Riders’ Shepley keeps showing his mean streak

Dakoda Shepley got a little heated at times during the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp — and it had nothing to do with soaring temperatures.

The rookie guard got into a few scraps at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus, including one with defensive back L.J. McCray on Monday.

Asked if the 33 C heat was making him extra cranky, Shepley replied: “That’s me every day. I’ll be just like that in negative-30 come November.”

The Roughriders selected Shepley in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2018 CFL draft in part because of his skill and versatility — he played numerous positions along the UBC Thunderbirds’ offensive line — and in part because of his mean streak.

Shepley didn’t attend training camp last season because he was trying out with the NFL’s New York Jets. He spent one week with Saskatchewan last season before returning to his home in Windsor, Ont., with the team’s blessing.

The 24-year-old has spent his first camp with the Roughriders establishing himself — and cementing his reputation.

“He has got a little nasty to him,” head coach Craig Dickenson said with a chuckle Tuesday. “We just want to make sure we don’t get any penalties because of that.

“We want our lines to play on edge. We’ve encouraged that, but we will not tolerate selfish penalties, decisions (made) late where you’re going to push a guy with no value to doing that.”

Time will tell if Shepley heeds that advice. In the meantime, the 6-foot-4, 310-pounder will continue playing to the echo of the whistle.

“It’s just maintaining a standard for yourself as a player rather than trying to impress anyone or let anyone know who I am,” Shepley said. “I want to know who I am as a person first and as a player.

“The three things I try to go by is being unapologetically nasty, I want to be consistent and I want to be persistent. As a player, those are my three things I want to do every day. As long as I’m taking care of those three things, then I don’t have to really worry about anyone else or anything else.”

After starring at UBC, Shepley signed as a free agent with the Jets before the CFL draft. The Roughriders selected him anyway, believing he was worth spending a pick on even though he was bound for New York.

After being cut by the Jets, Shepley headed home for a bit and then spent a week practising with the Roughriders before returning to Windsor. When he didn’t hear from another NFL team, he signed with Saskatchewan on March 19.

Now he’s all in.

“It’s a job, so if I’m coming here and I’m committing to playing here, then that’s what I’m committing to do 100 per cent,” Shepley said. “I’m not going to sign with Saskatchewan and have one foot out the door thinking, ‘Hmm. Is there another opportunity for me?’ All the chips are in here.”

Shepley started at guard in Saskatchewan’s 37-1 pre-season loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. But the Roughriders are planning to go with two import tackles this season and they have veteran interior linemen in centres Dan Clark and Braden Schram and guards Brendon LaBatte, Philip Blake and Dariusz Bladek — so where Shepley fits in remains to be seen.

One thing’s for certain, though: He’s ready to battle for a spot, as shown by his scraps.

“That’s being nasty,” he said, “so that’s just me.”

Getting the message

After Monday’s practice, Dickenson was asked about the veteran nature of the team’s linebacking corps. He replied by suggesting that he hadn’t been that impressed with the group.

“Veteran players are awesome if they’re productive,” said Dickenson, whose squad plays the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in pre-season action Thursday at Mosaic Stadium. “If they’re not productive, it’s a problem.

“They’re going to need to play well in this last pre-season game or you’re going to see some guys go.”

Message received, said Sam Hurl.

“Everybody can give a little more,” the veteran admitted. “I’d heard a little bit about him saying that, but ultimately at the end of the day, we’ve just got to make sure we’re working as hard as we can, trying to be the best we can be (and) not worry too much about what’s going on with the media.”

Heading south

After Tuesday’s practice, the Roughriders shifted their operations to Regina — officially signalling the end of training camp.

“Every year, this is when you see all the smiles on the faces,” Hurl said. “We’re ready to roll, ready to get to the game and start this damn season already.

“For a lot of us veterans, that’s what (the end of camp) says: ‘Let’s go. Let’s get this thing rolling. We’ve got a six-month season ahead of us.’ ‘

Dickenson said the team’s first-stringers will play the first half Thursday. The only player who may get more playing time (or less) depending on how he fares is starting quarterback Zach Collaros.

“We’re going to play (the starters) a full half and really get them into the flow,” Dickenson said. “You cannot simulate the conditioning that football is unless you play the game. We really feel like we’ve got to stress them and make sure they feel their lungs burning a little bit before they get out there in Hamilton.”

Saskatchewan is to open the regular season against the Tiger-Cats on June 13.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Wray Morrison