Athletes Give Rider Coaches Their All in Atlanta

Searching for a Diamond in the Rough

ATLANTA, GA – Saskatchewan Roughrider general manager Roy Shivers is hopeful he can mine a couple of jewels in the southern United States.

And, as the second of five free agent tryout camps drew to a close here Sunday afternoon, Shivers and his coaches were both pleased and surprised with the turnout. There weren’t a lot of head-turners, but the heart and effort of nearly 60 guys was certainly noticed by the Rider brass.

What the Coaches Were Looking For

Assistant coach Richie Hall said the main purpose of the U.S. camps is to evaluate some of the talent available and possibly unearth that so called, "diamond in the rough".

"We like to hope there is (a diamond)," said Hall. "There are a couple of guys that make you think and compare them with other guys from other camps and guys we have already signed."

He said there is no specific type of player the Riders are after from these camps, but a 6’2", 210 lbs., 4.4 40-yard receiver would be nice.

"Athleticism and guys who can make plays is what we are looking for," said Hall. "Can the receiver run his routes right, can he get up the field? We have come in here looking for football players. We look at, how can we upgrade our team?"

Players Who Stood Out

The grades on most of the 60 or so guys in attendance at Clark University would have met passing standards, with a select few exceeding expectations.

"There were a few guys we may be in contact with," said Shivers.

Experienced CFL Voices

Former Canadian Football League star Tracy Ham, who is now the head coach of the Clark University Panthers, was just one of several players with CFL connections at the camp. James West, defensive-line coach of the Panthers, was a mainstay with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for several seasons. He worked with the defensive lineman at the camp, while Ham helped Rider quarterback coach Harold Smith take charge of the QBs and running backs. Mike Johnson, who used to play for the B.C. Lions and is a receiver coach for the Atlanta Falcons, offered his expertise on route running to the receivers during the camp.

Hall said having coaches such as Ham and West lend a hand does more than just take some pressure off of the Rider staff – it also clears up some of the questions about the Canadian game the players here may have had.

"It makes it more of an advantage because they are another set of eyes out here for us," said Hall. "They know what it takes to play in the CFL. They know the rules, the different size of field, and they know what kind of players we are looking for for the CFL."

The Road Ahead

The Roughriders have three camps remaining to find that gem of a player who can step into the lineup and make a difference, or, show some talent that will be developed in the coming years.

The Riders head to Texas next, where they will hold camps in Houston on April 27 at Rice University and then in Arlington at the University of Texas on May 5. The Green and White close out the free agent camp circuit on May 11, when they head back to the Deep South at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.