LaBatte filling void on offensive line in Clark’s absence

The Saskatchewan Roughriders might have to cope without starting centre Dan Clark for an extended period of time.

The 30-year-old is recovering from injuries he sustained in a car crash earlier this month. He has travelled with the CFL team to Saskatoon for training camp, but has yet to make an appearance on the field.

On Monday, Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said he hopes to have Clark playing when the regular season begins June 13 in Hamilton.

“He has got a few nicks and bruises he’s still working through. We’re not in a rush mode with him,” Dickenson said. “We feel like he’s the type of guy that doesn’t need the quantity reps, he needs the quality.”

Brendon LaBatte, who normally is Saskatchewan’s starting left guard, has assumed Clark’s duties as centre for the time being. Without his close friend and teammate next to him at practice, the 32-year-old LaBatte is also acting as a mentor for newcomers like Dakoda Shepley.

“We’re deep right now. We’ve got a lot of good football players and a lot of guys who have a lot of potential left ahead of them,” LaBatte said. “The growth that they show as young guys, it’s like every 15 minutes you can see a progression.”

Shepley, 24, arrives at training camp after a relatively quiet off-season compared to 2018.

After being selected by the Riders with the fifth pick overall in the 2018 CFL draft, Shepley signed with the New York Jets before being cut at the end of the pre-season.

Shepley decided to sign with the Riders just a month ago following workouts with several other NFL teams. The reception he has received from Clark has surprised him.

“Just being around those guys, it’s a wealth of knowledge,” Shepley said. “They talk to you like you’re one of them. They’re very easy to talk to, very approachable, and I really appreciate that.”

Dickenson says those relationships can sometimes take work.

“That’s tough because a lot of the times they feel like they’re helping the guy who’s eventually going to replace them,” Dickenson said of the relationship between veterans and rookies at training camp.

“So we don’t ask (players) to be mentors if they’re not willing and able and open to that. We certainly appreciate and respect the veterans who are helping the young guys because it’s a very selfless act to do that.”

The mentoring aspect helps keep a rotation of national linemen ready to play. Shepley is slotted behind LaBatte on the depth chart at left guard, but his versatility and national status could see him step in at centre, tackle or guard.

Learning a variety of positions, schemes and responsibilities means Shepley is doing his best to listen and study from veterans like LaBatte.

“I think he’s going into his 12th season now professionally. You can’t take that kind of stuff for granted, especially when I’m a rookie,” Shepley said.

Training camp continues Tuesday in Saskatoon.