RIDERS GO BACK TO THE BASICS

Hugh Charles hangs on tight to the football at Monday's practice.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn't wait long to address a frightful Friday night of hanging on to the CFL football.
A few minutes into Monday's practice — three days after beating the B.C. Lions 28-24 at Mosaic Stadium — the running backs and some receivers were working on fundamental ball-handling drills. The drills were added to the practice schedule after the Riders fumbled five times in the win over B.C.

"We wanted to make sure we don't make the same mistakes that we did on Friday,'' said second-year tailback Hugh Charles, who fumbled twice in the opening half. "It's a fundamental drill of keeping the five pressure points on the ball. It's basic because we have do a better job of securing the ball if we want to go far into the post-season.''

The fumbles were part of a turnover-laden regular-season opener for both teams. The teams combined for 15 turnovers. The Lions had seven — including six fumbles.
Riders quarterback Darian Durant was also intercepted three times. One of the picks was returned 60 yards for a touchdown by Ryan Phillips. Durant also fumbled twice in the first half but had the second miscue wiped out when the Lions were assessed a penalty.

It was during the first half that running backs coach Kavis Reed and offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice decided they needed to work on ball security.

"That was something that we had always preached but we didn't work on,'' said Reed. "There are times when you take things for granted and that's something as a coach I take the responsibility for more than Hugh Charles. We haven't had an emphasis in practice on it and I didn't do a very good job of that.''

The drills will now be a regular part of the Riders' practice schedule.
"It's something we have to do,'' stressed Reed. "The amazing thing is we got the victory and that's why I can smile. It's something that we can't have happen again.''
The drills are a fundamental aspect of football. On Monday, a running back or receiver kept a football under either arm while his teammates attempted to dislodge the balls. They also ran a gauntlet of players, who tried to separate the running backs from the ball.

"I've never had two fumbles in a half,'' said Charles, who spent four seasons with the University of Colorado Buffaloes before joining the Roughriders in September. "I was really down on myself and you tend to run a little timid after that because you don't want to lose the ball again. It happens to the best of them and that's why we're doing the drills we do.''

Veteran tailback Wes Cates, who is sidelined while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, also took part in the drills. Cates felt the drills reinforced securing the football and that they would also help when he eventually returns to the roster.

"You can't have eight turnovers in a game and not work on ball security,'' said Cates, adding he expects to be in the lineup for the July 18 home game against the Montreal Alouettes. "It also helped me because when I get my first contact, it won't be a total shock. It's good work because defences are taught to tackle the ball more than the player. It's something that we have to focus on.''

It wasn't all football follies for the running backs on Friday. Charles showed his speed and elusiveness while rushing for 34 yards on 14 carries and scoring on a three-yard run. He also exhibited an ability to cut on a dime when he turned a swing pass from Durant into a 45-yard gain.

"I will replay those and I will visualize ball security,'' said Charles, who is expected to start at tailback when the Riders play the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at the Rogers Centre. "That's big because a running back has to hang on to the ball.''