Saying goodbye to the U of R

July 29, 2010 in CFL News, Rider Rumblings by Ian Hamilton

The Saskatchewan Roughriders completed their stint at the University of Regina with a practice Thursday. The team returns to Mosaic Stadium for a walkthrough today in preparation for Saturday's game against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Here are a few of the things that came to light Thursday:

— Eddie Johnson will remain the Roughriders' punter, with Louie Sakoda to remain on the 46-man roster. Head coach Ken Miller said Johnson had done enough during Saturday's 40-20 loss to the host Calgary Stampeders to earn another shot.

— Linebacker Kye Stewart is to be activated for the game against Hamilton. He'll take the import spot held by Hugh Charles. Miller said the decision to take off Charles was based on the fact that the team wasn't going to remove either import receiver (Weston Dressler or Prechae Rodriguez), import returner Dominique Dorsey or any import defensive backs, so Charles was the choice.

— Non-import cornerback Donovan Alexander, who missed Saturday's loss in Calgary with a hamstring injury, practised again Thursday and will start.

— Defensive back Lance Frazier had an interception at the same spot of the field (near the defence's goal line) as he did Wednesday. Just to prove it wasn't a fluke, Frazier intercepted another pass just two plays later.

— Equipment manager Gordon Gilroy, one of his assistants and one of the team's video camera operators were recruited by offensive line coach Tom Freeman to portray defensive linemen during a drill for the offensive linemen. None of the interlopers got through to make a tackle.

— The Roughriders always practise field goals to end practice. After Luca Congi hoofs a few through the uprights, the 6-foot-5 Rodriguez — a former college basketball player — practises leaping behind the defensive line to see if he can block a kick. Rodriguez finally got one Thursday, drawing cheers from the defence.

— Miller said the fact Rodriguez is playing his former team Saturday could be a good motivator, just as it is for some players when family members are visiting from the States. He pointed to defensive tackle Marcus Adams, who was a beast against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos after his mother arrived for a surprise visit.

That's about it. For more, see Friday's Leader-Post.