Riders Training Camp Preview: Defensive Backs and Special Teams

The Riders report to training camp on Saturday June 1st and over the next four days I will take a look at two positions a day to break down who to look out for and what battles I'll be keeping an eye on at training camp.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

TERRELL MAZE, DWIGHT ANDERSON, WELDON BROWN, CRAIG BUTLER, EDDIE RUSS, MILT COLLINS, MACHO HARRIS, WOODNY TURENNE, PAUL WOLDU, CHIP VAUGHN, RAMZEE ROBINSON, BRYCE MCCALL, CARLOS THOMAS, GRAIG NEWMAN, RESHARD LANGFORD, JOHNNY TOWALID

The Saskatchewan Roughriders went into 2013 needing an upgrade in the defensive backfield. There was a constant rotation at corner that ended with Terrell Maze looking like a promising prospect after seeing Nick Graham and Woodny Turenne rotated through.

Eddie Russ and Chris McKenzie were out matched as halfbacks and in come Dwight Anderson and Weldon Brown which provide an instant upgrade in talent but there is always the transition in the secondary when players play side by side for the first time.

Veteran James Patrick was also let go in the offseason as the remake continued. The Riders lose a veteran leader but also gain a ratio advantage with the more then capable Craig Butler taking over the safety spot. Butler has shown more than enough to deserve the start. But that’s where the first battle comes in. Who backs up Butler at safety? Will it be a Canadian like Bryce McCall or Graig Newman or will they have an import ready to play in which Carlos Thomas could fill in?

There was also the story out of Florida that had Tyron Brackenridge taking reps at safety so is there a rotation ahead with the lee-way given on the ratio with Ricky Foley now on the defensive line?

Battle #2 will come at the other corner spot. Eddie Russ, Milt Collins, Macho Harris and the new faces can fight it out.

The other thing to watch will be the 6’2 221lbs Chip Vaughn. He’s listed as a defensive back but the same size as Mike McCullough.  Vaughn may get time at outside linebacker as the Riders may have a cover man that fits the bill that Corey Chamblin likes; big, strong and aggressive. Something McKenzie and Russ were not.

If Vaughn adjusts well in Canada, he could draw comparisons to former Stampeder and current Seahawk Brandon Browner.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKERS: CHRIS MILO, BRODY MCKNIGHT, RICKY SCHMITT. LONG SNAPPERS: CORY HUCLACK, LEVI STEINHAUER. RETURNERS: WESTON DRESSLER, JOCK SANDERS, KIERRIE JOHNSON, ERON RILEY, DEDE DORSEY, STEPHON GREEN, ROD HARPER, DIAMOND FERRI, YAMON FIGURS

The biggest move in the offseason for special teams was the departure of coordinator Craig Dickenson. What exactly happened between he and Corey Chamblin are between the two but the Riders move on with Bob Dyce, shuffled into the spot after George Cortez landed to coordinate the offense.

Dickenson has a book of special teams schemes a mile deep. Dyce hasn’t seen a special teams coach in the NFL, he just needs to have his team prepared and that’s why Dyce should do fine. His players are always prepared.

As always with special teams some of the main battles will come down to how the ratio shuffles out for offense and defense.

Corey Chamblin doesn’t like his kicker doing all three jobs, which was why Sandro DeAngelis was around last year when Chris Milo struggled on field goals. Milo was an 85% kicker in his rookie season so they hope he returns to form. Will there be room to use American punter Ricky Schmitt or can they use two Canadian kickers, adding Brody McKnight?

McKnight could also take over the place-kicking duties as it’ll be a good camp to take a peek at the kickers. Milo proved more than capable of punting last season.

Now, quick thing on long snappers. Cory Huclack handled punting and not place-kicking snaps last season. Can he do both or does rookie Levi Steinhauer have room to move in. He does and could become a member of the Canadian Hair Force with his ginger hair adding a different tone to the three blondes; McHenry, Newman and Hurl.

Now we get to the returners. Weston Dressler handled punt returns at the end of the season and it didn’t hurt him. His reliability alone in handling the ball could lead to him seeing more touches on punt returns.

As for kick returns, this is Jock Sanders and an open competition that will likely come down to the sixth receiver or if the team wants/has room for three import running backs. Linebacker Diamond Ferri can also return kicks, which may be the best solution if the ratio starts getting tight.

The two pre-season games should be great to watch as it would be rare to want to see the Riders scored on a bit to provide more than enough opportunities for the returners to show their ability.