Sarah Mills: Early wildfire season raises questions about prevention
Wildfires have forced thousands of people in Saskatchewan to leave their homes, and the summer hasn't even started yet. ...
Dhel Duncan-Busby is looking to take on an expanded role in his second CFL season.
The Riders’ third-round pick in 2024 was able to get onto the field his rookie season, dressing for seven games. He hauled in 16 passes for 188 yards in his limited playing time.
“It was a lot of fun. Once that first one was a little shaky getting out there – I thought I got a first down, but did not get a first down so that was a comical moment — but after that, it felt natural like I was playing the sport I love. There’s nothing else I would rather do so getting back out there at that point and a little bit of adversity, it feels great,” Duncan-Busby said.
Now in his second season and training camp, the former Bemidji State Beaver admits things feel different in his second season.
“You come in with a lot of base understanding of what is going on and what’s expected of you. Just being able to go out and execute, you get that from being in your first year. You go through your bumps and bruises and it’s just smooth sailing,” Duncan-Busby said.
One of the reasons players tend to take a big jump from their first to second CFL seasons is that the player gets an opportunity to head into the offseason and know what they need to focus on to be better the next season.
“Blocking was my big thing and cleaning up my routes. Just as a receiver, you want to keep building on that and building a bag. Blocking was my main thing and keeping eye discipline was another thing I have to learn too,” Duncan-Busby said.
Another thing that is working in his favour is the continuity of the Riders’ roster. The club brought back a lot of veterans on offence and kept the coaching staff intact after reaching the CFL West Final last season.
“It makes it a lot easier. Everybody knows what they are doing. If there’s any questions, you can ask anybody in the room whether or not it’s the receiver room or the quarterback room — I could maybe ask (running back) AJ Ouellette and he would know what’s going on,” Duncan-Busby said. “Having that second-year under (offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller) coming in last year and having to build on that makes it a lot easier.”
Despite only being in his second season, the Riders’ coaching staff appears to trust the 25-year-old Vancouver, B.C., product, who looks like he will be a Week 1 starter with the club.
“It means the world to me. At the end of last year, I tried to put in my work to prove that I can play at this level. They believe in me and I believe in myself, so now it’s not a matter of proving them right, but proving myself right and being able to carry on what I have finished last year,” Duncan-Busby said.
“It feels more normal at this point. It doesn’t seem too crazy, but the game has slowed down.”
The Riders will take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a preseason rematch on Friday. The Bombers won 15-9 in the first game. Kickoff for Friday’s game is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 7 p.m.
“I can’t wait. I have been itching. I love playing the sport and everything that comes with it. Hitting is a part of it and I want to be my best to be one of 12 and that’s really it,” Duncan-Bsuby said ahead of the first preseason game.
After the Riders got so close to the Grey Cup last season, Duncan-Busby said they are using last year’s West final loss to help motivate them for this campaign.
“We came so damn close and this year we are taking it all. That’s all we talk about and it’s what we preach. We want to take it one day at a time, but that’s the end goal – to hoist that trophy up in Winnipeg. It’s something that lingers,” Duncan-Busby said.
“Being a part of that game, you can feel how close it was and how it slips from your grasps. I hate that feeling. It’s just all about taking that next step. We got that far in the first year, who knows what happens this year? We just want to get to that point.”
Riders’ depth chart
