SASKATOON — The team was back on the turf at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon for Day 5 of Main Training Camp. A soggy cool morning welcomed the players onto the field on Wednesday morning in Saskatoon.
The team started with a positional group warm-up session.
From there the team went through a teams walk-through.
A quick whistle sounded and the roster went through a stretch/warm-up period with Strength and Conditioning Coach Dan Farthing leading the way.
Following the warm-up, it was into a special teams period with a focus on blocking and downfield tackling.
Next up the group broke back into positional groupings working on playbook installation and individual instruction.
Next up it was a return to special teams work. Punt cover was the focus.
After the special teams session was complete it was back into another walk-through period for both the offence and the defence.
After that portion of the workout, the team broke down into a break.
Out of the break, the Riders went back to work on system implementation with an offensive and defensive walk-through.
Next up it was another warm-up period. Easier said than done on a cool Saskatoon morning.
After the stretching concluded the team went back into individual positional drills.
Next up it was time to run the no-huddle offence.
- Harris pass to Oullette is broken up by Deontai Williams in the flat.
- Next play Trevor Harris is complete to Jerrith Sterns over the middle for a sizeable completion.
- Harris pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage. Jameer Thurman was in the vicinity.
Session over, next up was a team run period pitting the offensive and defensive lines against one another.
When the whistle sounded the groups broke down into one-on-ones for the linemen. While the defensive backs and receivers squared off in a 7 vs. 7 drill.
- Trevor Harris pass underneath is complete to Samuel Emilus.
- Harris next pass is complete to Oullette over the middle.
- Jack Coan comes in to quarterback. His pass is complete to the newly signed Joe Robustelli.
- Shea Patterson in to quarterback his pass is batted up by Adam Auclair who can’t find the handle to make the interception.
- Patterson attempts to find Dehl Duncan-Busby in tight coverage but it is batted down incomplete Godfrey Onyeka in on the coverage.
- Patterson finds Kian Schaeffer-Baker on a crossing route.
- Mason Fine completes a pass to KeeSean Johnson on the final play of the period.
The whistle would then sound with more special teams-focused drills.
Next was a final teams session to wrap up the practice.
- Trevor Harris completes the first pass to KeeSean Johnson.
- Harris feels the pressure from the defensive line on the next play. His underneath pass then skips in front of the intended receiver.
- A.J. Oullette takes the next hand-off from Harris for a couple of yards off the right side of the line.
- Harris connects with Dohnte Meyers in the near flat on a swing pass.
- Mason Fine comes into the game and finds Frankie Hickson on a long pass down the right sideline.
- Fines' next pass to Samuel Emilus is complete for a nice gain through the offence.
- Fine hands the ball off to Thomas Hudon-Bertrand on the next play.
- Jack Coan comes in looking to find Mitchell Picton. The ball is slightly overthrown and falls incomplete.
- Hand-off to Bertrand-Hudon.
- Shea Patterson comes in and runs a run pass option. Rolling to the right he runs out of room and throws the ball away.
- QB draw is stopped nicely by the defence. Sidney Houston Jr. leads the way on the tackle.
- Antonio Piken comes in to complete his lone pass of the day to Dehonte Williams for a 60-yard touchdown.
Workout over.
The Weather:
Cloudy with a chance of showers throughout the workout was the forecast with a high of 10-degrees. Winds from the northwest at 20 km/h kept a chill in the air throughout the workout.
Not on the field:
LB – Nick Wiebe
DB – Jaxon Ford
REC – Brayden Lenius
DT – Anthony Lanier
Break-out Play of the Day:
Mason Fine would enter the teams period as the second quarterback but he didn’t take long to make an impression. On his first play he would drop back and survey the field finding Frankie Hickson streaking down the sideline. Fine hits him in stride for 40+ yard reception.
The One to Watch:
Receiver Ajou Ajou has been making the most of his reps and opportunities in training camp. That was evidenced by his 38-yard touchdown reception on Monday’s game against Winnipeg. National receiver Ajou Ajou is the one to watch.
