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Making the roster for Saskatchewan Roughriders takes more than catching passes, making tackles or running fast.
As training camp wrapped up Friday at Mosaic Stadium, the Green and White’s coaching staff faced one of the toughest jobs of the year: deciding which players had done enough to earn a roster spot and which ones would be sent home before the CFL regular season began.
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For head coach Corey Mace, the difficult decisions are a sign that the camp had done its job.
“There’s debate, you know, and there should be,” Mace said. “If there’s never any debate, then that means we didn’t have good players.”
The Riders entered camp with several key positions up for grabs and dozens of players hoping to turn a strong few weeks into a CFL career.
Mace said players were given a simple challenge when camp opened.
“I tell these guys at the beginning of camp: make one of us stand on the table for you when today comes.”
Now that day has arrived.
While fans often focus on big catches, long runs and highlight-reel plays, offensive coordinator Marc Mueller said the qualities that earn a roster spot are often less glamorous.
“You got to be dependable and reliable,” Mueller said. “Everyone here is a good receiver, but if you’re not going to block in the run game or block in the screen game or block for your buddy who’s catching the ball, doesn’t mean you can’t play in the CFL, just you won’t play here.”
That emphasis on doing the little things is also echoed on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive coordinator Josh Bell spent camp evaluating a group that included several newcomers trying to replace veteran contributors from last year’s team.
Bell said the Riders value what he jokingly called “STDs.”
“We like STDs, baby, smart, tough, disciplined football players.”
Beyond physical ability, Bell said coaches want players who can communicate, think through situations and work alongside teammates when games become chaotic.
The first-year defensive coordinator also admitted there is always uncertainty when evaluating players who have never played meaningful CFL snaps.
“You’re terrified about new guys because you’ve never seen them in real life before,” he said.
That is why veterans often have an advantage; coaches know how those players react when the bright lights come on and the pressure rises.
Still, Bell said several newcomers are forcing the coaching staff to take a hard look at their decisions, praising players such as Kendy Charles, Ali Saad, Desmond Evans, Josh Woods, James Burgess Jr. and former University of Regina Rams defensive back Carson Sombach.
Bell reserved especially high praise for Sombach.
“The league was ridiculous for not drafting that guy, us included. We got a diamond in the rough there.”
As players left the practice field Friday, the work shifted to inside the building. The film still had to be reviewed. Meetings still had to happen. Arguments still had to be made.
For some players, the next conversation would confirm their roster spot, while for others, it could end their season before it even starts.
According to Mace, that is exactly why training camp matters: The goal isn’t only to find talented football players, it’s to find the players worth standing on the table for.
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