Riders Training Camp Preview: Receivers and Running Backs

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.

RECEIVERS

WESTON DRESSLER, CHRIS GETZLAF, GEROY SIMON, ROB BAGG, GREG CARR, TAJ SMITH, SCOTT MCHENRY, JORDAN SISCO, AARON HARGREAVES, LIMAS SWEED, ERON RILEY, ROD HARPER, KIERRIE JOHNSON, MITCH THOMPSON, ALEX ANTHONY, YAMON FIGURS

The big move over the offseason was the trade for Geroy Simon and that will be a big story throughout camp. Does Simon still have the legs, how does he fit in the offense, do he and Darian Durant have some chemistry?

The Riders have a couple of players that can play both inside at slot and wideout so I'm expecting a lot of rotation within the system.

Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf join Simon on the inked in starting lineup. But the health of Rob Bagg has been overshadowed by Simon's arrival.

Bagg has gotten through the offseason after his third knee surgery. Both knees have been problems, so he needs to show the team he's got a burst. If you know anything about Bagg, it's likely how hard a worker he is. He is likely the most fit player on the team and that's a good reason why the undrafted player out of Queen's has been given another opportunity when the team could have waved goodbye in the offseason.

If Bagg can go, well the fifth receiver spot is going to be a great fight. Greg Carr made some big catches at the end of the season as Durant utilized Carr's height. Taj Smith also came on as the year went along in the offense.

Included in there will be some more talented import receivers, who also have the ability to return kicks like Eron Riley, Rod Harper and Yamon Figurs. Former NFLer Limas Sweed is another big body receiver, who has a shot to overthrow a veteran. Former B.C. Lion Kierrie Johnson adds some intrigue to a deep pool of receivers that include non-imports Jordan Sisco, Scott McHenry and draftee Alex Anthony.

RUNNING BACKS

KORY SHEETS, JOCK SANDERS, DEDE DORSEY, STEPHFON GREEN, NEAL HUGHES, GRAEME BELL, SPENCER MOORE, ANDRE LALONDE

Last year Brandon West was the #1 guy coming to camp so you never know what the season will bring.

After Kory Sheets blew the coaching staff away and the rest of the league away as the season went on, it's his job. Not to lose. It's his job. The 1/2 punch of he and Jock Sanders looked impressive and added another dynamic to the Riders offense that was tough to stop in the middle portion of the season before Sanders' injury.

But the coaches eyes will be open as DeDe Dorsey and Stephfon Green bring with them impressive resumes. Those two may have to show they can return and be reliable with the ball however to stick around on the roster or the practice roster. They'll be in very tough but like Sheets last year, they have two preseason games to force the coaches to put them on the roster.

Like West last year, however, don't put the ball on the ground or you lose a pay cheque.

Side note is the fullbacks. Neal Hughes and Graeme Bell don't have anything to worry about but the team would  love to see draft pick Spencer Moore (listed as a receiver at the draft) to prove they have a fullback of the future. Also Scott McHenry was used as fullback last year until injury forced him back to receiver, so it'll be interesting to see who goes where for positional workouts.