As the Riders get set to open training camp on Sunday, May 29th in Saskatoon, we preview the battles at each position on offense, defense and special teams. Today, we look closer at the offense.
Offense:
Quarterback:
– As we saw the previous two seasons, the Riders success hinges on the health of Darian Durant (age 33, 5’11”, 214 lbs). He suffered an elbow injury in 2014 and then an Achilles tear in 2015. He said he’s fully recovered and if so, he’s one of the top QBs in the league. He can carry this team on his shoulders.
– Behind Durant, Brett Smith (age 23, 6’3″, 206 lbs) is slated to return for another year. And while he isn’t a prolific passer, he did show signs of compete last year, fighting for yards and making a few plays. He doesn’t have the poise necessary for the CFL game right now though, as he gets flushed out of the pocket way too quickly. He will need to work on that, and work on making solid throws, if he wants to stick around as the backup.
– B.J. Coleman (age 27, 6’3″, 231 lbs) is the third pivot on the roster and he has no CFL experience. The 27-year-old was selected in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers in the 7th round, before being released in September 2013. In January 2015, Coleman was assigned to the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers. He started three games, but then in May of that year, Coleman resigned from the team for a job outside of football. Coleman comes in as a relative unknown and could compete for a backup spot.
– The Riders will likely announce a few more QBs to attend training camp.
Running Back:
– It sounds like the battle to be starting running back for the Riders this year is Curtis Steele‘s (age 29, 5’11”, 189 lbs) job to lose. The former Argo was signed in the off-season by Chris Jones and is one of two running backs on the roster with CFL experience. Steele racked up 541 yards in 2014 and just 92 last year, but has never had a full season to carry the rock. Now he gets his shot at age 29.
– Matt Walter (age 26, 5’10”, 215 lbs) is the other guy familiar with the Canadian game. The former Stampeder back-up filled in well when Jon Cornish was down with injury, but does he have what it takes to be an 18-game starter? He’s Canadian and can be valuable on special teams and can fill in when called upon.
– The other guys on the roster are Terrance Cobb (5’11”, 220 lbs), Malcolm Cyrus (5’10”, 180 lbs) and Devrin Young (5’8″, 173 lbs). There’s some youth here with these three. Cobb is 26 and has played in 3 NFL pre-season games while both Cyrus and Young are 23 and fresh out of college.
Receiver:
– With Ryan Smith and Weston Dressler both gone to Winnipeg and Chris Getzlaf to Edmonton, the door is open for a few new receivers to snag roster spots.
– Longtime Rider Rob Bagg (age 31, 6’0″, 192 lbs) will be the only starter from the 2015 season opener coming back this year, while Namaan Roosevelt (age 28, 6’1″, 195 lbs) will look to build on a strong second half, in which he has 488 yards on 25 catches. I expect both of them to keep starting spots this year.
– That leaves a couple open spots. John Chiles (age 27, 6’1″, 209 lbs) and Clarence Denmark (age 30, 5’11”, 190 lbs) are the two biggest names penciled in as starters. Chiles is a former Argo who had 475 yards in 2014 before signing with the Chicago Bears in 2015. However injuries have hurt his true potential. As for Denmark, he’s a big name who comes over from Winnipeg as a free agent. The signing comes after Maurice Price, who was also a free agent signing this off-season, decided to retire. Both Chiles and Denmark, if healthy, should be starters in 2016.
– There’s a couple of Nationals who could push these guys, and add valuable depth. Free agent signing Shamawd Chambers (age 27, 6’3″, 219 lbs) comes over from Edmonton and has the Chris Jones factor, while the Riders 6th overall pick in 2015 Nic Demski (age 23, 6’0″, 215 lbs) will look to build on a somewhat promising rookie campaign. Jordan Reaves (age 26, 6’4″, 220 lbs) is another National guy on the radar. The brother of NHLer Ryan Reaves signed with Winnipeg in 2015 and played two preseason games for the Bombers. He’s a big guy and could be a good Canadian target. The Riders also drafted (and signed) 2016 8th round draft pick Joshua Stanford (age 21, 6’0″, 190 lbs).
– International Kendial Lawrence (age 25, 5’9″, 195 lbs) is also a guy who offers a ton of intrigue. My guess is that they will use the speedster mostly on special teams as the primary returner, while getting sometime on offense. He will likely be spelled in as a slot receiver and even a running back at times during 2016. He is a very versatile weapon for the Green and White.
– A couple of practice roster guys are also returning, namely SJ Haidara (age 27, 6’1″, 215 lbs), who had 8 receptions, 58 yards in 2015 with Riders and Ryan Lankford (age 24, 5’9″, 218 lbs), who dressed for one game in 2015,
– That leaves a whole crop of new International guys, who are relative unknowns.
- Shay Hodge (age 28, 6’2″, 207 lbs) is an off-season signing who spent a few seasons bouncing around the NFL and Arena Football League.
- Alec Lemon (age 24, 6’2″, 207 lbs) spent time with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens practice rosters after a standout college career at Syracuse.
- Marcus Davis (age 26, 6’3″, 225 lbs) spent four years at Virginia Tech before joining the Riders in September 2015. He had a few short stints in the NFL, but never played.
- Victor Dean Jr. (age 23, 6’4″, 210 lbs) comes fresh out of college after playing with Portland State and Fresno State. He’s got size.
- Armanti Edwards (age 28, 5’11”, 190 lbs) is an interesting one. He was listed as quarterback/receiver when the Riders signed him in February earlier this year. He spent five seasons in the NFL as a receiver and played 39 regular season games with Carolina. In college, Edwards was a QB at Appalachian State, where he became the first NCAA Div. 1 player in history to throw for 10,000 yards and rush for 4,000.
- Etauj Allen (age 25, 5’9″, 185 lbs) comes out of Ouachita Baptist College, where he was a defensive back. But in 2015. he attended training camp with the Edmonton Eskimos, where he played one preseason game as a receiver.
Fullback:
Offensive Line:
– No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft Josiah St. John remains without a contract. Chris Jones said they are still working on him. He could be a starting tackle and a ratio breaker.
- Thaddeus Coleman (age 30, 6’8″, 320 lbs) comes over in a trade from the Edmonton Eskimos, in which the Riders sent two neg. list players the other way. Coleman has played three seasons in Edmonton and has started 21 games as both right and left tackle.
- Jarriel King (age 29, 6’5″, 315 lbs) is another guy acquired via trade. The Riders sent Andre Monroe to the Argos in exchange for the South Carolina product. King has started 26 games at both guard and tackle, although he started just three last year.
- Darryl Johnson (age 25, 6’4″, 295 lbs) attended Buffalo Bills training camp in 2015 and San Diego Chargers camp in 2014. He spent four seasons at the University of New Mexico.
- Kamalie Matthews (age 24, 6’2, 295 lbs) was signed on the same day as Johnson this off-season. He attended Seattle Seahawks training camp in 2015 after three seasons at Murray State.
- Tre’Von Armstead (age 21, 6’7″, 311 lbs) spent four seasons at Baylor and is just 21-year-old. He played 27 career collegiate games, and also platooned as a tight end at times.
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