Defensive woes result in changes
By DARRELL DAVIS
L-P Sports Writer
If Aaron Collins were as big as his heart he would be playing defensive end Friday for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Instead, the undersized (5-foot-11, 233-pound), converted linebacker likely won't make the trip to play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The move, made two games after Collins' two-sack performance helped Saskatchewan beat the B.C. Lions, came about because the Roughriders are trying to bolster their porous run defence.
"I don't know if I'm playing, I'm just out here doing what I'm doing,'' Collins said after Tuesday's workout at Taylor Field. "The coaches make the decisions.
My job is to come out here and play; their job is to coach. They didn't mention anything about size though. I like playing end, I like (middle linebacker) too. I'm here for the team. Anything they want me to do, I'm here to do and I don't know that my next opportunity isn't coming this week.''
The Roughriders surrendered 183 rushing yards Saturday during their 50-24 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. The Roughriders allow a league-high 172 rushing yards per game.
Roughriders head coach Danny Barrett took drastic action immediately afterward, cutting nose tackle Kevin Holmes and linebacker Traco Rachal. Collins will also likely be sidelined, Barrett said.
"We don't have the room; we're not in a position to keep players around,'' Barrett said. "We want to bring in some new players to look at.
"We can't prolong decisions like that because it gives a guy a false sense of security. It's better to make the move and let them try to find another place to go.''
Rookie Raymond Baylor, who played two games in Holmes' absence, returns at tackle. With Rachal's departure and the lingering groin injury of Jackie Mitchell, the Roughriders will likely activate rookie linebacker Armand Boglin. Cedric Harden, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder, is expected to make his CFL debut in Collins' place.
"It's obviously a surprise when moves like that are made,'' said Roughriders nose tackle Colin Scrivener. "But the coaches are doing what they can to make this team win.
"They want to keep everybody on their toes and they want to make sure we're not like we were last year, when we had a good team but didn't win enough games.''
Saskatchewan's revamped defensive line will be playing against a new-look offensive line. Winnipeg has activated guard Brett MacNeil and fullback Brad Yamaoka. They bump Rob Lazeo and Daaron McField.
Receiver Demetris Bendross has recovered from a bruised clavicle, so he should return to action and bump James Epps. Receiver Curtis Marsh, who missed Tuesday's workout with a sore hamstring, will likley play, but tailbacks Darren Davis (hamstring) and Rock Preston (knee) are questionable. If they can't play, rookie Corey Holmes steps in.
Defensive back Jason Mallett (knee) could be replaced by newcomer Hency Charles, an Edmonton Eskimos castoff who joined Saskatchewan's practice roster.
"Except for the last game, our tackles were doing great,'' said defensive line coach Ron Estay. "In the last game, nobody on defence played well except (rush end) Shont'e Peoples.
"We have to go out and prepare to win, like we did against B.C. We came back following that B.C. game and the mental psyche wasn't there. Every time we made a mistake against Toronto, they capitalized.''
Although Winnipeg relies primarily on Khari Jones' passing to Milt Stegall and Markus Howell, it can use two running backs, Troy Mills and Eric Blount, to overpower a defence. Because Saskatchewan's rivals have been successful with one-back attacks, Mills will likely be the lone back while Blount moves to a receiver's spot.
x
L-P Sports Co-ordinator
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' tale of two tailbacks has taken another turn.
Rock Preston, who platooned with Darren Davis for the first four weeks of the 2001 CFL season, will likely be the featured back Friday in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.
Davis is to miss tomorrow's contest due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Saturday's 50-24 loss to the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
"(The hamstring) hasn't responded,'' Roughriders head coach Danny Barrett said following Wednesday's practice at Taylor Field.
"Darren hasn't been able to practise all week. This kind of caught us off guard but, at the same time, we can't risk further injury. He's not healthy enough to go into the game.''
Davis has a team-high 184 rushing yards and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Last season, he led the Riders with 1,024 rushing yards while playing in 12 of their 18 regular-season games.
Following the Toronto game, Davis publicly bemoaned the fact that he has been sharing time with Preston -- who has 70 yards on 15 carries.
Davis's roster spot will be filled by fellow import running back Corey Holmes. Will Barrett continue to platoon tailbacks now that Davis is out of the lineup?
"I don't know,'' Barrett said. "We'll see how the game unfolds.''
Barrett was also vague when asked who would fill a linebacking spot which was ably manned by Jackie Mitchell for the first three weeks of the regular season.
Mitchell had a league-high 23 defensive tackles before suffering a groin injury in practice. For the Toronto game, he was replaced by Traco Rachal, who was cut on Monday.
Barrett would not divulge the identity of his next strong-side linebacker. Mitchell's roster spot will be taken by diminutive defensive halfback Davin Bush, but he is likely to be utilized in the secondary.
Omar Evans, who has been playing defensive halfback, could be moved to strong-side linebacker in some situations. The 6-foot-0 Evans weighs 190 pounds, as does the 6-foot-1 Mitchell.
Linebacker Troy Asbell may see increased duty. He has been the Riders' designated import for three of the first four regular-season games and has dressed for every contest.
Non-import Hency Charles, a recent cut of the Edmonton Eskimos, was activated Wednesday and might be utilized at linebacker against Winnipeg. Charles bumps non-import offensive lineman Carlo Panaro from the active roster.
Wide receiver Demetris Bendross returns after missing one game with a bruised clavicle. His return relegates fellow receiver James Epps to the waived-injured list.
Barrett also confirmed that defensive end Cedric Harden is to make his CFL debut on Friday following the demotion of veteran Aaron Collins.
That boundary end position might eventually be filled by R-Kal Truluck, who spent the past three seasons with Saskatchewan. Truluck has been playing arena football with the Detroit Fury.
Truluck told The Leader-Post on Tuesday that he could be rejoining the Riders very shortly. However, the Bombers are also a possibility. Truluck chatted with the Winnipeg brass on Wednesday.
NOTE: Roughriders slotback Dan Farthing has been placed on the 30-day injury list for the second time this season. Farthing, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp, is eligible to come off the list Aug. 28.
By DARRELL DAVIS
L-P Sports Writer
If Aaron Collins were as big as his heart he would be playing defensive end Friday for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Instead, the undersized (5-foot-11, 233-pound), converted linebacker likely won't make the trip to play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The move, made two games after Collins' two-sack performance helped Saskatchewan beat the B.C. Lions, came about because the Roughriders are trying to bolster their porous run defence.
"I don't know if I'm playing, I'm just out here doing what I'm doing,'' Collins said after Tuesday's workout at Taylor Field. "The coaches make the decisions.
My job is to come out here and play; their job is to coach. They didn't mention anything about size though. I like playing end, I like (middle linebacker) too. I'm here for the team. Anything they want me to do, I'm here to do and I don't know that my next opportunity isn't coming this week.''
The Roughriders surrendered 183 rushing yards Saturday during their 50-24 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. The Roughriders allow a league-high 172 rushing yards per game.
Roughriders head coach Danny Barrett took drastic action immediately afterward, cutting nose tackle Kevin Holmes and linebacker Traco Rachal. Collins will also likely be sidelined, Barrett said.
"We don't have the room; we're not in a position to keep players around,'' Barrett said. "We want to bring in some new players to look at.
"We can't prolong decisions like that because it gives a guy a false sense of security. It's better to make the move and let them try to find another place to go.''
Rookie Raymond Baylor, who played two games in Holmes' absence, returns at tackle. With Rachal's departure and the lingering groin injury of Jackie Mitchell, the Roughriders will likely activate rookie linebacker Armand Boglin. Cedric Harden, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder, is expected to make his CFL debut in Collins' place.
"It's obviously a surprise when moves like that are made,'' said Roughriders nose tackle Colin Scrivener. "But the coaches are doing what they can to make this team win.
"They want to keep everybody on their toes and they want to make sure we're not like we were last year, when we had a good team but didn't win enough games.''
Saskatchewan's revamped defensive line will be playing against a new-look offensive line. Winnipeg has activated guard Brett MacNeil and fullback Brad Yamaoka. They bump Rob Lazeo and Daaron McField.
Receiver Demetris Bendross has recovered from a bruised clavicle, so he should return to action and bump James Epps. Receiver Curtis Marsh, who missed Tuesday's workout with a sore hamstring, will likley play, but tailbacks Darren Davis (hamstring) and Rock Preston (knee) are questionable. If they can't play, rookie Corey Holmes steps in.
Defensive back Jason Mallett (knee) could be replaced by newcomer Hency Charles, an Edmonton Eskimos castoff who joined Saskatchewan's practice roster.
"Except for the last game, our tackles were doing great,'' said defensive line coach Ron Estay. "In the last game, nobody on defence played well except (rush end) Shont'e Peoples.
"We have to go out and prepare to win, like we did against B.C. We came back following that B.C. game and the mental psyche wasn't there. Every time we made a mistake against Toronto, they capitalized.''
Although Winnipeg relies primarily on Khari Jones' passing to Milt Stegall and Markus Howell, it can use two running backs, Troy Mills and Eric Blount, to overpower a defence. Because Saskatchewan's rivals have been successful with one-back attacks, Mills will likely be the lone back while Blount moves to a receiver's spot.
x
L-P Sports Co-ordinator
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' tale of two tailbacks has taken another turn.
Rock Preston, who platooned with Darren Davis for the first four weeks of the 2001 CFL season, will likely be the featured back Friday in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.
Davis is to miss tomorrow's contest due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Saturday's 50-24 loss to the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
"(The hamstring) hasn't responded,'' Roughriders head coach Danny Barrett said following Wednesday's practice at Taylor Field.
"Darren hasn't been able to practise all week. This kind of caught us off guard but, at the same time, we can't risk further injury. He's not healthy enough to go into the game.''
Davis has a team-high 184 rushing yards and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Last season, he led the Riders with 1,024 rushing yards while playing in 12 of their 18 regular-season games.
Following the Toronto game, Davis publicly bemoaned the fact that he has been sharing time with Preston -- who has 70 yards on 15 carries.
Davis's roster spot will be filled by fellow import running back Corey Holmes. Will Barrett continue to platoon tailbacks now that Davis is out of the lineup?
"I don't know,'' Barrett said. "We'll see how the game unfolds.''
Barrett was also vague when asked who would fill a linebacking spot which was ably manned by Jackie Mitchell for the first three weeks of the regular season.
Mitchell had a league-high 23 defensive tackles before suffering a groin injury in practice. For the Toronto game, he was replaced by Traco Rachal, who was cut on Monday.
Barrett would not divulge the identity of his next strong-side linebacker. Mitchell's roster spot will be taken by diminutive defensive halfback Davin Bush, but he is likely to be utilized in the secondary.
Omar Evans, who has been playing defensive halfback, could be moved to strong-side linebacker in some situations. The 6-foot-0 Evans weighs 190 pounds, as does the 6-foot-1 Mitchell.
Linebacker Troy Asbell may see increased duty. He has been the Riders' designated import for three of the first four regular-season games and has dressed for every contest.
Non-import Hency Charles, a recent cut of the Edmonton Eskimos, was activated Wednesday and might be utilized at linebacker against Winnipeg. Charles bumps non-import offensive lineman Carlo Panaro from the active roster.
Wide receiver Demetris Bendross returns after missing one game with a bruised clavicle. His return relegates fellow receiver James Epps to the waived-injured list.
Barrett also confirmed that defensive end Cedric Harden is to make his CFL debut on Friday following the demotion of veteran Aaron Collins.
That boundary end position might eventually be filled by R-Kal Truluck, who spent the past three seasons with Saskatchewan. Truluck has been playing arena football with the Detroit Fury.
Truluck told The Leader-Post on Tuesday that he could be rejoining the Riders very shortly. However, the Bombers are also a possibility. Truluck chatted with the Winnipeg brass on Wednesday.
NOTE: Roughriders slotback Dan Farthing has been placed on the 30-day injury list for the second time this season. Farthing, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp, is eligible to come off the list Aug. 28.
