Riders Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks and Offensive Line

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.

QUARTERBACKS

DARIAN DURANT, DREW WILLY, LEVI BROWN, TINO SUNSERI, DREW BURKO

The Saskatchewan Roughriders go into training camp with Darian Durant #1. No questions, ifs ands or buts. The big thing for Durant is to get into the playbook with George Cortez. Durant was reprimanded in Florida by the new offensive coordinator for using last year’s terminology (according to reports from Leader-Posts Murray McCormick), so there is still learning to be done form the Riders #1 guy.

So the battle will be between second year pivots Drew Willy and Levi Brown. Willy was the backup last year but disappointed in his last outing of the season before the playoffs and the now departed J.T. O’Sullivan took increased snaps ahead of the West Final as the potential backup.

Levi Brown will have a legitimate shot at taking over the backup role from Willy. He’s got a stronger arm but does lack the playmaking ability Willy has with his legs. As a young quarterback, Willy’s ability to scramble helped him out tremendously. Another year in the CFL may be just what Brown needs to show his skills as a truer pocket passer, who can let it fly down field.

This is also a tremendous opportunity for University of Saskatchewan Huskie quarterback Drew Burko to learn from Cortez and see how pro quarterbacks prepare. He’ll likely be tasked to do a lot of the work with the running backs and offensive linemen and not be given much of an opportunity to actually run the offense and throw.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

XAVIER FULTON, BRENDON LABATTE, DOMINIC PICARD, CHRIS BEST, PATRICK NEUFELD, BEN HEENAN, COREY WATMAN, MATT VONK, DAN CLARK, ERIC ARMITAGE, JOSE VALDEZ, KYLE HILL

Who will be the Riders right guard?

That is the main question for this group. If all players are healthy will Ben Heenan or Chris Best get the job? The smart money is on the veteran Best who, as he’s aged, has become increasingly reliable for the offensive line. He was the best offensive lineman for the Riders in 2011.

It’ll also be a great look at the three offensive linemen drafted in 2013 to see just how pro-ready Watman, Vonk and Armitage are.

Vonk should get a real look at tackle to see if his athleticism is up to snuff in taking on the very talented defensive ends you face in the CFL. Watman can just sit back and learn from Dominic Picard about the centre spot in what appears to be a transition period for the Riders at the position.

Honestly, the Riders don’t advance Watman to their 4th overall pick if they don’t feel there is a realistic chance he can start in the CFL when Picard’s contract is up.

The newly signed duo of Jose Valdez and Kyle Hill are actually very important, as the team needs to hold on to the best of the two to insure they have a back-up left tackle just in case Xavier Fulton were to be injured.

The two also have a shot at starting right tackle if the team wants to change the ratio from the four offensive linemen but more importantly if they are an upgrade over Patrick Neufeld. Although, I think another year under his belt, Neufeld should be able to hold on to the starting gig.

This offensive line is one-year older as a group and being able to work as a unit for the second straight training camp is going to show up on the field in 2013.