Mitch Ward
CFL.ca

With the 2010 season fast approaching, the CFL.ca Rookie Report takes a look back at the top rookie performers from 2009 and what to expect from the 2010 sophomore class this season. In our fourth installment of our looking back on 2009 series we feature the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

2009 Most Outstanding Rookie Nominee – LB Jerrell Freeman

Notable 2009 Rookies

LB Kye Stewart

OL Bobby Harris

OL Joel Bell

P Louie Sakoda

WR Johnny Quinn

DB Chris McKenzie

Last Season

After a 2008 Rider rookie class featuring the likes Weston Dressler, Rob Bagg and Stu Foord the ’09 bunch wasn’t quite as recognizable. That being said the Riders still got solid contributions from their first years especially on the offensive line and special teams.

Jerrell Freeman was the Riders MOR nominee and special teams ace last season, leading the team with 24 special teams tackles. The four time American Southwest Conference Player of the Year got his CFL career off to a great start recording three special teams stops and a blocked punt which he recovered in the endzone in just his second game. Freeman also recorded 15 defensive stops in limited minutes at linebacker to go along with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Freeman saw an increase in playing time in the latter half of 2009 due in part to an injury to fellow rookie linebacker Kye Stewart. Stewart started the season well recording 13 defensive stops, 12 STTs and an interception in the team’s first six games of 2009. A knee injury in Week 7 however ended his rookie campaign.

Rookie DB Chris McKenzie also filled in nicely last season when veteran Eddie Davis missed the final two games of the season. The Arizona State product had 18 defensive stops in his first CFL campaign – 14 of those coming during the final two weeks.

The offensive line probably saw the biggest contributions from Rider rookies in ‘09. With injuries to some of the team’s veterans early in the season the offence relied heavily on some of their rookie big men. Bobby Harris became Darian Durant’s blind side protector in week 2 after switching from right tackle. A wonky knee however cut Harris’ season short after just eight starts and he was released in the off-season.

Fellow rookie O-lineman Joel Bell signed with the Riders on July 5, and after a couple weeks learning the ropes, was inserted into the starting lineup and became a fixture at right tackle for the rest of the year. In all, he started 15 regular season games, the West final and the Grey Cup.

At receiver Johnny Quinn showed flashes of brilliance in limited action. Buried on one of the deepest receiving corps in the league Quinn caught 13 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown in 2009. He caught his lone touchdown of the season late in the Riders week 17 game to force overtime against the Lions. The Riders eventually won the game 33-30.

Louie Sakoda signed late in the season after it became clear that starting punter Jamie Boreham wasn’t going to return from injury. Sakoda averaged 44.5 yards on 13 punts during the Riders final two regular season games. He also thoroughly out-performed 2009 All-Star punter Damon Duval in the Grey Cup. While Duval struggled to cope with the cold conditions averaging just 39.8 yards on his eight punts, Sakoda was unbothered averaging 48.2 yards on six boots.

What to expect in 2010

After a year in the CFL and a full training camp with the team in 2010, Joel Bell will compete for a starting spot on a very deep, veteran laden offensive line in 2010. At 24, Bell brings some youthful exuberance to a line that includes Gene Makowsky (37), Jeremy O’Day (35), Kelly Bates (34), Dan Goodspeed (33), and Wayne Smith (30).

His hulking 6-foot-7 310 pound frame and surprising athleticism should help keep Darian Durant safe in the pocket and also open up some decent holes in the running game.

Kye Stewart and Jerrell Freeman should provide a solid dynamic duo for the Riders on special teams and both should see increased time at linebacker this year. The two sophomore linebackers are close in size and both are excellent open field tacklers with Stewart being maybe a half-step quicker.

With his knee fully recovered Stewart will challenge for one of the starting outside linebacker spots this season. Freeman on the other hand will be vying for time at the middle linebacker spot vacated by Rey Williams. Off-season signing Barrin Simpson should come into camp as the starter but any injury to the 32-year-old could see Freeman step in.

In the secondary, Chris McKenzie will look to fill the rather larger shoes left by Eddie Davis’ retirement. Luckily for the Riders, he has already shown that he can handle an expanded role after filling in admirably during the final two games of the regular season last year. He’s not the biggest guy out there at only 5-foot-9 but he plays much bigger. The starting job isn’t his by any stretch with Carlos Thomas and rookie Brandon Register also in the mix, but McKenzie should be the favourite heading into camp.

Louie Sakoda will look to reward the Riders for showing enough faith in him to deal Jamie Boreham to the Argos on draft day. Sakoda has a pretty good leg and showed plenty of poise in last year’s Grey Cup. Despite being born in balmy San Jose, he also proved he could handle kicking in the cold over the last few weeks of 2009.

At receiver, Johnny Quinn found himself a victim of the numbers game on Thursday as the Riders released the sophomore receiver out of North Texas. Quinn is certainly talented, but with a roster full of strong Canadian receivers, as an import he was the odd man out.