RIDER GREAT BOBBY JUSASIN

RIDER GREAT BOBBY JUSASIN WAS IN REGINA TO HELP WITH DON NARCISSE's FOOTBALL CAMP.  HE HAS A GREAT INTERVIEW WITH HIS SON WYATT ON ROD PEDERSENS TALK SHOW.  HE SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF THE RIDERS AND HIS DAYS IN REGINA.

http://www.rodpedersen.com/   ( page down a bit )


ALSO OF NOTE....DEBBIE AND I WERE IN REGINA ON TUESDAY NIGHT TO ATTEND A RBC SEMINAR AND WENT TO LANCASTER's TAP HOUSE AFTER FOR A DRINK.  BOBBY WAS THERE.   I KNEW THAT HE WAS AN EX RIDER, BUT COULDNT QUITE PUT MY FINGER ON HIS NAME.   HE MENTIONS ON THE INTERVIEW THAT HE WATCHED THE CFL DRAFT AT LANCASTERS.

SHERBROOKE STANDOUTS HAPPY TO BE RIDERS

REGINA — Ismael Bamba wants to follow in the footsteps of another former member of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Bamba, a wide receiver, was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the sixth round (39th overall) of Thursday’s CFL draft from the Universite de Sherbrooke Vert et Or.
Before he played at Sherbrooke, however, Bamba was at UND for three seasons. During his recruiting visit to that school, he met Fighting Sioux star Weston Dressler — who’s set to begin his fifth season with the Roughriders.

“I watched him play before I even committed to UND,” said Bamba, a 24-year-old product of Ivory Coast whose family moved to Montreal when Ismael was four.“He’s a tremendous player, really explosive, and I’m going to try to contribute to this team like he does now.”

Dressler has set the bar pretty high. The CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2008 has exceeded 1,000 yards receiving in three of his four seasons in Saskatchewan and is one of the league’s most dangerous receivers.

The Roughriders don’t expect Bamba to step in as a rookie and contribute like Dressler did, but the Vert et Or star was ranked third among receivers going into the CFL draft.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder had 40 receptions for 543 yards and four touchdowns for Sherbrooke in 2011. He also returned 12 kickoffs for 310 yards and a touchdown and 18 punts for 208 yards with one major.

Despite being ranked 11th in the final CFL Scouting Bureau pre-draft rankings, Bamba was the 39th pick. Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman said Thursday that Bamba was high on the team’s board so, when he was still available in the sixth round, Saskatchewan pounced.

“He actually is very good,” Taman said. “I got some notes right when we picked him that some other teams were trying to (trade) up to get him.”

While Bamba said he didn’t care where he was selected, he admitted it stung a bit when his draft position didn’t match his ranking.

“But the rankings aren’t something I really looked at because you never know what the coaches think of you,” said Bamba, who has one year of CIS eligibility remaining. “I really don’t care about dropping in the charts, but if anything, it’s something I have to take a lesson from and keep going.”
Asked if he was driven by dropping in the draft, Bamba replied: “I was motivated even before that.”
“Even if you get picked in the first round, you still have something to prove because it’s a different league,” he said. “For me, getting picked in the sixth round is kind of late, but I’m really happy to be with this organization and I’ll try to prove they made a really good decision to pick me.”
Kevin Regimbald-Gagne has the same goal.

After selecting the Vert et Or linebacker in the fifth round (35th overall) on Thursday, Taman suggested the Roughriders would look at the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder primarily on special teams — and Regimbald-Gagne said he’d be more than happy to do that job.

“I’m a good linebacker, but I’m better on special teams,” said the 24-year-old product of Rouyn-Noranda, Que. “For my first season with Sherbrooke, I played a lot of special teams and for my entire career, too.

“Joining the Roughriders as a special-teams player, it’s a good chance for me to make my name and do good things — and hopefully after (a while), I get a chance to play on the defence.”
Regimbald-Gagne was named a first-team CIS All-Canadian in 2011 after registering 40 solo tackles, 15 assists, three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Vert et Or. He’s also a two-time Quebec conference all-star.

Regimbald-Gagne has a year of CIS eligibility remaining, but he hopes to stick with the Roughriders in 2012.

He already has heard a lot about Saskatchewan from Roughriders punter-kicker Chris Milo, whom Regimbald-Gagne played against (when Milo was with the Laval Rouge et Or) and with (in the CIS’s East West Bowl).

“He gave me a call right after the draft and told me about the Rider Nation,” Regimbald-Gagne said. “It’s going to be a good experience to play with this team.”

HEENAN DELIGHTED TO BE A RIDER

The Riders top draft pick Ben Heenan met with the Regina media May 3, 2012 in Regina, SK.

Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser , Regina Leader-Post

CFL draft announcements don't get more dramatic that the one staged Thursday morning in Saskatoon.

Nearly 2,000 onlookers broke into a standing ovation when Saskatchewan Roughriders' president and CEO Jim Hopson announced that his team would take University of Saskatchewan star Ben Heenan with their first overall pick when the CFL draft went live later in the day.

The ruckus at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies' fundraising Dogs' Breakfast started before Hopson was halfway through the announcement - spontaneous applause that broke out all over the sprawling facility, as Hopson proclaimed from the stage: "I'm pleased to announce that later today, with the first pick in the 2012 draft, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be selecting University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan."

A teary-eyed Heenan hugged his parents at their table before threading his way through the crowd to accept a jersey from Hopson onstage. The announcement ended weeks of speculation about what the
Roughriders would do with the pick.

Heenan is a homegrown talent and widely considered a can't-miss player, but the Roughriders are deep on the offensive line and entertained offers for the pick.

"(Roughriders' general manager Brendan Taman) debated long and hard, and he had some good offers," Hopson said later. "But in the end, he said 'I can't pass this guy up. He's too good.' "

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Heenan was still emotional after the breakfast had ended.

"I had a strong inkling the past few days, but nothing was official until today," Heenan said. "To spend today with 2,000 Huskie supporters, my teammates and my family really does mean a lot.
"For right now," he added, "I'm just going to soak this in and enjoy it with my family and teammates. Later on, next week, we'll figure out where I fit into the grand scheme of things."

Taman didn't attend the Dogs' Breakfast - he was back in Regina preparing for the draft - but Hopson said the team wanted to make sure they didn't pick Heenan just because it was popular with fans.
Other factors were at play, he said - foremost the likelihood that Heenan can have a long career on the Roughriders' line.

"He's from Grand Coulee (just outside Regina), and from my understanding, he's going to become part of the family farm operation," Hopson said. "You probably don't have to worry about him wanting to sign with somebody else down the road, and that can happen. You draft a kid from the east, and there's no guarantees he doesn't want to go home - I think a guy named Andy Fantuz kind of showed us that, and (Brendon) LaBatte showed the same thing (when he left the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to sign with the his home-province Roughriders). Long-term, it's a good football decision."

But it wasn't a decision set in stone until Hopson formally made the announcement, which was first suggested by Huskies' head coach Brian Towriss.

He and Hopson were talking at a mini-camp in Moose Jaw last week when Towriss planted the seed.
"(Towriss) said, 'I don't know what you're going to do, but if you're taking Ben, it would be really cool to be able to announce it at the Dogs' Breakfast,' " Hopson recalled.

"Right away, the bells went off. I said, 'Brendan, no pressure, but if that's your call, let us know.' We called the league. We called TSN. I was a little worried. I thought they might say no, but they said 'Great. Fabulous.' It all came together. But even this morning, I waited for my phone to ring and Taman to say, 'Hey; I just traded the first.' But it worked out perfect."

Heenan is the second Huskie selected first overall. In 2008, Hamilton picked safety Dylan Barker with their first overall pick.

The moment left a deep impact on Heenan's parents, Dale and Deb.
Father Dale said he grew up a Roughriders' fan, though he's focused more on the Huskies than the local CFL team the last few seasons.

"As a little kid, we used to go with my grandfather to the football games," Dale Heenan said after the breakfast.

"We sat in Section 4, and we went to Rider games all the time with grandpa - my cousins, my sister, my mom and dad. We had three season tickets there for, it seems, forever. It's kind of neat - we watched the Riders during those really good years, and never did I guess in my wildest dreams that one day, after watching all those guys, that I'd be watching my son play on the field."

Towriss, meanwhile, reiterated his belief that Heenan is most complete player the Huskies have ever produced and that includes past offensive-line greats like Gene Makowsky and Scott Flory, both of whom went on to long CFL careers.

"He's the most CFL game-ready guy we've had - his strength, his agility, his speed," Towriss said.
"And over and above that is his character. There's no red flags anywhere. He works every day to get better, he's had a great upbringing, he's polite, he's modest, he has a fire. He's going to be a great pro if he can stay healthy."

COLT BRENNAN EXCITED ABOUT CHANCE IN THE CFL

 After an impressive college career that twicesaw him nominated for the Heisman Trophy, new Riders QB Colt Brennan spent some time with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.

Photograph by: Al Messerschmidt , Getty Images

REGINA — In light of Colt Brennan’s phenomenal popularity in Hawaii, it is only appropriate to begin with a reference to surfing ... of the Internet.

Brennan’s signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders was widely reported online after the announcement was made on Tuesday. The Washington Post, for example, was among the multitude of media outlets that posted an item on the decision by the former University of Hawaii Warriors star quarterback to resume his football career in the CFL.

Roughriders signings seldom attract such widespread attention. Then again, Roughriders signings seldom boast eye-popping credentials such as those of Brennan, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate in his junior and senior seasons at Hawaii.

Although there is an understandable buzz in the Rider Nation over Brennan’s impending arrival, nobody sounds more excited than the quarterback himself.

“When I was given this opportunity, this chance to go up to Canada, it basically gave me a chance to go back to doing what I love, which I didn’t have this past year,’’ Brennan, 28, says from his off-season home in Newport Beach, Calif.

“I really wanted to go back out and play football. Now I’ve got a chance to go somewhere and not only go play football, but also take on a whole new experience. I’m really excited about going up to a different country and playing football.’’

Brennan hasn’t actually played football since the summer of 2010, when he spent the pre-season with the Oakland Raiders before being among the NFL team’s final cuts. He signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League last June, only to have the UFL suspend the team’s operations.

Mind you, he has faced greater forms of adversity, such as the multiple fractures and head trauma he sustained during a Nov. 19, 2010 car accident in Honolulu. He was the passenger in a vehicle that crossed the centre line and was involved in a head-on collision.

“They put me back together really well, so basically I’m good to go,’’ Brennan says. “Even with the places that I sustained some really good injuries, (the doctors) said that because of what they put in, I’m actually stronger now on the side that I had injured.

“Also, not being able to play football last fall also gave my body some rest. I’m all healed up and I’m feeling great. Now it’s just about getting in shape and getting ready to play football. It’s an exciting time for me right now.’’

Brennan was synonymous with excitement while playing at Hawaii. In 2006, he threw 58 touchdown passes — an NCAA Division 1 single-season record — and amassed 5,549 aerial yards while completing 72.6 per cent of his passes. As a result of the monster season, he was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.

The following year, Brennan was third in the Heisman race (behind Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden) after throwing for 4,343 yards and 38 scores.

The Washington Redskins then selected Brennan in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2008 NFL entry draft. He enjoyed an impressive pre-season as a rookie with the Redskins, as evidenced by a quarterback rating of 109.9, and spent the 2008 regular season in Washington.

Hamstring and hip injuries forced Brennan to spend the 2009 campaign on injured reserve. Washington released him in August of 2010, and he was cut loose by Oakland the following month.
Despite a series of setbacks, the personable passer is anything but downcast.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life. You’ve got to be thankful for things,’’ he says. “Obviously, playing in the NFL is always kind of the dream when you grow up here, so it would be nice to hypothetically get back to the NFL one day, but I told the people from Saskatchewan that if I’m going to go there to Canada, I’m going there. I’m all in, basically.

“I’m excited to go up there and I’m going to make the best experience I can out of it, and hopefully get a chance to start and be a football player who’s playing on the weekends.’’

Due to the presence of Darian Durant, Brennan will be vying for a roster spot as a backup when the Roughriders open training camp on June 3. He anxiously awaits the first workout, given that the CFL is a passing-oriented league.

“I’m excited to see how the game evolves,’’ he says. “I can’t wait to see these 20-yard end zones. They told me they had 20-yard end zones and I was like, ‘Where do I sign?’ The field’s bigger and everything. The whole experience is what’s exciting about the situation. It’s fun, and it’s something that I’ve needed. It has been a tough year.’’

Brennan hopes that his fortunes will be reversed as a Roughrider, even if Saskatchewan is far removed from the NFL, not to mention Hawaii.

“They’ve been great to me over the years in Hawaii,” he says. “So many people have been asking me very genuinely, ‘Where are you going to be playing?’ I feel so good now to say, ‘I’m going to Saskatchewan. I’m going to be playing in Canada.’ I think everyone’s kind of excited to see me get back out on the football field.

“It just sounds like a great experience for me. I miss football. I can’t wait to go and play football and I’m excited for the whole experience.’’
rvanstone@leaderpost.com

ROB BAGG WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN 2012

The Roughriders are counting on a healthy, productive Rob Bagg, shown here in 2010, during the upcoming season.

Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser , Regina Leader-Post

One of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ most important returnees did not play a down during the somniferous 2011 season.

Under better circumstances, that could have changed.
Rob Bagg, who missed the entire regular season due to recurrent knee problems, was practising as his team played out the string. Had the Roughriders been preparing for the playoffs, instead of a layoff, one of the storylines would have been the possible return of Bagg for the post-season.
Given another off-season to recuperate from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Bagg is expected to be at full speed once training camp begins June 3.

Training camp was imminent last year when the Roughriders announced that Bagg had reinjured the knee during a workout. That setback, which necessitated a second surgical procedure, foreshadowed a series of misfortunes for the once-potent Saskatchewan offence.

Bagg’s absence was overshadowed by that of Andy Fantuz, who missed the first half of the CFL season during his futile tryout with the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Fantuz eventually returned, amid considerable fanfare, but the hype far exceeded the production. An ankle injury limited Fantuz to four games and zero touchdowns.

The numbers on Fantuz’s new contract — four years at a reported $180,000 per annum — are much more impressive. His recent signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has created an understandable degree of angst in the Rider Nation. Players of Fantuz’s ilk, rare as they are, are not easily replaced.
But the magnitude of the challenge facing the Roughriders will increase significantly if Bagg cannot regain the form that made him a valued (if under-rated) member of the Green and White in 2009 and 2010.

Bagg’s importance to the Roughriders is underlined by the fact that CFL teams must start at least seven Canadians. If Bagg is healthy, he will give Saskatchewan a select seven that also includes centre Dominic Picard, guards Chris Best and Brendon LaBatte, slotback Chris Getzlaf, defensive tackle Keith Shologan and safety Craig Butler.

Although Fantuz is often characterized as a ratio-breaker — a non-import who can excel at a so-called skill position — the Roughriders’ balance of Canadians and Americans is satisfactory without him ... providing that Bagg is at or close to 100 per cent.

Failing that, the math will not work, making the absence of Fantuz even more noticeable.
Either way, the Roughriders are bound to miss Fantuz. It is all a matter of degree.
As recently as 2010, when Saskatchewan’s Canadian Air Force helped quarterback Darian Durant amass a league-high 5,542 passing yards, Fantuz was often the receiver whose name was red-circled by opposing defensive co-ordinators.

The Calgary Stampeders, in particular, were determined to neutralize Fantuz. They assigned defensive back Brandon Browner, who is now with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, to shadow Fantuz. The Stampeders went one step further, ensuring that Fantuz received double coverage.
Ultimately, the attention paid to Fantuz during a season in which he registered a league-high 1,380 receiving yards created opportunities for pass-catchers such as Getzlaf, Bagg, Weston Dressler and the since-departed Cary Koch.

With Fantuz now out of the equation, the opposition’s premier shut-down defensive back will concentrate on Dressler or Getzlaf. As a result, the Roughriders must ensure that their pool of complementary receivers evokes comparisons to 2010.

Again, that increases the importance of Bagg enjoying a successful return to the lineup.

Although the other receivers often devoured the headlines, Bagg was a dependable target for Durant. Bagg’s speed had to be respected on deep routes. He was also effective on quick slant-in patterns that reliably moved the chains. Without him, the Roughriders seemed disinclined to call for a slant route — except when they required 10 yards on second down, only to gain seven.

The Roughriders are now hoping for a lucky seven — a reputable septet of home-grown starters — and a successful roll of the dice as they count on Bagg returning to form in 2012.

CRAWFORD USED TWITTER TO GET TRYOUT WITH THE RIDERS

By Murray McCormick
REGINA — Demetrius Crawford took full advantage of the power of social media to land a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Crawford was one of the three running backs whose signings were announced by the Roughriders on Friday. The CFL team added him to its 75-player roster after studying some well-produced videos posted by Crawford on YouTube. The 25-year-old knew posting the videos wasn’t enough to attract the attention of a professional football team.

Crawford first studied the rosters of CFL teams to determine which ones could use an import running back. He then used the power of Twitter to set up contacts in the CFL. Crawford’s initial Twitter contact in October was Calgary’s Angela Iuvale, who helped him get in touch with the Riders’ football operations staff and representatives of the Regina media.
“I did my best to try to connect him with the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” said Iuvale, who uses the

Twitter handle @doublecoverage and is a passionate supporter of the Riders. “Demetrius is obviously very resourceful on his own.”

Crawford’s resourcefulness extended to Rod Pedersen, the voice of the Riders and moderator of rodpedersen.com.

“I sent him a message on Twitter and luckily he replied back,” Crawford said. “When he did, he told (general manager) Brendan Taman that he had a message from this kid and a video from YouTube. It was big that he even took the time to mention me during their podcast.”

Crawford followed up by emailing the Riders with hopes of drawing more attention to his videos, but he didn’t stop there. Crawford found Riders quarterback Darian Durant on Twitter and forwarded him a link to the videos. Crawford also told Durant that he would be taking hand-offs from the quarterback in 2012.

Crawford also reached out to Sheri Trapp, the Riders’ director of communications. Head coach Corey Chamblin watched the videos and suggested to Taman that the Riders should sign Crawford.
“I’m waiting to see who takes credit for this, because it’s definitely not me,” Taman said with a laugh. “It could be Rod or Sheri . . . I don’t know anyone who didn’t get his video, but it eventually it got to our head coach’s desk. He liked it and he told me to give him a look.”

Crawford was signed without even working out for the Riders. Crawford will be expected to take part in a future mini-camp to prove to the Riders that he’s worthy of earning an invitation to training camp.

“It doesn’t matter where or how you get them. The bottom line is how they play when you get a chance to see them,” Taman said.

Crawford played with the Montana State Bobcats in 2008 and 2009. He was all Big Sky Conference in his senior year after recording 251 carries for 1,314 yards and five touchdowns. He wasn’t drafted by an NFL team and spent some time with the Tri-Cities Thunder of the Indoor Football League.

“When I first came out of college, I had the stats and the numbers, but I just didn’t feel my first agent worked as hard as he could,” said Crawford, who is five-foot-eight and 195 pounds. “That was a learning tool for me because if you want something as badly as I did, you have to cut out the middleman. I went out on my own to get where I wanted to be.”

Crawford is familiar with the CFL through his ties to former Riders defensive back Larry Hogue. Hogue was Crawford’s high school football coach in Fairfield, Calif.

“He was a major help,” Crawford said.

Crawford worked out for the Calgary Stampeders in December, but wasn’t signed. He signed with the Riders, with a big boost from Twitter. Crawford appreciates the opportunity that the Riders have given him and is preparing for his next step.

“Nothing changes for me,” said Crawford, whose Twitter handle is (at)K1ngCrawford. “I’m still doing speed work and I’m working out every day. I know that I have to be on top of my game coming into training camp.”

NEW RIDERS - FEB 16th 2012

New Riders (L-R) Paul Woldu, Dominic Picard, and Brendon LaBatte at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday, February, 16, 2012 in Regina, Sask.


REGINA — It was a picture perfect Thursday for the newest members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders introduced their three prized catches from the CFL free-agent pool during a media conference and the trio posed for picture inside Mosaic Stadium. The Roughriders bolstered their offensive line in a big way with the signing of former Winnipeg Blue Bombers guard Brendon LaBatte and ex-Toronto Argonauts centre Dominic Picard. Paul Woldu, a Regina a product who had spent the past four seasons as a defensive back with the Montreal Alouettes, was signed on Wednesday, the first day of free agency.

"I'm extremely happy to be back and to be with this organization,'' said LaBatte, a Weyburn product and an alumnus of the University of Regina Rams. "To be able to play in front of friends and families and knowing how much this team means to this province and how I've lived it my whole life . . . I'm happy to represent this club.''

LaBatte spent four seasons with the Blue Bombers after being selected in the first round sixth overall of the 2008 CFL draft. He was pursued by the Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos. He ultimately settled on the Riders and the opportunity to play in his home province.
"That was one of the reasons, but there were a lot of options out there,'' said the 25-year-old LaBatte.

"I sat down with my agent and we went through them all. We determined it was going to be the best fit for me.''

Financial terms of the contract were not released, but it has been reported that LaBatte could make in the area of $200,000 per season. He did sign a three-year deal that includes an option year.

"It's not necessarily (about the money),'' said LaBatte, who was a three-time East Division all-star from 2009 through 2011 and a member of the CFL's dream team last year. "I'm not too worried about where people say I am financially. I'm concerned about becoming a better offensive lineman and making sure this is something that I can do for years to come.''

The signing reunites LaBatte and Picard, who both played with the Blue Bombers in 2008. Picard, 29, was selected in the third round (23rd overall) of the 2006 CFL draft by the Blue Bombers out of the Laval University. He joined the Argonauts in 2009 and was also a highly sought-after free agent. Picard signed for one year and an option and is believed to be making in the range of $150,000 a season.

"In their positions, they are among the top echelon in the league,'' said Riders general manager Brendan Taman, who drafted both players as the GM of the Blue Bombers. "Dominic has played well over the years and Brendon's career speaks for itself. It doesn't take a genius to see that it's a pretty big upgrade.''

It does throw doubt into what will happen with veteran Gene Makowsky, who is mulling over what he will do. Makowsky is considering returning for an 18th season, devoting his efforts to politics after being elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature on Nov. 5 or combining both. Makowsky is also a guard and the Riders appear to have those positions filled with LaBatte and Chris Best, who started all 18 games in 2011 and was named the Riders' best offensive lineman.

"I was talking to Gene this morning and he's going through the process,'' Taman said. "We're going to get as many as we can and see where they fall. Gene is still part of this team and we'll see where it goes in the next few days.''

The Riders are also still in the mix to re-sign slotback Andy Fantuz. Gil Scott, who along with Tim Flieszer are Fantuz's representatives, said Thursday that there was a great deal of interest by a number of teams in Fantuz. Fantuz is on safari in Africa and is expected to return to Canada on Saturday. Scott feels it may take until after the weekend to sort out where Fantuz might land.

Follow Murray McCormick on Twitter at https://twitter.com/murraylp

RIDER SIGNINGS

Meet the new Riders......Now if we can only get Fantuz back, it will be a great for the Riders.  He will
be making his decision on Monday.....( gets back from Africa on saturday )

click on the link  on go to Rider Vision


http://www.riderville.com/


Unfortunately Stu Ford is leaving the Riders for the Lions....

RIDER SIGNINGS ANNOUNCED

REGINA — The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced the signings of free-agent offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Dominic Picard.

The Weyburn-born LaBatte, 25, spent the past four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after excelling with the University of Regina Rams. The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder was an East Division all-star in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and a CFL all-star last season.

Picard, 30, has CFL experience with Winnipeg and the Toronto Argonauts. The 6-foot-2, 301-pounder was the Argos’ starting centre for the past three seasons after spending three years with the Bombers.
The Bombers drafted both players when current Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman was Winnipeg’s GM. LaBatte was the Bombers’ first-round choice (sixth overall) in 2008. Picard was a third-rounder (23rd overall) in 2006 after playing at the University of Laval.

The signings of LaBatte and Picard follow the addition of Regina-born defensive back Paul Woldu, whose signing was announced by the Riders on Wednesday night.

Woldu, 27, has spent the past four seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. He is a product of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the PFC’s Regina Thunder.

The highest-profile free agent — Andy Fantuz — remains unsigned. The 28-year-old slotback, who was named the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2010, spent the past six seasons with Saskatchewan.

PICARD AND LABATTE SIGN WITH RIDERS

TSN'S  DAVE NAYLOR IS REPORTING THAT BOTH NOEL PICARD AND BRENDON LABATTE HAVE SIGNED WITH THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS!

RECEIVER KOCH SIGNS WITH THE ESKIMOS

DAVE NAYLOR, TSN REPORTS THAT CARY KOCH HAS SIGNED WITH THE ESKIMOS

CRAWFORD IS HUSSLING TO GET A JOB

 

 

Demetrius Crawford used Twitter to help set up contacts in the CFL.

Photograph by: Jeff Gross, Getty Images files

REGINA — Demetrius Crawford took full advantage of the power of social media to land a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Crawford was one of the three running backs whose signings were announced by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday. The CFL team added him to its 75-player roster after studying some well-produced videos posted by Crawford on YouTube. The 25-year-old knew posting the videos wasn't enough to attract the attention of a professional football team.

Crawford first studied the rosters of CFL teams to determine which ones could use an import running back. He then used the power of Twitter to set up contacts in the CFL. Crawford's initial Twitter contact in October was Calgary's Angela Iuvalé, who helped him get in touch with the Riders' football operations staff and representatives of the Regina media.

"I did my best to try to connect him with the Saskatchewan Roughriders,'' said Iuvalé, who uses the Twitter handle @DblCoverage and is a passionate supporter of the Riders. "Demetrius is obviously very resourceful on his own.''

Crawford's resourcefulness extended to Rod Pedersen, the voice of the Riders and moderator of rodpedersen.com.

"I sent him a message on Twitter and luckily he replied back,'' Crawford said. "When he did, he told (general manager) Brendan Taman that he had a message from this kid and a video from YouTube. It was big that he even took the time to mention me during their podcast.''

Crawford followed up by emailing the Riders with hopes of drawing more attention to his videos, but he didn't stop there. Crawford found Riders quarterback Darian Durant on Twitter and forwarded him a link to the videos. Crawford also told Durant that he would be taking hand-offs from the quarterback in 2012.

Crawford also reached out to Sheri Trapp, the Riders' director of communications. Head coach Corey Chamblin watched the videos and suggested to Taman that the Riders should sign Crawford.
"I'm waiting to see who takes credit for this, because it's definitely not me,'' Taman said with a laugh. "It could be Rod or Sheri . . . I don't know anyone who didn't get his video, but it eventually it got to our head coach's desk. He liked it and he told me to give him a look.''

Crawford was signed without even working out for the Riders. Crawford will be expected to take part in a future mini-camp to prove to the Riders that he's worthy of earning an invitation to training camp.

"It doesn't matter where or how you get them. The bottom line is how they play when you get a chance to see them,'' Taman said.

Crawford, who lives and trains in Oakland, played with the Montana State Bobcats in 2008 and 2009. He was all Big Sky Conference in his senior year after recording 251 carries for 1,314 yards and five touchdowns. He wasn't drafted by an NFL team and spent some time with the Tri-Cities Thunder of the Indoor Football League.

"When I first came out of college, I had the stats and the numbers, but I just didn't feel my first agent worked as hard as he could,'' said Crawford, who is 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds. "That was a learning tool for me because if you want something as badly as I did, you have to cut out the middleman. I went out on my own to get where I wanted to be.''

Crawford is familiar with the CFL through his ties to former Riders defensive back Larry Hogue. Hogue was Crawford's high school football coach in Fairfield, Calif.

"He was a major help,'' Crawford said.

Crawford worked out for the Calgary Stampeders in December, but wasn't signed. He signed with the Riders, with a big boost from Twitter. Crawford appreciates the opportunity that the Riders have given him and is preparing for his next step.

"Nothing changes for me,'' said Crawford, whose Twitter handle is @K1ngCrawford. "I'm still doing speed work and I'm working out every day. I know that I have to be on top of my game coming into training camp.''

Follow Murray McCormick on Twitter at https://twitter.com/murraylp
mmccormick@leaderpost.com

Check out Crawford's YouTube video below.

FANTUZ TWEETS FROM AFRICA

ANDY FANTUZ IS IN AFRICA AND TWEETS ---- THAT EVEN HALF WAY AROUND

THE WORLD THERE IS RIDER PRIDE!!

HERE IS HOPING WE CAN KEEP HIM

RUNNING BACK MOVES TODAY

CATES IS RELEASED

Rider GM Brendan Taman met with the Regina media Friday morning. Amongst our findings, the Riders won't be bringing back veterans RB Wes Cates, OL George Hudson, C Marc Parenteau or WR James Robinson in 2012. Meanwhile Taman said 17-year lineman Gene Makowsky has been told by the team they want him back for an 18th season. He graded out as one of their top linemen in 2011.

We'll discuss this all on the Sports Cage today on 620 CKRM at 5 pm.
RP

THREE NEW RUNNING BACKS ANNOUNCED

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that they have signed a trio of import running backs to the roster – Kory Sheets, Louis Rankin and Demetrius Crawford. Financial details of the signings were not released.

Sheets (5'11 – 206 lbs) comes to the Green and White after spending last season on the Carolina Panthers practice roster. After going undrafted in 2009, the Purdue product was immediately signed by the San Francisco 49ers before the Miaimi Dolphins signed him off the 49ers practice roster. He went on to play in two games for the Dolphins in 2009 where he had one carry for five yards. In 2010 the 26-year-old tore his Achilles in training camp for the Dolphins and missed the season. After being waived by Miami in August of last year, Sheets was signed by the Panthers. In his time at Purdue he finished his career as second on the school's record lists with 664 rushing attempts for 3,341 yards, 4,944 all-purpose yards and 324 points scored. He also established Purdue career marks with 48 rushing touchdowns and 54 overall scores.

Rankin (6'1 – 216 lbs) has spent the last three seasons in the NFL after going as undrafted free agent in 2008. After originally signing with the Oakland Raiders that year he went on to play in two games for the team in 2009 before being picked up by the Seattle Seahawks where he played in an additional seven games. In those nine games the Washington product had eight carries for 36 yards, five receptions for 33 yards and 22 kick returns for 466 yards. In January, 2011 he signed back with the Raiders. During his time at Washington he finished his college career playing in 40 games – had 488 carries for 2,480 yards and 11 touchdowns, 39 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns, 51 kick returns for 1,206 yards and one touchdown.

Crawford (5'8 – 195 lbs) has spent the last few seasons playing in the IFL for the Tri-Cities Fever. After transferring from Sacramento City College, Crawford played two seasons for Montana State, the 25-year-old tallied 427 carries for 2,182 yards and 13 touchdowns, 53 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns in 23 games played. He was also earned First Team All-Big Sky honours.

DEMETRIUS CRAWFORD HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYJFBS3WSjA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inhv2DpyZiM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8MQKSHXF7M&feature=related

TAMAN UPDATES FANS

Roughrider GM Brendan Taman met with the media on Thursday to give the team's position on all the latest goings-on in Riderville. Here's what he had to say:

ON THE REMAINING LB'S (MCCULLOUGH, LLOYD, STEWART)

It's the experience thing. You can go out and sign guys who have experience but I think we can find some new guys who don't have the experience but who can fit in. We have MO and Chris Graham right now that we can play with in the middle but we'll sign some new guys. Some of the DBs we have can fit into the dime spot too.

ON OWNING THE #1 PICK IN THE DRAFT

It's gonna take a lot to move it and I don't foresee us doing that.

ON HUSKIES OL BEN HEENAN, THE TOP PROSPECT

He's a good player. There's a lot of other names out there but a young offensive lineman is pretty valuable. Whether he's the best pick at that spot, we'll see, but he's pretty high up in our rankings.

ON COLE BERGQUIST

He needs work and he'll have competition. We're not just going to give him the #2 spot. Where that plays out, we'll see, but we're not just gonna give him the job. His contract won't come into play there.

ON CONTRACT TALKS WITH DARIAN DURANT

We've talked and I'm actually going to meet with him this afternoon about a number of things. We're not in a hurry to do that. We'll continue to talk and we'll see where it goes.

ON KOCH AND GETZLAF

Koch's free in a month and Chris is going into his option. The option year guys are important but right now the free agents are the priority.

ON ANDY FANTUZ

Really nothing's changes since the last time I talked to you guys. February 15 is the date and I don't see anything changing.

ON DINWIDDIE'S FUTURE

We talked about him coaching at the end of the year but the staff worked out the way it did. Absolutely he's a very bright guy who wants to get into coaching and I could see him having a very bright future in that. From talking to him, he wants to still play but he knows ultimately his future is in coaching. He has a lot of contacts in the States. He's a good individual but the biggest thing we'll miss is his relationship with Darian.

ON GENE MAKOWSKY

I'm about to meet with Gene in the next couple of days to see where we're at with everything. I know him and Jeremy O'Day have talked and he spoke with Corey Chamblin on the weekend. We'll see where that goes. I haven't talked to Gene myself but we'll see where that goes shortly.

ON WES CATES

We're continuing those talks and we've told Wes we'll let him know shortly what his status is going to be.

DINWIDDIE GONSO!!

Axe continues to fall in Regina: The #SskRoughriders will release back-up QB Ryan Dinwiddie. Announcement from the #Riders ahead. #CFL

DISCUSSIONS WITH FANTUZ TO HEAT UP NEXT WEEK



Andy Fantuz watches from the sidelines as the Saskatchewan Roughriders play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during CFL action in Regina, September 4, 2011.

REGINA — Discussions between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and slotback Andy Fantuz could heat up next week.

Tim Fleiszer, who represents Fantuz along with Gil Scott, said he expects to talk with members of the Riders’ football operations staff during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Representatives from each of the CFL teams and those in the NFL are expected to be on hand for the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28.

Fantuz played out his option after the 2011 CFL season and is eligible to file for free agency on Feb. 15.

“I had good chats with the Riders before Christmas,” Fleiszer said. “I’m sure we’ll continue to have discussions, but free agency is still a long ways off.”

Brendan Taman, the Riders general manager, told reporters last week that he expected Fantuz to test free agency. Taman also feels the Riders still have a chance of retaining Fantuz.
“I think we have a chance of getting him back, but I don’t think it’s going to happen before the 15th,” Taman said. “When that happens, all bets are off, quite honestly. We’ll see where it goes.”
Fantuz was the Riders’ first pick (third overall) in the 2006 CFL draft. He was the most outstanding Canadian in the 2007 Grey Cup game and was the CFL’s most outstanding Canadian in 2010 while recording a league-leading 1,380 receiving yards.

He signed with the NFL’s Chicago Bears during the 2010 off-season and was released after the pre-season. Fantuz battled ankle injuries after returning to the Riders and dressed for only four games. Fantuz, 28, has had one NFL tryout, with the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season.
Fleiszer said there has been some interest in Fantuz expressed by other NFL teams.

“Typically Gil and I will meet with all 32 (NFL) teams,” Fleiszer said. “We’ll have a better idea of what the picture looks like after that.”

The Riders had 14 players from the 2011 squad eligible to file for free agency. Taman has been pared that list to 11. Linebacker Jerrell Freeman, defensive tackle Keith Shologan and Fantuz were considered by Taman as the Riders’ top-tier free agents.

Shologan re-signed with the Riders on Nov. 18. Freeman agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. He’s to be Indianapolis on Tuesday to officially sign the contract.
Regina Leader-Post

mmccormick@eaderpost.com

MATT DOMINQUEZ ON THE RIDERS

Roughrider great Matt Dominguez was on the Sports Cage Monday night and provided his thoughts on the Riders' hiring of Corey Chamblin as head coach and the contract status of receiver Andy Fantuz.

ON THE 2012 RIDERS

Initially when all the changes were gonna happen, you heard all the rumblings about names. You heard the sexy name guys, about guys coming forward, or elevate the guy that's already in the program. But I always thought that Coach Chamblin would be great. He's the guy I wanted. If you look at the makeup of the team, with the vets and the rookies, you need a guy with that personality and that type of energy. We went from having an old guy coaching staff to a young guy coaching staff in a short period of time. That's what the team needed.

In 2007 I predicted 12 wins because I saw the culture, the atmosphere and I knew the type of players that were there. Knowing what I know now about this team, the type of systems they'll be instituting, I think we won't regress. I think we'll be around a 10 win season. 10 wins get you in, and that's all that matters.

ON ANDY FANTUZ

When I re-signed with the Riders in December of 2004 ahead of free agency, my situation was totally different. I was an American. You can find import receivers anywhere. But there are very few non-import receivers who can play at Andy's level. Let's now put that aside. Out east, they have two very good quarterbacks in Toronto (Ricky Ray) and Hamilton (Henry Burris). If I'm a receiver and I want to play with a good QB, and I'm thinking about moving, that changes things. In my case, when I was in the NFL, I'd listen to offers from the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans because then my family could go to everyone of my games since I'm from Texas.

I haven't talked to Andy in 2 1/2 months but if he chooses to play for another team, that's his choice. Not many people would turn down a raise to be closer to their family. Not many would.

**You can listen to the entire 15-minute interview with Fantuz in the Sports Cage podcast two posts below.

JEFFELL FREEMAN A COLT ??

For CFL purposes, Jerrell Freeman never became a free man.

With a month to go before the Feb. 15 free-agency deadline, Freeman has apparently been suitably enticed by overtures from the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts.

"Well you've been good to me RIDERNATION, but i'll b in Colts blue next year!!!'' Freeman wrote on Twitter on Monday.

The message, which arrived at 8:45 p.m., Saskatchewan time, was quickly retweeted to all corners of the Rider Nation.

Chagrined parties within that domain were left to lament the departure of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' lone Canadian Football League all-star from 2011 - someone who was the West Division's nominee for defensive player-of-the-year honours.

Freeman's disclosure of his NFL opportunity was anything but surprising. It wasn't a matter of whether Freeman was leaving Saskatchewan. The only relevant questions were "where?'' and "when?''

Brendan Taman conceded as much three weeks ago. In conversation with Ian Hamilton of the Leader-Post, Taman - the Roughriders' general manager - said that "once the NFL is on the radar, it's pretty tough to avoid it.''

Given the interest in Freeman south of the border, his departure was inevitable. Taman could have sweetened his contract offer to the point of profligacy, and it would not have mattered one iota. Freeman would have been foolish to forego an NFL opportunity - especially at 25, when his marketability has never been higher.

Of course, this is all based on one reverberative tweet. Verification has yet to be received from the Colts or the Roughriders. As is prudent, Taman and head coach Corey Chamblin are not commenting on Freeman's situation until they see the documentation.

But Taman, for one, has seen it all before.

Early in 2010 - shortly before Taman succeeded Eric Tillman as the Roughriders' GM - defensive end John Chick signed with (guess who?) Indianapolis. Chick's bargaining power had been bolstered by the fact that he was named the league's top defensive player in 2009.

The dreaded CFL Player Awards Curse struck the Riders again last year at this time, when slotback Andy Fantuz signed with the Chicago Bears. Fantuz was decorated as the CFL's top Canadian in 2010.

And now, Freeman - who was the runner-up to Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Jovon Johnson when the awards were presented last November - is atwitter about what appears to be the consummation of a deal with Indianapolis.

What is it about first-year Roughriders coaches and notable departures?

Ken Miller had barely assumed the head-coaching reins in 2008 when quarterback Kerry Joseph, who was named the league's most outstanding player during the Grey Cup championship season of 2007, was dealt to the Toronto Argonauts.

Greg Marshall, who briefly succeeded Miller as Saskatchewan's field boss in 2011, discovered soon after being hired that Fantuz was off to the NFL.

One of Chamblin's "welcome to Saskatchewan'' presents is confirmation that Freeman is indeed destined for the NFL. His departure, as inevitable as it was, creates a cavernous hole on a Roughriders defence that was hardly formidable with him as part of the equation.

With Freeman, Barrin Simpson (released) and Sean Lucas (retired) out of the picture, the Roughriders will have a revamped linebacking corps in 2012. As a nightmarish 2011 season dragged on, the team's brain trust became acutely aware that Simpson and Lucas would have to be replaced, so the only glaring void is created by the fact that Freeman will soon be mingling with the likes of Peyton Manning.

Taman, who is as realistic and pragmatic as they come, knew there would be such a day. The onus is now on Taman and director of player personnel Craig Smith to uncover somebody, somewhere, who is a reasonable facsimile of Freeman.

Is Kye Stewart the answer? Is there a sleeper in an unremarkable pool of soonto-be free-agent linebackers? Is there a negotiation-list player who can make an immediate impact?

Uh, good luck ... Once the Freeman situation ceases to become a front-of-mind issue, the focus on Fantuz will be intensified. The never-ending Fantuz Watch will attract even more attention. (Please restrain your excitement.)

With Freeman gone, it is reasonable to expect that Taman will face additional pressure to resolve the lingering Fantuz issue in a manner that is satisfactory to the fans. That sentiment is understandable, given that Roughriders loyalists are salivating at the notion of a big-name signing.

But will their appetites be satisfied? Well ...

At last word, negotiations between Fantuz and the Roughriders were moving along at a glacial pace. Taman said last week that he expects Fantuz to test free agency - unless he, too, ends up signing with an NFL team.

If Fantuz does enter the CFL's open market, it is highly conceivable that he will end up elsewhere. The money earmarked for him by Saskatchewan will quickly be spent on another premier player.
And who knows? That player may very well bolster a Riders defence that took a hit on Monday evening.

rvanstone@leaderpost.com

DICKENSON TO RETURN

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce that Craig Dickenson will return to the Riders coaching staff as Special Teams Coordinator for the 2012 CFL season.

CRAIG DICKENSON – SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
This will mark Dickenson's second season with the Green and White as Special Teams Coordinator.

Dickenson spent the 2010 season with the NFL's Oakland Raiders as assistant special teams coordinator. This was Dickenson's second stint in the NFL as he spent two years in San Diego as a special teams assistant for the Chargers starting in 2000.

Highly regarded for his special team schemes, Dickenson spent seven seasons with the Calgary Stampeders where he served as their special teams coordinator for five and worked with the running backs and receivers in his first two years with the team. He also spent one season with the Montreal Alouettes as running backs coach in 2003 before returning to the Stamps. Dickenson was a part of the 2008 Grey Cup championship team in Calgary.

Dickenson's coaching career began at his alma mater – the University of Montana in 1995 when the Grizzlies captured the NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship. His work with kickers and running backs earned him a position with Utah State where he coached before making the move to the NFL.

TGIF - SOME THOUGHTS ON THE NEW COACHING STAFF

It’s finally Friday!

The first official week of 2012 has to be deemed an eventful one, especially around Rider Nation.
It started with loads of rumours about the Riders’ 2012 coaching staff and most turned out to be true.

The offensive staff was introduced on Tuesday and Thursday the defensive staff was revealed. The special teams co-ordinator has yet to be officially announced, but it’s expected that Craig Dickenson will return in 2012. His contract runs through next season and the Riders are looking at extending it.

Here’s a list of Corey Chamblin’s staff and the respective ages of each member:

Head coach: Corey Chamblin, 34.

Offensive co-ordinator/running backs coach: Bob Dyce, 46.

Receivers coach: Jason Tucker, 35.

Running-game co-ordinator/offensive line coach: Kris Sweet, 38.

Quarterbacks coach: Khari Jones, 40.

Defensive co-ordinator: Richie Hall, 51.

Linebackers coach and assistant to the head coach: Alex Smith, 68.

Defensive backs: Barron Miles, 40.

Defensive line: Mike Walker, 53.

Special teams co-ordinator: Craig Dickenson, 40.

It’s a good mix of youth and experience, which is what Chamblin was looking for in his first group of head coaches.

There isn’t much on the Riders’ front today. The special teams are to be announced next week. I talked with Jones at great length today about coming to Regina as the quarterbacks coach. He told me that he was essentially free agent after his contract ran out on in December with the Tiger-Cats, so he was looking for work. He is looking forward to working with Darian Durant and is quite aware of the pressure that comes with being the face of a franchise. More on that and Jones’s thoughts on the Riders will be online later and available in Saturdays’ paper for those of you still like the feel of newsprint in the morning.

There has been some confusion about Smith’s expanded role with the Riders. He is the linebackers coach and the assistant to the head coach, not assistant head coach. Smith will assist Chamblin in dealing with the league office, scheduling, travel and those kind of things. Chamblin feels that Smith’s experience of 15 years with the Riders was too valuable to waste. Good move by Chamblin to tap Smith’s knowledge of the league.

Another interesting point about the staff is Dyce, Smith, Hall, Miles and Chamblin all have experience in the player personnel aspect of the game. CFL staffs are so small that each coach needs that, but the aforementioned five have all been through those roles with their team. That should help with the off-season decisions.

Here’s Chamblin’s philosophy for the off-season:

“We want to win the off-season,’’ Chamblin said. “That’s coaches doing all the things that they need to do and being diligent. We want to win the off-season to help us win the season.’’

That’s it. Time to get pounding, after all it’s Friday.

RIDERS NAME DEFENSIVE COACHES

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce their defensive coaching staff for the 2012 CFL season.

RICHIE HALL – DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Hall will once again run the Riders defence after returning to the Green and White last season. Previous to that, Hall spent two seasons as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos where he also led the defence. Previous to his time in Edmonton, Hall was a part of the Green and White coaching staff for 15 seasons, eight as defensive coordinator and developed a reputation for fielding a top defence year after year.Before moving into his coaching role, Hall spent nine years playing in the CFL including four seasons with the Roughriders from 1988-1991.

ALEX SMITH – ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH/LINEBACKERS COACH
Smith returns to the Green and White for his 16th season. He will continue to coach the Rider linebackers and will work in an advisory capacity with Head Coach Chamblin. He will also act as a facilitator in regards to the Canadian draft. Smith originally joined the Roughriders' coaching staff in May 1997 as linebackers coach. A Level Two Certified National Coach, Smith offers the Roughriders 36 years of coaching experience. Before joining the Green and White on a full-time basis in 1997, Smith gained valuable CFL experience as a Roughrider Guest Coach in 1995 and 1996.Prior to joining the Roughriders, Smith spent five seasons with the Regina Rams of the Prairie Junior Football League as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.

MIKE WALKER – DEFENSIVE LINE COACH
Walker returns to the Riders for his second season leading the defensive line. He brings over 25 years of playing and coaching experience to the Green and White. The Indiana native spent the 2010 season as defensive line coach for the Edmonton Eskimos and was a defensive consultant for the Toronto Argonauts in 2008. From 1997 to 2007, he coached the defensive line at his alma mater Washington State as well as four bowl games – two Rose Bowls, Holiday Bowl and the Sun Bowl. During that time he also coached the 2002 Outland Trophy winner Rien Long.Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Walker was a three-time CFL all-star and a four-time All-Eastern Conference selection, playing with both Hamilton (1982-89) and Edmonton (1990-91).

BARRON MILES – DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH
Miles is the newest member of the Riders defensive staff as he comes to Saskatchewan from the B.C. Lions where he spent the last two seasons as a defensive and player personnel assistant. Miles made the transition into coaching after retirning from a storied 12 year playing career in the CFL. His career began in Montreal where he spent seven seasons as a defensive back before playing his final five years with the Lions. The Nebraska grad was named a Divisional All-Star nine times and a CFL All-Star six times over the course of his playing career.

NEW RIDER COACHES

BOB DYCE

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

KHARI JONES

QUARTERBACKS COACH

KRIS SWEET

RUNNING GAME COORDINATOR

AND OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

JASON TUCKER

RECEIVERS COACH

RIDERS NAME OFFENSIVE COACHING STAFF

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce their offensive coaching staff for the 2012 CFL season.

BOB DYCE – OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/RUNNING BACKS

Dyce has spent the last two seasons as the receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Green and White. Before joining the Riders, the Winnipeg native spent seven seasons with the Blue Bombers where he served as the team's receivers coach and was in charge of the team's Canadian player personnel. Prior to making the transition into coaching in the CFL, Dyce spent seven seasons as the receivers coach with his alma mater the Manitoba Bisons. Dyce began his coaching career in 1992 when he joined the staff of the St. Vital Mustangs of the CJFL. He spent two seasons with the Mustangs before making the move to offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Winnipeg Hawkeyes of the CJFL. He spent the 1994 and 1995 seasons with the Hawkeyes.


KRIS SWEET – RUN GAME COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE
Sweet spent the last five years as the offensive line coach with the Calgary Stampeders. Prior to joining the Stamps, Sweet coached the offensive line at Columbia University after spending a year in the same position at Kentucky State. He entered coaching in 1997 as a graduate assistant coach at Tennessee Tech followed by single seasons at Holy Cross and Elon. After that Sweet spent five years at Presbyterian College where he began coaching the running backs and tight ends before being named offensive coordinator in 2003. The Salem, Virginia native got his first taste of the CFL when he served as a guest coach with the B.C. Lions in 2005.

KHARI JONES – QUARTERBACKS COACH
Jones has spent the last three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, where he spent the first two seasons coaching the quarterbacks and most recently served as the Ti-Cats offensive coordinator. Prior to moving into coaching, Jones spent eight years as a decorated quarterback in the CFL receiving all-star nods and winning the Most Outstanding Player Award in 2001. His playing career began in 1998 with the B.C. Lions where he spent two seasons before being traded to Winnipeg. In 2004, he went on to play with the Stampeders for the remainder of the season before joining Hamilton in 2005. After attending training camp with Edmonton in 2006, Jones went on to spend the season in broadcasting with CBC. Before returning to the CFL as a coach, Jones became the Director of Football at National Sports Development based in Calgary.

JASON TUCKER – RECEIVERS COACH
Tucker spent two seasons coaching the receiving corps in Edmonton after suffering a fractured neck in 2008 which cut his distinguished player career short. The four-time CFL and West All-Star won a Grey Cup in 2003 and finished his career with 7,046 receiving yards in his seven years as a receiver with the Eskimos.