SASKATOON – “Christmas Day” as most football-minds would describe it, arrived this morning at Griffiths Stadium with Day 1 of Saskatchewan Roughriders Training Camp getting underway.
Throughout the various facemasks, flecks of white could be seen– smiles abundant with players itching to get high-intensity repetitions in on the first day of camp.
Perhaps none were more excited than quarterback, Darian Durant, sidelined for the entirety of last season with an Achilles injury–displaying an infectious excitement following the morning’s workouts.
“I felt good, I felt like I ran away from a couple guys. My legs were there, still building the chemistry with the new receivers…as of now I feel great.”
The realities of training camp are nothing new for “number-four”, adjusting and re-familiarizing himself with returning players, but most noticeably, Riderville newcomers in the receiving-core.
READ: NYE SAYS RIDERS’ DEPTH MUCH IMPROVED ENTERING TRAINING CAMP
“It’s about getting that chemistry down, learning the body-language, how they get in and out of breaks…I like where we are–especially for Day 1–and we just have to keep building on that.”
A new playbook, new coordinators, and a new system on top of that energizes the former North Carolina Tar Heel, who has no doubt that it will all become second-nature in short order.
“It’s not as hard as people think. It’s tough learning new terminology, but once you get out there, get going, and its repetitive, it gets engrained in your head.”
By all accounts, the Roughriders’ mainstay under-centre has looked confident and poised, something Rider Nation has grown accustomed to, showing early signs of renewed energy and swagger that has already spread throughout the roster.
