hear.
Mosaic Stadium was bustling yesterday for mini-camp and here are some of my thoughts from Day 1.
- Quarterbacks: I hope the team allows at least three of the four backups to get a quarter of football come pre-season. Drew Willy and Levi Brown are ahead of Colt Brennan and J.T. O'Sullivan right now but I'd love to see what Brennan can do because his strength is being able to extend the play with his legs. You don't do that on one on one receiver/DB drills.
- Running backs: It's too bad Brandon West and Louis Rankin are the only guys here in terms of young import running backs. The Riders have signed a lot this offseason, so I guess we wait until rookie camp to see the others.
-Receivers: Oh, Rob Bagg, how the Roughriders have missed you. #6 was diving, banging, and looked like a player who has missed being on the field. Sinorice Moss is another pint sized receiver who has tremendous speed, but where does he fit? Rob Bagg and Weston Dressler have that role covered. Dallas Baker made a good impression, it would be nice to have that big target for Durant on the outside.
- Defensive backs: It's no surprise the veterans were more impressive than newcomers T.J. Rushing and Jalil Johnson. Nick Graham was being constantly bombarded by both Corey Chamblin and Barrin Miles on fundamentals. It appears Chamblin and Miles have a different way to do things in the defensive backfield that Graham and others will have to adjust to. Expect a lot more aggression from the DBs.
- Linebackers: The biggest note about this group... Shomari Williams is among them. The first overall pick from 2010 has been moved to LB. He's shed some weight and it's his natural position. Tyron Brackenridge was also lined up there and would be a great replacement for Sean Lucas as a coverage backer.
- Coaches: I love watching how guys coach. You can tell Corey Chamblin is chomping at the bit to 'coach guys up' while trying to sit back and let the assistants do their jobs. Chamblin is bringing a tonne of energy and you're seeing a lot of positive reinforcement of things they're implementing. It's great to see the quarterbacks have a quarterback like Khari Jones working with them, too often it appeared Durant and the others were left to their own devices. The other coach that caught my eye was DBs coach Barrin Miles. He and Chamblin are similar. A lot of energy and a lot of instant feedback on what guys are doing right or wrong.