Rod Pedersen
CFL.ca
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ special teams have been anything but “special” through the opening four weeks of the 2010 CFL season.
Although the squad enters Week 5 as one of four teams sporting a 3-1 record, the fan base has been getting antsy over the team’s lack of success in the third phase of the game.
Add to that the fireworks of Marcus Thigpen in Hamilton, a player the Riders cut coming out of 2010 training camp, and you can see why the natives are getting restless. Thigpen was given the axe in June mostly because the team signed prized free agent kickoff and punt returner Dominique Dorsey to a six-figure deal in the off-season and big things were expected of him.
“The number one thing is I hope we’re close to winning,” explained Riders’ special teams coach Jim Daley this week. “That’s the number one thing. If we can contribute with a big return throughout the game and several of them, that’s great.
“We are close, from my observation, of being pretty effective. Dominique had his best game last week in terms of his play. Where we need to improve tremendously is blocking and I think our guys saw that on video. We were close on two occasions on hitting a long one. For us to be successful as a team we have to be successful on punting and kicking but also the return game.”
Dorsey is 20th in combined yards through four weeks at 338 while Thigpen is nearly double at 708 and sits third. Dorsey’s 5.7 yard punt return average is 6th best in the CFL while his kickoff return average is respectable at 21.1 yards but his longest return has been for only 30 yards. Fans are pointing the finger at Dorsey for a sub-par showing and Daley was asked if that is unfair.
“I’m not going to comment on whether it’s fair or not … that’s up to peoples’ own judgment,” Daley retorted. “I know from the coaching point of view, it’s not much different than coaching quarterbacks. You need a better job from the supporting cast in order to be better. From what I see as far as pop in his legs and spring in his step, Dominique’s ready to make huge contributions.”
Rider head coach Ken Miller huffed that the team’s special teams performance was “horrible” at halftime of their 24-20 win over Edmonton in Week 3. That was more because of the punting of sophomore Louie Sakoda, who was given the hook in the second half for veteran kicker Luca Congi.
Sakoda sits 8th in the CFL with a 33.9 yard punting average and was replaced by newcomer Eddie Johnson. The former Argo had a 42.2 yard average on six punts in the Riders’ Week 4 loss at Calgary. This week all three kickers are auditioning for a job in Week 5 and Daley was asked if it’s training camp all over again.
“I think that’s true, especially for a specialist.” Daley observed. “All year that can be the case. This week in particular, coach Miller’s paid a lot more attention to the punters and kickers and he’ll make a decision and let us know when he’s ready. But you’re right, it’s been more competitive for these men this week and that’s a good thing.”
Kick coverage has been an issue as well. Calgary’s Deon Murphy opened Saturday’s game at McMahon Stadium with a 50-yard kickoff return and it set the tone for the night.
This week could provide for more angst in the Rider Nation as Saskatchewan welcomes Marcus Thigpen and the Ticats Saturday at 4:30 at Mosaic Stadium. If Thigpen outshines the Rider returners in head-to-head competition, it could start to get really uncomfortable around here.
