Jeremy O'Day at Roughriders practice at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders centre Jeremy O'Day will have 160 career regular-season starts in the CFL under his belt when his squad meets the host Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.
His mates on the Roughriders' patchwork line will have 19 starts combined.
Even so, O'Day isn't concerned about the offensive line entering the game at the Rogers Centre.
Even so, O'Day isn't concerned about the offensive line entering the game at the Rogers Centre.
"We've had a good week of practice," O'Day, 34, said following Thursday's workout at Mosaic Stadium. "The communication's there. After every play, we're communicating, whether it's coming back to the huddle or in the huddle or in meetings.
"It's a work in progress, but the more we play together, the better we'll be."
Since starting his CFL career with the Argos in 1997, O'Day has dressed for 203 regular-season games and started 160. Combined, the other linemen who are to start for the Roughriders on Saturday have only been in uniform for half as many regular-season games as O'Day has started.
Since starting his CFL career with the Argos in 1997, O'Day has dressed for 203 regular-season games and started 160. Combined, the other linemen who are to start for the Roughriders on Saturday have only been in uniform for half as many regular-season games as O'Day has started.
Guard Marc Parenteau has dressed for 45 games in his career (with 11 starts), tackle Matt O'Meara has played 24 contests (six starts), guard Chris Best has appeared in 10 games (one start), and rookie tackle Bobby Harris has started his lone CFL game.
Best is to start again Saturday in place of Gene Makowsky, who injured his right knee in a 27-19 pre-season victory over the Calgary Stampeders on June 23. O'Meara — who joined the Roughriders only on Monday — is to start for Belton Johnson, who suffered a strained right quadriceps and damaged clavicle in last Friday's 28-24 triumph over the B.C. Lions.
O'Day, meanwhile, is more of a constant. He has started at least 13 games in each of the past nine seasons.
O'Day, meanwhile, is more of a constant. He has started at least 13 games in each of the past nine seasons.
"It's really important for us to have Jeremy in there," said Roughriders head coach Ken Miller. "He has such great maturity and leadership and he's been through so many battles that he's really a cohesive force in there."
Despite his linemates' relative lack of experience, O'Day hasn't felt the urge to offer more guidance during practice this week.
"The guys who are in there are real professionals," he said. "I would find myself doing a bit more (coaching) if I thought the guys needed a little more help. But they get it and we've got a phenomenal offensive line coach (Bob Wylie) who does a great job of preparing us mentally."
Parenteau hasn't noticed O'Day doing anything more than he would if the veterans were still in the lineup. He's simply doing his duties as the centre.
Parenteau hasn't noticed O'Day doing anything more than he would if the veterans were still in the lineup. He's simply doing his duties as the centre.
"Jeremy can't control what other players do once the ball is snapped," Parenteau said. "What he can do is make sure they know where they're going before the snap and then he leaves it up to them to physically perform their duty.
"Matt's been in the league for four or five years, Chris has been in the league for three years and I've been around for five years. We've all played football quite a bit. We're just not Gene Makowsky, who's been here for 28 years and started 1,700 games in a row."
O'Day admitted that rejigging an offensive line creates some chemistry issues, as the players adjust to each other and how they handle the situations with which they're faced. That's where filmwork, meetings and practice come in.
O'Day admitted that rejigging an offensive line creates some chemistry issues, as the players adjust to each other and how they handle the situations with which they're faced. That's where filmwork, meetings and practice come in.
The injury to the 36-year-old Makowsky has been detrimental for O'Day in another way.
"I've been trying to stay as young and fresh as possible, but with Geno out of there, I'm the oldest guy," O'Day said with a chuckle. "Before, when people have said, 'You're old,' I've always been able to point to Geno and say, 'He's older than me.' "
"I've been trying to stay as young and fresh as possible, but with Geno out of there, I'm the oldest guy," O'Day said with a chuckle. "Before, when people have said, 'You're old,' I've always been able to point to Geno and say, 'He's older than me.' "
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