Riderville.com
While Head Coach Corey Chamblin says the penciled in starting lineup will play into the third quarter against the Stampeders, he’s still undecided on how the team will handle the running back rotation.
The job to carry the load in the Riders backfield is still wide open going into the final audition.
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With Wes Cates’ contract not renewed in the off-season the team decided, younger and faster was the way to go at tailback.
“That was probably one of the first things I talked with Corey about when he asked me if I’d be interested in the position,” said first-year offensive coordinator Bob Dyce.
“I feel the offensive line and the run game set the tempo for your team and sets the mentality of your offense. We wanted to make sure we were physical and to establish the run to be a dominant offence.”
But giving up on Cates wasn’t an easy decision for the Riders. He had already climbed to second spot in most rushing categories in team history, trailing only George Reed.
“Wes was a true pro, not only did he take the run game seriously but he was a student of the game. He knew all his protections. Very seldom would you see Wes have a protection error and he had great skills as a receiver. So when you have a back with those sorts of skills and always treated things professionally and always stayed in top shape, that is what allowed Wes to play as long as he did”
Cates’ legacy lives on in his back-up last season, Brandon West, who is the front runner to start for the Riders season opener against Hamilton.
“I talked with Wes during this off-season and he told me don’t be worried about them bringing in backs and things like that. He told me to just focus because he told me I have talent there and I just need to get in the playbook. I need to grow on what I already know and that’s a big step,” explained West after one of the team’s final training camp practices.
“Wes taught me how to block, taught me how to stick my head in there. With me being small I always wanted to cut (block) and this year I pretty much stand up and I like that because it brings the enthusiasm (to show) the coaches because they say ‘you a little man but you bring a thump.’ ”
West would like to improve on what he did in the first pre-season game, gaining just six-yards on two carries.
But the sophomore Rider is trying to go into Friday’s pre-season finale not thinking about how his performance could impact his position on the depth chart.
“I’m just going to go out there and play to my best ability because if you look at it like a competition with the other guy, that’s when you’re going to mess up.”
West knows the team isn’t handing him the job with three others, all with NFL experience, behind him. Kory Sheets, Louis Rankin and DeShawn Wynn are all expected to get time Friday night.
Sheets is trying to follow up an impressive pre-season debut when he was about the only positive in a 44-10 loss to B.C. Sheets gained 42 of the team’s 62 yards at half-time.
The 27-year old CFL rookie is taking the battle in stride. He’s had plenty of experience in the NFL sitting behind the likes of Frank Gore, Ricky Williams and DeAngelo Williams waiting for his chance.
“One my coaches coming up always said it’s not how many times you touch the ball, it’s what you do when you touch the ball so that’s the mentality I’m taking into the ball game. Whether I get two reps, two carries, or 10 carries, I’m going to make every one count.”
He was able to do that in the first week of pre-season, scampering for a 23-yard gain in the second quarter, showing off his speed, vision and agility.
Dyce acknowledges Sheets will have to show more of the same against the Stampeders if he expects to leapfrog West as a starter.
“He’s going to need to be (better). Kory has showed very well not only threw that pre-season game but as well throughout the practices. We’re hoping to see more of that and hope to see him continue to get better.”
The Roughriders aren’t strictly looking at the player who can run the ball the best. The team hopes to have someone similar to Wes Cates, who can run, catch and protect Darian Durant in the pocket.
If the Roughriders are going to turn what was a dismal offense in 2011 into a ‘dominant’ one, they’re going to need see results after what has been a competitive battle at running back.
But for now, all they want to see Friday is four running backs force them to make a very difficult decision when the final cuts are made.
