Roughriders running back Wes Cates wants to improve on the 2009 season when he rushed for 932 yards
Photograph by: Reuters File, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Doug Berry has it on good authority that he'll see the Wes Cates of old in 2010.
"I've talked to Wes -- or Wes has talked to me, let's put it that way," Berry says. "He said, 'I'm approaching this season differently. I'm coming after this season like 2008. You're going to see a different Wes Cates this training camp.' I'm just leaving it up to Wes after hearing that."
Cates was a CFL all-star in 2008 after rushing for 1,229 yards with an average of 5.7 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 451 yards and two scores.
Slowed early in 2009 by a shoulder injury he suffered in '08, Cates finished the season with 932 yards rushing for a 4.8-yard average and five majors and 336 yards and two TDs on 33 catches.
Berry is eager to see the 31-year-old Cates return to form.
"He can run vertically and can catch the ball, he can run the ball and break tackles, he's shifty, he can block -- he can do it all," Berry says. "When he's on his game, I'm not sure there's anybody (in the CFL) as good as a complete back. We just have to get him from being a 30-yard threat (on a play) to being a 100-yard threat."
If Cates can't do that, others may get the opportunity -- and that includes three players who were with the Roughriders last season.
Import Hugh Charles, 24, started in Cates's place early in the '09 season. He finished with 136 yards rushing for an average of just 3.9 yards, 80 yards on four catches and four celebratory backflips after his touchdowns.
Regina-born Stu Foord, 24, saw spot duty last season and managed 135 yards along the ground with a 5.4-yard average which led the team's backs. He also caught eight passes for 45 yards.
Import Marcus Thigpen, 24, joined the Roughriders midway through the season but didn't dress for a game.
Import Marcus Thigpen, 24, joined the Roughriders midway through the season but didn't dress for a game.
Two players signed in the off-season also will be in the mix at tailback.
Lavarus Giles, 24, played four games with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season, rushing 14 times for 54 yards. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder showed his speed during a pre-season game, blazing through the Montreal Alouettes' defence on a 77-yard scoring run en route to 161 yards on 12 carries.
"That's the 100-yard threat," Berry says. "He has speed; that's something he brings. Now, can he catch the ball? Can he break tackles? Is he going to be able to block? Those are questions he's going to have to answer."
The only question about the other candidate concerns how much he can play at tailback.
Free-agent signing Dominique Dorsey didn't run the ball once or catch a pass in four games with the Toronto Argonauts last season and his career totals are just 657 yards rushing on 119 carries and 381 yards receiving on 26 catches. But, as Berry says, "there aren't too many people (in the CFL) as exciting and dynamic" as the 5-foot-7, 173-pound Dorsey, who excels on special teams.
Free-agent signing Dominique Dorsey didn't run the ball once or catch a pass in four games with the Toronto Argonauts last season and his career totals are just 657 yards rushing on 119 carries and 381 yards receiving on 26 catches. But, as Berry says, "there aren't too many people (in the CFL) as exciting and dynamic" as the 5-foot-7, 173-pound Dorsey, who excels on special teams.
"He's a good changeup (from other backs)," Berry says. "He also gives you a two-back threat. Certainly some things are going to be considered with the talent Dominique has.
"We had him in Winnipeg and let him go. They had him here before (in 2006) and let him go (as a free agent). When he went to Toronto, we all became aware of the tremendous talent he has."
"We had him in Winnipeg and let him go. They had him here before (in 2006) and let him go (as a free agent). When he went to Toronto, we all became aware of the tremendous talent he has."
The Roughriders have two non-import veterans at fullback in 35-year-old Chris Szarka (15 carries for 78 yards with six TDs, three catches for 20 yards in '09) and 29-year-old Neal Hughes (one catch for three yards). They know their roles and handle them without complaint.
"I don't think there's anything (about the backs as a group) that is a tremendous concern," Berry says. "Chris is getting older and so is Wes, but we think those guys have at least one year and probably more left.
"What you see is what you get. We're looking forward to seeing what we get."
ROUGHRIDERS RUNNING BACKS
(As of Friday)
Player Ht Wt Age School, Junior
(As of Friday)
Player Ht Wt Age School, Junior
Wes Cates l 6-0 215 31 California, PA
Hugh Charles l 5-8 190 24 Colorado
Dominique Dorsey l 5-7 173 27 UNLV
Stu Foord 5-11 195 24 Regina Thunder
Lavarus Giles l 6-2 215 24 Jackson State
Neal Hughes 5-10 208 29 Regina
Chris Szarka 6-3 235 35 Eastern Illinois
Marcus Thigpen l 5-9 190 24 Indiana
Hugh Charles l 5-8 190 24 Colorado
Dominique Dorsey l 5-7 173 27 UNLV
Stu Foord 5-11 195 24 Regina Thunder
Lavarus Giles l 6-2 215 24 Jackson State
Neal Hughes 5-10 208 29 Regina
Chris Szarka 6-3 235 35 Eastern Illinois
Marcus Thigpen l 5-9 190 24 Indiana
* I denotes importRead more: http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Cates+takes+better+season/3091961/story.html#ixzz0pVixNTyO
No comments:
Post a Comment