Rod Pedersen
CFL.ca
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be largely spectators at next week’s 2009 Canadian Football League Canadian College Draft. That’s because the football club only has two picks in the six round derby and up until a complex trade with Hamilton two weeks ago, they only had one.
Longtime Saskatchewan assistant coach Alex Smith coordinates the Roughriders’ Canadian draft strategy and says if there was ever a time to have only a pair of picks, this would be the year.
“We were talking the other day about this; that if we had six draft picks, how would they fit in?” Smith questioned. “We counted up and we have 32 Canadians right now, signed, on our roster and there’s only 20 Canadian spots. If we had six more, you’re looking at 38 names. Over the years here, GM Eric Tillman and (head scout) Joe Womack have done a great job of accumulating Canadian talent.”
It’s true the strength of the Riders is their non-import talent which includes players from all over Canada but over the past few years they’ve really zeroed in on acquiring and selecting Saskatchewan-born and raised players. It sends the consistently sold-out crowds into an uncontrollable frenzy whenever a hometown player makes a big play at Mosaic Stadium.
Recent additions of SB Jason Clermont (Regina), OL Jordan Rempel (Caronport, SK) and OL Joe McGrath (Moose Jaw) join an already impressive stable of local talent which includes OL Gene Makowsky (Saskatoon), SB Chris Getzlaf (Regina), DT Scott Schultz (Moose Jaw), RB Stu Foord (Regina), and RB Neal Hughes (Regina).
Regina went into hysteria last year when the Riders pulled off a draft-day trade to acquire a sixth round pick with which they selected University of Regina Rams quarterback Teale Orban. Orban turned out to be nothing more training camp fodder, but at the very least it was a brilliant P.R. move which attracted a flock of fans to watch him in training camp.
Alex Smith agreed with most draft prognosticators that the 2009 CFL draft isn’t as deep as we’ve seen over the years so again, perhaps this is a good year to have only a few picks.
“I suppose overall you could say that,” Smith concurred. “The offensive line is as strong as its ever been, and it is always strong. The defensive line is strong as well. The other positions, they have top three or four guys, but after that the talent kind of drops off. I suppose overall it’s not one of the strongest drafts that we’ve had in the past years.”
The Riders don’t have a first round pick in the May 2 draft, but will have the first selection of the second round which is ninth overall. Smith says they will take the best player available at that point in the proceedings, rather than drafting for a specific need or area.
Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM. Follow the Riders on his award-winning blog, www.rodpedersen.com
