By François Biber

Rider alumni pick different sides to carry team to championship

Jun 7, 2013 | 6:40 AM

Defense wins championships, but the off-season acquisitions made by the Riders this winter has one Roughrider alum thinking the offense is the side to watch.

“Look at a player like (Kory) Sheets. If he can be what he was last year in this system that (George) Cortez runs, you're going to see him put up huge numbers,” said former Rider wide-receiver and 2007 Grey Cup Champion Matt Dominguez.

“If Darian (Durant) can be a point guard and not force the issue, just deliver, he will have big numbers as well,” Dominguez said.

On Thursday, Riderville North held a VIP event at the Sheraton Cavalier where alumni, coaches and corporate partners had a chance to mix and mingle with Rider all-time-greats like 1966 Grey Cup Champion Dale West.

West said he's most excited about watching the Rider defense, especially with the latest addition of former CFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, John Chick.

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“I played behind Garner Ekstran and I know what havoc a defensive-end causes and Garner was outstanding, and my understanding is that John is just as strong,” said West.

A defensive back by trade, West said he's curious to see the impact a cornerback like Dwight Anderson will have on other teams.

“I think Anderson is really going to make a difference out there because he gets on everyone's case and he's a player you hate playing against,” said West, who was the runner-up for the CFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1963.

For Dominguez, the roster for the 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders reminds him a lot of the 2007 team he played on which went on to win the Grey Cup.

Dominguez said coaches and management have created the perfect storm with many Riders in or reaching their prime.

“I see the team now with a lot of very explosive players and veterans. You're not depending on a majority of first year or second year players to be playmakers,” said Dominguez.

“You have a team who is destined, in my opinion, to be very successful because you got the right guys at the right points in their careers.”

Dominguez also touched on the impact of veteran receiver Geroy Simon.

“With Geroy Simon out there, you have to pay attention to him but who do you double-team? Do you double-team 37-year-old Geroy Simon or the young guy (Weston) Dressler.”

“You have to give Geroy his respect. You can't double-team both of them so one of them is going to beat you and what that ends up doing is opening it up for a guy like Chris Getzlaf or Greg Carr or some of the other emerging guys,” said Dominguez

The Riders continue training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

They will open the season at home against Calgary on July 5.

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