GAME DAY: Riders set to clash with Blue Bombers in 2015 season opener

Saturday night’s all right for football as the Riders and Blue Bombers open up their 2015 campaign at Mosaic Stadium. 

The game is the first of three games between the two teams this year.

“It’s going to be real fun. It’s going to be real intense, I think it’s going to be an all-out football game,” said head coach Corey Chamblin. 

The match-up also offers up the return of the Riders franchise pivot Darian Durant. It was against the Bombers, in the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg, that Durant injured his elbow ending his season and in turn the Riders season with it. 

By now, we know that Durant’s elbow is feeling 100 per cent. What Durant has picked up since the injury is a new appreciation for his job.

First meeting

Interest piqued after Melfort Neighbourhood Watch program info meeting

16h ago

Wasted fish

Fish abandoned at Deschambault Lake

Apr 23, 2024

Leadership Needed to Stop Federal Overreach

Apr 23, 2024

“With that taken away from me last year, I’m like a kid. I’m up every morning, excited to come to work,” he said.

Of course, Durant never took his job for granted, but like anyone else, there were up and down days. Now, he’s got a new lease on life.

Durant admitted this week that when he first got hurt, he wondered if that would be it for his career.

“When you get hurt at first and you’re just laying in a hospital bed, all type of things go through your head. There’s a lot of uncertainty that comes along with it. Especially when it’s such a major surgery to a limb that you need for everything you do,” he said.

Once the surgery was done and rehab began, Durant knew he would return. 

Durant returns under centre with a new centre, a new set of receivers, and a completely different offence.

“There’s definitely an adjustment. Just like any system that is new to you. There’s going to be ups and downs,” he said.

“It’s all about making sure you fight through those down times.”

New day for veterans

This game will be the first for a couple of veteran CFLers in green and white. 

Jamel Richardson is back with the Riders after a number of years away. It’s also his first regular season game in two seasons.

“I’m locked in. I’m full of confidence. So, I’m just ready to show my teammates what we got,” he said. 

Just how big of a role Richardson will play on Saturday night and the rest of the season isn’t known. 

Head coach Corey Chamblin has suggested that Richardson shouldn’t set his sights on a 1,000-yard season or anything like that.

For Shea Emry, this will be a totally new experience. For the first time, he’ll be on the west sideline rather than dealing with the east side.

“I’m definitely going to feed off that energy,” he said.

“I know the rest of the defence and the team will as well. I’m looking forward to it.”

Even if Emry has been in the league since 2008, he admits there’s always a bit of excitement for the first game of the year.

“Getting through that first game is always tough for both teams. Making sure we can come out with the win is the most important thing,” he said. 

Roster Check

The Riders will be without a couple of veterans for this game. Safety Tyron Brackenridge and receiver Weston Dressler will both sit out. 

Dressler is listed as a back-up on the depth chart but he will be a game-time scratch. Ryan Smith will start in his spot. 

Canadian Keenan MacDougall is listed as the starting safety for Brackenridge. However, Macho Harris took a number of reps in that spot during the week. Look for at least a rotation throughout the game. 

Receiver Korey Williams has also surpassed Taj Smith on the depth chart this week. Chamblin told reporters on Friday that Smith is a little banged up. 

Game time is at 6 p.m.

JGasson@rawlco.com
Follow on Twitter: @JGasson_21
Follow on Twitter: @homeofthefans