I love the Smell of Rookie Camp in the Morning – Smells Like a 12-6 Team!
And that ladies and gentlemen, with just a hint of hyperbole, is what seemed to happen to Rider GM Brendan Taman who went out in front of the media and predicted a 12-6 Rider season on the opening day of rookie camp.
Rookie camp is for all rookies to get acquainted with the schemes and procedures of the club prior to the main camp starting this weekend in Saskatoon. To the many that showed up to enjoy a pretty nice day in Regina, it was sheer heaven to finally blow off the winter doldrums and separate internet fantasy from gridiron reality.
There were anywhere from 44-48 players, depending on bathroom breaks and hobbling between the locker room and field. While the defense took one end of the field, I watched the new offense being installed under Jacques Chapdelaine and I have to admit, you are going to have to really keep your eyes on the ball this year.
Just one rookie practice is no basis on which to predict how an offense will unfold, especially when you have two rookie quarterbacks, running backs and receivers to try to translate the classroom work to on field success. But, even excusing Brett Smith, the fourth string QB formerly of the Argos and Noah Picton of the U of R Rams, and their relative newness to the offense, you got the impression that in more experienced hands, this offense will keep opposing defenses honest by not making it clear who has the ball.