Riders winding down training camp, preparing for regular season
With no pre-season in 2021 the Green and White game is the closest the Saskatchewan Roughriders will get to a game-like scenario before their season kicks off on Aug. 6.
The scrimmage simulated gameplay and the players were able to get something out of it, the team's coach said.
“It brought an awareness to our conditioning level, and when I said to the team ‘we’re not ready to play a game yet’ it wasn’t meant to be an insult or a negative, it’s just reality,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said.
He said the players were able to grow by getting a better understanding of the pace and speed, which he believes will help them next Friday against the BC Lions.
Overall, Dickenson is pleased with the team and thinks they have a “good core group of players.”
The final roster is just days away, and there are some positions up for grabs.
A starting offensive tackle position is wide open.
“I need to see some physicality from our offensive tackle position… that’s something I’d like to see,” said Dickenson.
A returner position is also available. Dickenson said it’s hard for returners to stand out in practice, so it’s likely they’ll dress different players over a few weeks.
Both returning and new players are feeling the pressure of making the final roster.
Jordan Williams-Lambert is looking to finish strong after returning to practice today due to a hand injury sustained earlier in camp.
“[I’m] just finding a way to get my name out there as much as I can it’s been unfortunate that that’s been the case, but you know that’s uncontrollable, and I look forward to focusing on the things I can control, which is doing my job at a high level,” said Williams-Lambert, wide receiver for the Riders in 2018 and 2019.
Newcomer DeMarquis Gates is also looking to secure his spot on the team these final few days of camp.
“Hopefully what I’ve been doing in practice and stuff impress the coaches and hopefully gets me on to that last roster so I can make some plays in the real games and show you all how I really play football,” said the linebacker.
In Dickenson’s eyes, the Riders have had a competitive camp and in the final week, he is looking for guys that flash both on film and in practice.
“I wanna see a couple guys make some plays, and if they do that they’ve got a chance of solidifying their spot or possibly making us change our mind here in the last few days,” said. Dickenson.
He said the player will have to maintain their health and make some tough decisions to be ready for the season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.