DRESSLER BECOMING BIG PART OF RUNNING ATTACK

Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Weston Dressler
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders tailback Wes Cates has a bone to pick with receiver Weston Dressler.

Cates was chuckling as he discussed Dressler's sudden emergence as a running threat — which constitutes a direct intrusion into Cates' domain.

"He gets enough love out there receiving the ball," Cates said, tongue in cheek, after the Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium. "I was a little insulted he got a rushing touchdown."
Dressler rushed three times for 25 yards in Sunday's 33-23 CFL victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter snapped a 23-23 tie and helped propel Saskatchewan to its fourth win in seven games this season.

"It's fun for me," said Dressler, who's sixth in the team's rushing derby this season with 47 yards on seven carries. "I like getting the ball and trying to make plays.

"I thought our guys up front did a great job blocking. For our receivers on the perimeter, it's hard for them because they've got to hold their blocks for a long time. It's not an easy block, but they kept fighting and that's why we were successful with it."

Carrying the ball isn't foreign to Dressler. He said he got chances when his college team, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, used what's now known as a Wildcat formation.
The 5-foot-7, 179-pounder didn't carry the ball for the Roughriders last season, but he's happy to do so in 2009. Each of his other two carries Sunday came two plays before Saskatchewan touchdowns.

"When I have the ball, I'm trying to get as many yards as I can to try to help the team," said Dressler, who had more carries than receptions (he had two catches for 27 yards) against Hamilton.

"Whether it's getting a first down or, when we're in the 'score zone,' getting into the end zone, I'm just trying to make the most out of every play and every time I have the ball."

Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice said the so-called "speed sweep series" on which Dressler runs the ball involves bringing the receiver across the formation before the snap. Dressler's defender in man-to-man coverage also is coming across the field, but he has a lot to deal with as he tries to stop the run.

One of the issues for the defender is Dressler's speed around the corner.

"He's a talented player with the ball in his hands; he's probably the fastest guy on the field . . .," LaPolice said. "We usually try to scheme it once a week — 'Here's the best way to get the ball outside to Wes' — but this past week we had three."

There also are issues on running plays for Dressler, not the least of which is his size. Luckily for him, he isn't expected to go up the middle.

"It's definitely a little bit easier taking a hit from a DB than one of those linemen or linebackers," said a smiling Dressler, who leads the Roughriders in receptions (27) and receiving yards (407) this season. "Most of the runs that I have are outside, so I'm able to run away from those big guys."

That was the case on Dressler's game-winning major. He took a handoff from quarterback Darian Durant, sped around the right end of the Roughriders' offence and dived into the corner of the end zone just as the defenders arrived.

As for the facetious suggestion that he and Cates should come to some kind of agreement — Cates handles the rushing and Dressler sticks to receiving — Dressler just chuckled.
"We're both happy when the other makes a play," he said. "We don't care who's running it or catching it."

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com
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