Riders hold walkthrough on first day of training camp

It wasn’t a full-fledged jump into training camp for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Thursday was the first time the team was able to practise as a full unit with the coaching staff present after CFL players ended their strike on Wednesday.

But instead of getting right into the thick of things, the Roughriders held a walkthrough.

“We’ve had some player-led walkthroughs that have been tremendous turnouts for us and really helped us get going. A lot of the stuff we covered today we already covered,” quarterback Cody Fajardo said.

“It was just nice to be around the guys and have the coaches out here, (having offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas) calling out the plays and it took a little more off my plate.”

Head coach Craig Dickenson said it was nice to get a walkthrough in before practice on Friday, even if the weather forced the Riders inside to the College of Kinesiology Physical Activity Complex at the University of Saskatchewan.

“We had to get our installation in. I didn’t want to send them out there without any installation so we felt like we needed to get the meetings in for sure and the only time we could do that was in the afternoon and then the weather got pretty nasty so we came inside,” Dickenson said.

The players were finally able to take part in training camp after four days of a CFL players’ strike. The league and the CFL Players’ Association reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement Wednesday night.

While it would appear things should go smoothly from here on out, Riders kicker and CFLPA rep Brett Lauther said he’s not breathing a sigh of relief just yet.

“The players didn’t actually vote yet,” Lauther said. “We’re just uncertain. There’s a lot of stuff out there that everything is over but until the membership votes yes or no, we don’t really know.”

Lauther said he has been hearing a lot of different things across the league when it comes to the CBA.

“I’m not really sure what’s going to happen,” Lauther said. “I think the revenue-sharing is pretty huge. There are a couple other things that are great, but I do think there are some things, in my own personal opinion, there’s a few things that are misconstrued a little or else we would have liked to do a little better in for sure.”

Lauther said when it comes to the naturalized Canadian rule — which will come into effect in 2023 — there are a lot of questions surrounding it. Teams will designate three “Naturalized Canadians,” or Americans who have been in the league for five seasons or on the same team for three, who can play up to 49 per cent of snaps as a national.

“I think it’s getting really complicated when you get into the 51-49 (per cent) and then the numbers and then you start to explain that to people. I don’t see the logic behind it,” Lauther said. “What’s the penalty? Who’s watching if it is 51 or 49 and what is the punishment? Is it going to be a real punishment or just a slap on the wrist?”

Lauther said Canadians can compete at any position in the league and are just as important as the American players.

But until that ratification vote takes place — which is expected to happen before or during the May long weekend — the team will continue on with training camp as scheduled.

“It felt good just to see the guys out here and you could sense even with the energy that guys were happy to be out here and around each other again,” Dickenson said.

The Riders are to be on the field for their first full practice of training camp at 9 a.m. at Griffiths Stadium.

Notes: Guard Evan Johnson was not at the walkthrough. Dickenson said Johnson was at home, but he is expected to be with the team by the weekend.

I am here to cover the first #Riders training camp session. Just a walkthrough tonight indoors. pic.twitter.com/t7bKfZWYSa

— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) May 20, 2022