By Joel Gasson

GAME DAY: Riders host Stampeders in pre-season closer

Jun 19, 2015 | 7:29 AM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders get one more tune up as they close out the pre-season Friday night against the Calgary Stampeders. 

This game will signal the official end of the team’s training camp. 

“Each day we’ve got better. I’m pleased with what we’ve done this year. If I had to grade it, I would say we’re somewhere around a ‘B’,” said head coach Corey Chamblin.

According to Chamblin, no one is an “A” coming out of camp. The biggest reason for that is it gives everyone, including the coaching staff, a chance to grow. 

One thing the Riders will really be looking to improve on during this game is the penalties. 

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

16h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

16h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

21h ago

“They’re calling it pretty tight. So, we’ll have to make some minor adjustments. We kind of expected it and we kind of planned for it,” said defensive back Coach Tony Missick. 

“I think we’ve worked some things out, so it should be better.”

Last week against the Edmonton Eskimos, both teams sent the flags flying 55 times for an incredible 450 yards. This week during practice, Chamblin was actually throwing flags. 

The players were taking action themselves as well. Linebacker Shea Emery got into it one day with Marrio Norman, who didn’t take kindly to the advice from the veteran. 

“That’s what he is. That’s what we brought him here for. He has leadership ability. That’s why he broke it down today,” said Chamblin. 

Offensive growth

The Riders are hoping their offence will be able to take a step forward again this week. 

Learning the new offence under coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine hasn’t been the easiest for every player. It’s a system that’s been described as complex by some. Even if that’s the case, it’s a word Chamblin hoped the players would stop using.

“I think at this point in time, I think the volume of the installation is in. The bulk of the installation is in,” said Chapdelaine. 

The passing game has room to grow with 235 yards through the air last week against Edmonton. That number likely would have been higher if not for some penalties. 

This week, Chapdelaine is hoping to see more out of the running game. 

“I thought we were a little one dimensional because of the pressure it was difficult to run the football. I’d like to see us do that a little bit more to get a fair assessment of everyone and to take pressure of the passing game,” said Chapdelaine. 

Who’s in, who’s out

The Riders will be without defensive end John Chick on Friday night. Chick left camp on Wednesday without much of a reason. Chick tweeted on Thursday that he’s acting as the best man in his brother’s wedding this weekend. 

Safety Tyron Brackenridge, defensive back Mark LeGree and receiver Ryan Smith won’t play. 

The news isn’t all bad on the injury front as receiver Weston Dressler, receiver Korey Williams and defensive back Terrell Maze will all return to the lineup. 

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

900 CKBI is broadcasting every Rider game this season.  Listen for the pre-game show on Friday at 6:30 pm, kickoff 7:30 pm.