REGINA -- Saskatchewan Roughriders hopeful Justin Beaver has been the hit of camp.
Since the CFL team opened rookie camp a week ago, the 5-foot-7, 190-pound running back has been on the receiving end of two concussive hits during supposedly non-contact drills — both times by linebacker Sam Olajubutu.
No one else outside of the trenches has been thumped in the same way with the same volume. So why has Beaver been getting cranked?
“I don’t know, but I like it,” the 24-year-old product of Palmyra, Wis., said with a grin following Tuesday’s training-camp workouts at Mosaic Stadium. “It’s a wakeup call every morning.
“Come game time, you’re going to get rocked. Those guys (on defence) have got to go all out. They’re trying to get a spot and trying to make themselves a name. If it’s the other way around, I’m going to do the same thing.”
Beaver said he has had chances to return the favour, but has held back. He’s opting to make his mark in other ways, whether it was the diving one-handed catch during a one-on-one drill or the quick move to the outside on a draw play during a team drill.
The graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is among three import backs in camp, along with Wes Cates and Hugh Charles. With Cates nursing a tender shoulder that could keep him out of the season-opener, Beaver could find himself in the lineup.
“I don’t think that’s any motivation for (Beaver and Charles),” said Kavis Reed, the Roughriders’ running backs coach. “I think the motivation for them is making this team, which is a good thing.
“It’s a positive for us because we want to make it as competitive as possible. Even if Wes was healthy, we wanted to make it a situation where, hey, the best guy was going to come out and be the guy on the field for our first game.”
Beaver suggested his aim entering camp was to help the team in any way he could — whether he makes it or not.
“If this is my camp to help them out and if they do well this year, then I’ve accomplished my goal,” he said. “If I make the practice squad, I’ll help out there. If I make the active squad, I’ll help out there any way I can.”
Some would suggest Beaver is hindered by his size, but that hasn’t been a problem before. As a senior at Wisconsin-Whitewater, he was named the outstanding player in Division III football and he left college as the 11th-leading rusher all time in NCAA football.
“(My size) has always been a thing since high school, into college and then in the pros . . .,” said Beaver, who attended a mini-camp with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in 2008. “I’m just keeping to my philosophy of trying to outwork everyone else and that’s been working for me so far.”
“I’m a firm believer that you’re never concerned about size,” Reed added. “If that guy can play football, he can play football. I don’t think God made football players a specific size. I think he just made them athletes.”
Beaver said he has been asking as many questions as he can to figure out the Roughriders’ offence and the Canadian game. He’s actually surprised that he’s been getting answers.
“On a lot of teams, guys won’t help you out,” he said. “Here, they come and ask you if you have any questions. Wes is constantly helping us out, coaching us up. It’s a real unique place to be.”
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
DONOVAN ALEXANDER TURNING HEADS
To say Donovan Alexander has caught the attention of Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive backs coach Nelson Martin is an understatement.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post
REGINA -- To say Donovan Alexander has caught the attention of Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive backs coach Nelson Martin is an understatement.
“Donovan Alexander has been the most impressive DB in camp so far. Not rookies — DBs, period,” Martin said after Monday’s training-camp workouts at Mosaic Stadium.
“He’s doing everything I ask him to. He’s making very few if any mistakes, he’s a professional, his work ethic is outstanding, and I’ve got him with the vets from last year and he’s fitting right in. He’s been very impressive and he’s getting better with every practice.”
But that doesn’t mean anything at this point. Alexander, a 24-year-old product of Winnipeg, still has to hold on to that spot — despite injuries to potential competitors Leron Mitchell (leg) and Konrad Wasiela (hamstring).
“He’s doing everything I ask him to. He’s making very few if any mistakes, he’s a professional, his work ethic is outstanding, and I’ve got him with the vets from last year and he’s fitting right in. He’s been very impressive and he’s getting better with every practice.”
But that doesn’t mean anything at this point. Alexander, a 24-year-old product of Winnipeg, still has to hold on to that spot — despite injuries to potential competitors Leron Mitchell (leg) and Konrad Wasiela (hamstring).
“The coach came up to me right away and said, ‘You’re only as good as your last practice,’ ” Alexander said. “That was very important. I’m with the No. 1 group for today and my goal every day is to be with the No. 1 group tomorrow. (Martin) just said pretty bluntly that, ‘You have to work pretty hard or we can find somebody else.’ They can make arrangements. They can put an American out there and I could be gone.”
The Roughriders’ plan to use a non-import on the corner flies in the face of conventional CFL wisdom. Only the Montreal Alouettes — with Davis Sanchez — employ a non-import on the corner while other teams usually put a Canadian at safety.
Alexander, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound graduate of the University of North Dakota, said it was “very humbling” that the Roughriders want a Canadian on the corner. With that, however, comes pressure — but Martin wants his young charge to ignore it.
“Being a professional football player, you feel pressure, whether you’re a backup playing special teams or you’re starting on the corner, at half or at safety,” Martin said. “Everybody’s feeling it. He’s feeling it because of the novelty of having a Canadian on the corner. It wouldn’t be any easier for him if he was playing safety.
“(Being a Canadian corner) is unique, but he’s fast and he can cover. His birth certificate doesn’t say, ‘I’m a Canadian, so therefore I’m a safety.’ He’s a football player — a very good football player.”
Martin said Alexander does everything well, which the coach believes is a result of the coaching Alexander received at North Dakota, with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks (with whom he attended training camp in 2008) and with the Als (with whom he played four games last season).
The Roughriders acquired Alexander in February, sending their second-round picks in 2009 and ’10 to the Als.
The Roughriders acquired Alexander in February, sending their second-round picks in 2009 and ’10 to the Als.
“As a football player, it’s always nice to be wanted — and I definitely feel like I was wanted here,” Alexander said. “It’s very humbling, but at the same time it’s a lot of pressure. I don’t want to disappoint. I want to do the best that I can and hopefully I live up to the expectations that they have for me.”
To help himself do that, Alexander is hitting up his mates in the secondary. He’s constantly asking questions of veterans Eddie Davis, Lance Frazier and Omarr Morgan in the hopes of finding out their secrets — which in turn will help him prove he belongs.
“It’s a little tough, but if I work hard, they’ll understand that I’m trying,” Alexander said. “If I sprint to the football whenever I get a chance, they’ll know I’m working hard. I’m just trying to get better every day.”
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Monday, June 8, 2009
DAY 2 OF CAMP
If you live or work anywhere near Regina, you only had to look out the window and realize that it rained throughout Day 2 of the Riders main camp.Actually, there was about 20 minutes where it looked like the sun was going to come up. Then it started to rain again.
I wish it would go away because we’ve had enough and my lawn really needs cutting.But the show goes on and here some early observations from Day 2:
— LB Sam Olajubutu made quite an impact with two loud hits on RB Justin Beaver. The pops sure woke up the folks shivering on the sidelines but they were really only noisy. No damage was caused.—
The call to Ryan Dinwiddie's agent grew some legs on Monday. Riders head coach Ken Miller and all three QBs were asked about the Riders’ supposed interest in the former Blue Bombers quarterback. Miller said “There wasn’t any interest at this time”, which was surprising. The QBs all felt it was part of the business and all they can do is compete. For more, check online later or in the paper on Tuesday.— The Dinwiddie questions followed shortly after Miller praised his pivots for a solid performance in main camp.— Mind you, Juan Joseph didn’t look that great. He had problems with the snap and got tripped up by an offensive lineman. Actually, he looked like a rookie out there.
— DB Chris McKenzie had a pretty sweet interception deep in the Riders’ zone.
— LB Sean Lucas looks he’s in regular-season form. He made a one-handed interception on Dalton Bell and later knocked down a Bell pass attempt.
— Nuvraj Bassi was back with the offensive lineman after spending the opening day with the defensive linemen. Here’s versatile but it’s has to be tough to make an impression playing different positions.
— Regina DE Mike Stadnyk and OT Joe McGrath had a nice battle in the one-on-ones. Stadnyk nearly flipped McGrath on his back.
— DE Stevie Baggs and OT Andrae Townsell are really going at it. I don’t think there is a lot of love lost there. It’s fun watching those two in one-on-ones.
— RB Wes Cates confirmed that he could miss the regular season-opener because he’s still recovering from surgery on his right shoulder. Big loss but the Riders have performed without him. Check out online later for more details or buy a paper on Tuesday to find out.
— Rider Beat makes its debut on Tuesday, so it would be a good day to invest in the L-P.
— WR Dave McKoy, the Riders first pick in the 2007 CFL (ninth overall) still hasn’t recovered from a knee injury suffered in his first season with the Riders. He was in sweats and Miller said it would be a while before he was ready to go.
— And finally, C Jon St-Pierre missed Day 2 of camp with an infected toe (yuk).
I wish it would go away because we’ve had enough and my lawn really needs cutting.But the show goes on and here some early observations from Day 2:
— LB Sam Olajubutu made quite an impact with two loud hits on RB Justin Beaver. The pops sure woke up the folks shivering on the sidelines but they were really only noisy. No damage was caused.—
The call to Ryan Dinwiddie's agent grew some legs on Monday. Riders head coach Ken Miller and all three QBs were asked about the Riders’ supposed interest in the former Blue Bombers quarterback. Miller said “There wasn’t any interest at this time”, which was surprising. The QBs all felt it was part of the business and all they can do is compete. For more, check online later or in the paper on Tuesday.— The Dinwiddie questions followed shortly after Miller praised his pivots for a solid performance in main camp.— Mind you, Juan Joseph didn’t look that great. He had problems with the snap and got tripped up by an offensive lineman. Actually, he looked like a rookie out there.
— DB Chris McKenzie had a pretty sweet interception deep in the Riders’ zone.
— LB Sean Lucas looks he’s in regular-season form. He made a one-handed interception on Dalton Bell and later knocked down a Bell pass attempt.
— Nuvraj Bassi was back with the offensive lineman after spending the opening day with the defensive linemen. Here’s versatile but it’s has to be tough to make an impression playing different positions.
— Regina DE Mike Stadnyk and OT Joe McGrath had a nice battle in the one-on-ones. Stadnyk nearly flipped McGrath on his back.
— DE Stevie Baggs and OT Andrae Townsell are really going at it. I don’t think there is a lot of love lost there. It’s fun watching those two in one-on-ones.
— RB Wes Cates confirmed that he could miss the regular season-opener because he’s still recovering from surgery on his right shoulder. Big loss but the Riders have performed without him. Check out online later for more details or buy a paper on Tuesday to find out.
— Rider Beat makes its debut on Tuesday, so it would be a good day to invest in the L-P.
— WR Dave McKoy, the Riders first pick in the 2007 CFL (ninth overall) still hasn’t recovered from a knee injury suffered in his first season with the Riders. He was in sweats and Miller said it would be a while before he was ready to go.
— And finally, C Jon St-Pierre missed Day 2 of camp with an infected toe (yuk).
DALTON BELL
VANSTONE: Riders' Dalton Bell an all-round nice guy
By Rob Vanstone, The Leader-PostJune 8,
On Day 1 of (t)raining camp, Dalton Bell proved to be the rare quarterback who does not insist upon protection.
Bell was offered coverage, in the form of an umbrella, in the early stages of an interview after the Saskatchewan Roughriders concluded practice Sunday on Taylor Field.
"No, we're good,'' Bell said, cordially.
Then the skies opened up. In good conscience, I could not allow an interviewee to be saturated -- and my column to be washed away in the process. So I pulled out the umbrella and attempted to keep both of us dry.
The downpour was momentary, so I gracefully dropped the umbrella, along with my notes. As I fumbled around, Bell was thoughtful enough to pick up my roster.
So why am I telling you this? It is, after all, a trivial detail. But little things often reveal the most about a person.
He is, I discovered, as advertised.
Since Bell's arrival in Regina last fall, members of the Roughriders organization have been raving about Bell's off-field comportment. General manager Eric Tillman bordered on giddiness while appraising Bell as a person. The quarterback's absorption with film study also earned plaudits, while eliciting comparisons to somebody named Kent Austin.
"I've never met Kent Austin,'' Bell said of the legendary Roughriders quarterback and head coach, "but I guess that's a compliment.''
You might say.
Roger Eberts doesn't watch as much film as Austin. Bell is similarly inclined. Even while on the practice roster in 2008, Bell routinely remained in the Riders' office well into the evening.
"That's something I've always done throughout my whole career, and even my college career,'' Bell said. "I want to give myself the best chance to succeed so I've tried to do the off-the-field stuff, such as watching film and drawing up plays and going through different scenarios.''
Bell's passion for watching film was nurtured at West Texas A&M under quarterbacks coach was Wes Phillips -- whose father is Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips.
In two seasons as the starting quarterback at West Texas A&M, Bell posted a 20-4 record. He threw for 3,998 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior after amassing totals of 3,799 yards and 30 TDs the previous year.
NFL stints with the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks ensued. Bell was placed on the Roughriders' negotiation list on the recommendation of director of player personnel Joe Womack.
After a nomadic couple of years, Bell is anxious to make an imprint in the CFL, to the extent that the Canyon, Tex., product arrived in Regina in mid-May.
"I came up early because I wanted to give myself the best shot to play,'' the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder said. "I am taking it seriously. It's a job. I've been in places before and I've been cut a few times. It's not fun to get cut and it's hard for the family to survive when you're not having a job so, yeah, I am taking it seriously.''
Bell travelled to Regina with his wife, Abbie, and their son, Boston (who turns three in July).
"He came out to practice the other day and he thinks this is pretty cool,'' Bell said. "He's at that age where seeing Dad play football is cool. He wants me to tackle somebody, but I don't want to be tackling anybody.''
Bell would rather tackle a playbook.
"He is such a student of the game and he prepares so well,'' said Riders head coach Ken Miller, who figures that Bell has the makings of a "special'' player.
"He has the respect of everybody on the team -- not that the other quarterbacks don't. He has just demonstrated those things beyond what you would expect somebody of his experience to do.''
Bell is part of an inexperienced quarterbacking corps. Darian Durant, who is first on the depth chart, has started four games as a CFLer. Steven Jyles, who is immediately behind Durant on the pecking order, is No. 2. Bell and recently acquired Juan Joseph round out the quarterbacking equation.
At 26, Bell would love to move up the ladder and find a home in the pro ranks.
"Finding a team that has a plan for you is huge,'' he said. "Hopefully I have found that here.''
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
By Rob Vanstone, The Leader-PostJune 8,
On Day 1 of (t)raining camp, Dalton Bell proved to be the rare quarterback who does not insist upon protection.
Bell was offered coverage, in the form of an umbrella, in the early stages of an interview after the Saskatchewan Roughriders concluded practice Sunday on Taylor Field.
"No, we're good,'' Bell said, cordially.
Then the skies opened up. In good conscience, I could not allow an interviewee to be saturated -- and my column to be washed away in the process. So I pulled out the umbrella and attempted to keep both of us dry.
The downpour was momentary, so I gracefully dropped the umbrella, along with my notes. As I fumbled around, Bell was thoughtful enough to pick up my roster.
So why am I telling you this? It is, after all, a trivial detail. But little things often reveal the most about a person.
He is, I discovered, as advertised.
Since Bell's arrival in Regina last fall, members of the Roughriders organization have been raving about Bell's off-field comportment. General manager Eric Tillman bordered on giddiness while appraising Bell as a person. The quarterback's absorption with film study also earned plaudits, while eliciting comparisons to somebody named Kent Austin.
"I've never met Kent Austin,'' Bell said of the legendary Roughriders quarterback and head coach, "but I guess that's a compliment.''
You might say.
Roger Eberts doesn't watch as much film as Austin. Bell is similarly inclined. Even while on the practice roster in 2008, Bell routinely remained in the Riders' office well into the evening.
"That's something I've always done throughout my whole career, and even my college career,'' Bell said. "I want to give myself the best chance to succeed so I've tried to do the off-the-field stuff, such as watching film and drawing up plays and going through different scenarios.''
Bell's passion for watching film was nurtured at West Texas A&M under quarterbacks coach was Wes Phillips -- whose father is Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips.
In two seasons as the starting quarterback at West Texas A&M, Bell posted a 20-4 record. He threw for 3,998 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior after amassing totals of 3,799 yards and 30 TDs the previous year.
NFL stints with the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks ensued. Bell was placed on the Roughriders' negotiation list on the recommendation of director of player personnel Joe Womack.
After a nomadic couple of years, Bell is anxious to make an imprint in the CFL, to the extent that the Canyon, Tex., product arrived in Regina in mid-May.
"I came up early because I wanted to give myself the best shot to play,'' the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder said. "I am taking it seriously. It's a job. I've been in places before and I've been cut a few times. It's not fun to get cut and it's hard for the family to survive when you're not having a job so, yeah, I am taking it seriously.''
Bell travelled to Regina with his wife, Abbie, and their son, Boston (who turns three in July).
"He came out to practice the other day and he thinks this is pretty cool,'' Bell said. "He's at that age where seeing Dad play football is cool. He wants me to tackle somebody, but I don't want to be tackling anybody.''
Bell would rather tackle a playbook.
"He is such a student of the game and he prepares so well,'' said Riders head coach Ken Miller, who figures that Bell has the makings of a "special'' player.
"He has the respect of everybody on the team -- not that the other quarterbacks don't. He has just demonstrated those things beyond what you would expect somebody of his experience to do.''
Bell is part of an inexperienced quarterbacking corps. Darian Durant, who is first on the depth chart, has started four games as a CFLer. Steven Jyles, who is immediately behind Durant on the pecking order, is No. 2. Bell and recently acquired Juan Joseph round out the quarterbacking equation.
At 26, Bell would love to move up the ladder and find a home in the pro ranks.
"Finding a team that has a plan for you is huge,'' he said. "Hopefully I have found that here.''
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
CLERMONT'S FIRST DAY AS A RIDER
Jason Clermont made his debut with the Green and White on Sunday as the Roughriders opened the 2009 training camp.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post
Jason Clermont isn't getting caught up in the hype surrounding his first official appearance at Mosaic Stadium as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Regina-born slotback, who signed with the Riders after being released by the B.C. Lions, is simply trying to settle in with his new team.
The Regina-born slotback, who signed with the Riders after being released by the B.C. Lions, is simply trying to settle in with his new team.
"I'm not thinking about any of that stuff,'' Clermont said Sunday after the opening day of main camp at Mosaic Stadium. "I'm just going to bring my hard hat and go to work. (Riders receiver) Adam Nicholson asked me what it was like playing on the old turf from my high school days ... it's not even the same turf.''
Clermont spent seven seasons with the Lions, who picked him in the first round (fourth overall) in the 2002 CFL draft. In 2002, he was named the league's rookie-of-the-year and was twice selected the CFL's most outstanding Canadian. He shared in the 2006 Grey Cup championship with the Lions and was also named the game's most outstanding Canadian.
Clermont, 30, was released by the Lions on Dec. 2 and quickly garnered interest from his home-town team. The sides came together on Dec. 12 and after a long wait, Clermont made his first on-field appearance with the Roughriders on Sunday. It was hardly a spectacular debut, at least according to Clermont.
"(Defensive back Lance Frazier) was eating my lunch (Sunday) morning,'' said Clermont, who was a standout athlete at Robert Usher Collegiate before enjoying a stellar career with the University of Regina Rams. "He was jumping on everything that I was doing. I would have cut myself in the morning but I was happier with the second practice.''
Ken Miller, the Riders head coach, seemed satisfied with Clermont's first day as a member of the Green and White.
"He's really cool, calm and collected,'' said Miller. "He demonstrates leadership and when he had an opportunity to catch, he caught. We were very pleased with him.''
Miller added that he would like Clermont to be more demonstrative on the field.
"He's really cool, calm and collected,'' said Miller. "He demonstrates leadership and when he had an opportunity to catch, he caught. We were very pleased with him.''
Miller added that he would like Clermont to be more demonstrative on the field.
"He's a little quiet and we have to draw that out of him,'' said Miller. "He will be a great role model.''
Clermont didn't experience any different feelings when he put on a Riders' jersey for the first time.
"No matter what team you go to, the offence always wears a white jersey,'' said Clermont. "I can't think about those things because I'm learning the playbook. I'm trying to get some chemistry going with the receivers, the quarterbacks and to get my legs underneath me for training camp. I can't be thinking about it being weird. I'm here to help my team, get ready and hopefully make the roster.''
That will be a formality for Clermont, who joins a talented group of slotbacks and is being counted on to help lead the crew.
He also adds to the number of Saskatchewan-born players on the Riders' roster. There are 12 on the roster -- including Regina products Clermont, Tamon George, Nick Hutchins, Joel Lipinski, Neal Hughes, Stu Foord, Chris Getzlaf and Michael Stadnyk.
"The more Saskatchewan guys, the better,'' said veteran guard Gene Makowsky, a native of Saskatoon. "I know that those guys are going to play hard. Clermont is the epitome of a typical Saskatchewan guy. He's humble, he plays hard and kicks butt. It's great to have him here.''
The Riders main camp continues today at Mosaic Stadium.
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Roughriders' Wes Cates
Photograph by: Mark Taylor, Leader-Post files
The Saskatchewan Roughriders may be without import running back Wes Cates when their 2009 CFL season opens at Mosaic Stadium on July 3.
Riders head coach Ken Miller said after the first day of main camp that Cates, a CFL all-star in 2008 and one of the team's top offensive threats, is questionable for the regular-season opener against the B.C. Lions.
Riders head coach Ken Miller said after the first day of main camp that Cates, a CFL all-star in 2008 and one of the team's top offensive threats, is questionable for the regular-season opener against the B.C. Lions.
"He's coming off a shoulder procedure, so we will have to evaluate and see how that is by Game 1,'' Miller said Sunday.
Cates underwent offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. A full recovery is expected, but currently Cates's range of motion is somewhat limited. The Riders are reluctant to play Cates until he is completely healthy.
Cates, who was on the field Sunday, is heading into his third season with the Riders. In 2008, he led the Riders with 1,229 rushing yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He missed three games with an ankle injury but was still the team's nominee for most outstanding player.
Cates, who was on the field Sunday, is heading into his third season with the Riders. In 2008, he led the Riders with 1,229 rushing yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He missed three games with an ankle injury but was still the team's nominee for most outstanding player.
"We were in a situation last year because of injuries to our receivers that we had to hand the ball to him,'' said Miller. "We really rode on his and (rookie receiver) Weston Dressler's back for a long time.''
The ankle injury in 2008 created an opportunity for Neal Hughes and Stu Foord to see playing time at tailback. Hughes started three games while Cates was sidelined. Hugh Charles also filled in during Cates's absence. All three tailbacks are in the Riders' camp.
Weather was the other story on the opening day of camp. The drills were conducted under a steady drizzle and, at times, a heavy rainfall.
"We can't control the weather but the main thing we can control is our effort,'' Miller said. "We did a nice job of that. A big part of playing football in Canada is playing in any kind of environment. I would rather have 100-degree temperatures for a few days, but we will take what we can get.''
Weather was the other story on the opening day of camp. The drills were conducted under a steady drizzle and, at times, a heavy rainfall.
"We can't control the weather but the main thing we can control is our effort,'' Miller said. "We did a nice job of that. A big part of playing football in Canada is playing in any kind of environment. I would rather have 100-degree temperatures for a few days, but we will take what we can get.''
The Roughriders completed some transactions on Saturday to reach the league-mandated 68-player limit. Current draft picks, two designated rookies and three junior players are not included on that list.
The Riders released linebacker Carlos Armour, defensive end A.J. Raebel and wide receiver Toby Zeigler. Canadian defensive back Leron Mitchell, who suffered a broken right ankle two games into the 2008 season, was placed on the nine-game injured list. Mitchell recently had another surgery on the injured ankle and is expected to make a full recovery.
The Riders released linebacker Carlos Armour, defensive end A.J. Raebel and wide receiver Toby Zeigler. Canadian defensive back Leron Mitchell, who suffered a broken right ankle two games into the 2008 season, was placed on the nine-game injured list. Mitchell recently had another surgery on the injured ankle and is expected to make a full recovery.
"It's disappointing to have athletes of the calibre we have having to go on the nine-game injured list right away,'' said Miller. "It's something that's lingering from the injuries we suffered a year ago.''
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Thursday, June 4, 2009
JUAN JOSEPH
REGINA — Juan Joseph has already started adjusting to the Canadian football game.
The fourth quarterback on the Saskatchewan Roughriders depth chart asked reporters after Wednesday's opening day of rookie camp at Mosaic Stadium where to stand before the cameras, microphones and recorders. Then the rookie, who is only 21, answered every inquiry from the media in the scrum. Only in Saskatchewan would the fourth-string QB draw this much attention.
"I've just come here to compete and whatever might happen I leave in God's hands,'' said Joseph. "Wherever they put me in is fine.''
Where that may be will be determined by how quickly Joseph can adjust to the differences between Canadian and American football.
"The biggest thing is getting used to the ball,'' Joseph said. "It's quite a bit larger than the one I was used to. The field is also a lot different than I'm used to.''
Joseph also has to adjust to being fourth on the depth chart, which is different from his spot in college.
He was 26-7 as the starter with the Millsaps College Majors, an NCAA Division III program located in Jackson, Miss.
In 2008, he guided the Majors to the best record in school history at 11-0 and the team was ranked third nationally by D3football.com. He threw for 3,363 yards and broke his own school records for touchdown passes (32), completions (301) and attempts (445). He was intercepted just six times while rushing for a team-high 412 yards and four touchdowns.
Joseph signed with the Edmonton Eskimos during the offseason but was traded to the Roughriders on May 15 for popular defensive end Kitwana Jones.
"I feel a little bit of pressure because I heard that Kitwana was a good player and it's too bad that he's not here,'' said Joseph. "I'm real smart, so once I figure out how the offence works, then I will be able to contribute a lot to the team.''
Joseph is still adjusting to a game that is different from the one that he grew up playing in Jefferson, La., before moving to Jackson.
"Hopefully, it won't take that long,'' said Joseph, who is 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds. "I already had a better grip on the ball (Wednesday) and now I just have to get a better understanding of the field.''
Ken Miller, the Riders' head coach, said Joseph looked nervous Wednesday and it showed with his early pass attempts. Joseph improved as the session progressed.
"He has to overcome those things before a lot of time goes by,'' Miller said when asked about Joseph's adjustments. "We'll just have to use good judgment in determining that.''
Darian Durant, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell, are first, second and third, respectively, on the depth chart. Joseph finds himself in a competition to move up. He's also doing that with three other quarterbacks who appeared to have a good rapport on the field Wednesday.
"That's just part of football,'' Joseph said when asked about getting along with his new teammates. "A lot of these guys are really old and they are talking about their NFL experience. I'm just 21 and I feel like a youngster.''
NOTES: Former Roughriders quarterback Drew Tate signed with the Calgary Stampeders on Wednesday. Tate spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons in Saskatchewan, mostly on the Riders' practice roster. The Stampeders also announced the signing of offensive lineman John Hashem. Hashem, a University of Regina Rams product, was the Stamps' third-round pick (24th overall) in this year's CFL draft . . . Rookie camp continues today and Friday at 9:30 a.m. . . . Veterans report Saturday and main camp opens Sunday at Mosaic Stadium . . . Former Riders quarterback Marcus Crandell made his first appearance Wednesday as a guest coach. Crandell was released last August after four seasons with the Riders and is helping coach the quarterbacks . . . A total of 40 players — four quarterbacks, 24 Americans, nine Canadians and three from junior programs in Regina and Saskatoon — are taking part in rookie camp.
mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
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