In subsequent week’s CFL Draft, Roughriders common supervisor Jeremy O’Day shall be trying to stockpile Canadian expertise however not essentially alongside the offensive line
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The CFL Draft is historically a very good instrument to construct up a roster of stable Canadian offensive linemen.
Nevertheless, that’s not essentially the view all common managers within the league have.
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Look no additional than Jeremy O’Day and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Since taking on as common supervisor of the Riders in 2019, O’Day — a former offensive linemen himself — has chosen only one offensive lineman within the first spherical.
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And because the 2024 CFL Draft on April 30 approaches, there’s a very good likelihood that development continues.
However that isn’t essentially a nasty factor.
As an alternative of constructing an offensive line via the draft, two of the three projected Canadian starters had been signed via free company (Peter Godber and Philip Blake) and the opposite was developed through the territorial junior program (Logan Ferland).
Zack Fry and Evan Floren are the one two drafted offensive linemen on the roster from the final 5 drafts; a span that has seen the Riders choose simply eight offensive linemen whole.
Regardless of what looks like a low quantity, the Roughriders are nonetheless in a very good place with their nationwide depth on the place forward of coaching camp which is about to open on Could 12 in Saskatoon.
Following the introduced retirement of Calgary product Logan Bandy final week and never electing to re-sign Evan Johnson this low season, Saskatchewan has seven Canadian offensive linemen on the roster heading into subsequent week’s draft.
Historically, the Inexperienced and White begin three Canadians within the inside of the offensive line, with People occupying the 2 exterior sort out spots.
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The Riders introduced in former Winnipeg Blue Bombers Jermarcus Hardrick in free company to anchor one aspect of the offensive line and it’s doubtless the opposite sort out place shall be a coaching camp battle to control. Apart from Hardrick, there are seven American offensive linemen on the roster competing for one beginning spot.
There’ll doubtless be a follow roster spot or two up for grabs, whereas the others shall be left in search of alternatives elsewhere.
The opposite factor to think about is the likelihood that Blake begins at sort out.
It might not solely assist Saskatchewan’s ratio of fielding seven beginning Canadians, however it will present taking part in time for others under the 38-year-old Blake on the depth chart.
We all know Godber, 29, shall be lining up on the beginning centre when coaching camp opens.
Blake will definitely be a beginning guard if he doesn’t begin at sort out.
And Ferland, 27, will occupy the opposite beginning guard spot after being named Saskatchewan’s high offensive lineman final season.
That leaves free agent signings Ryan Sceviour, 28, and Noah Zerr, 25, plus Fry and Floren, each 23, competing for the backup offensive lineman spot, which doubtless would have Bandy’s spot had he not retired.
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So whereas there shall be some stable offensive linemen accessible when Saskatchewan is on the clock at No. 3 this yr, the place shouldn’t be essentially a high precedence this yr contemplating what they’ve within the pipeline and the place they may add depth elsewhere to help some former first-round picks.
Final yr, the Riders drafted defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore with the No. 3 choose after which adopted that up with defensive again Jaxon Ford within the second spherical. Floren was taken within the seventh spherical.
The yr earlier than, O’Day chosen receiver Samuel Emilus at No. 7 general, which proved to be a terrific choose after his breakout season final yr. The Riders then chosen Fry within the second spherical and Diego Alatorre Montoya, who has since been launched, within the third spherical.
In 2021, defensive again Nelson Lokombo was Saskatchewan’s first choose at No. 2 general. Bandy, within the fifth spherical, was the one offensive lineman taken by the Riders that yr.
The one time O’Day has drafted an offensive lineman within the first spherical was in 2020, when the group chosen Mattland Riley with the seventh general choose. Riley, a former College of Saskatchewan Huskie, appeared in a single sport earlier than retiring. The Riders additionally chosen Jesse Lawson in 2020, however he was launched a yr later.
And in O’Day’s first draft in 2019, receivers Justin McInnis and Brayden Lenius had been Saskatchewan’s high two picks.
It’s doubtless Saskatchewan will add one other offensive lineman or two later within the draft, nevertheless it shouldn’t be their first-round focus. With the No. 3 general choice, O’Day ought to look elsewhere, like he has finished up to now.
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