Notebook: Brendon LaBatte’s big year continues

Brendon LaBatte’s 2017 season is proving to be way more enjoyable than his 2016 campaign.

The 31-year-old product of Weyburn played just three games with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016 due to a bruised nerve in his neck. From the sidelines, he had to watch as the Roughriders missed the playoffs for the second straight season.

After getting healthy in the off-season, LaBatte returned to the Roughriders’ offensive line — and he has played all 17 of their regular-season games to date in 2017.

To add to LaBatte’s joy, Saskatchewan has qualified for the playoffs, he has signed a four-year contract extension and, on Wednesday, he was named the Roughriders’ nominee for the award as the CFL’s outstanding offensive lineman. He was a unanimous selection.

“It’s way better than the alternative of sitting on the bench for the last 15 weeks and just watching the other guys play,” LaBatte said after the Roughriders’ closed practice at Mosaic Stadium.

“It feels good to get back (on the field), and to be able to play at a level where it gets recognized for this sort of stuff feels good.”

It’s the sixth time in LaBatte’s 10-year CFL career that he has been nominated for the award. He was up for it in three straight seasons (2009-11) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and he was Saskatchewan’s nominee in both 2013 and 2015. He won the award in ’13.

This season’s nomination could be more meaningful for LaBatte due to the injury he suffered during the Roughriders’ third game in 2016 and due to the recovery from an ailment that wasn’t diagnosed until early December.

“Coming back after all the uncertainty and to be able to play all the games this year has really been the biggest thing, and being able to practise every day,” LaBatte said. “When you’re able to do that and kind of chip away at it, over the course of 18 weeks, your game should improve.”

LaBatte started the first six games of the 2017 season at his normal position of left guard, but he moved to centre after Dan Clark suffered an elbow injury in a game Aug. 5 against the B.C. Lions.

After nine games at centre, LaBatte shifted back to left guard — and he has played the past two games at that position.

That versatility, as well as LaBatte’s play at both positions, earned him the nod in voting by members of the Saskatchewan chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada and the Roughriders’ coaching staff.

“He has been a good player in this league for a long time,” Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said. “He’s another guy who you never know is in the room. He’s very quiet and unassuming, but you know he’s there on game day.”

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Christion Jones got to Saskatchewan late, but it didn’t take him long to arrive.

The 24-year-old punt returner from Birmingham, Ala., joined the Roughriders on July 17 and made his debut Aug. 5. In the nine games he has played for Saskatchewan, Jones has 42 punt returns for 618 yards and two touchdowns and 18 kickoff returns for 423 yards.

That showing earned him the Roughriders’ nomination for the award as the league’s outstanding special-teams player.

“I set goals from the beginning,” Jones said. “I haven’t reached the touchdown mark — we’re not even going to talk about that yet — but I have some more goals that I’ve set to end the season with and we’re hoping to reach those as well.”

Jones has shown a penchant for delivering at key times.

His 97-yard punt return for a touchdown helped the Roughriders overcome a 17-0 deficit to beat the Ottawa Redbacks 18-17 on Sept. 29. And his 61-yard punt-return major helped Saskatchewan down the Calgary Stampeders 30-7 on Oct. 20.

“It’s the trust and love of the coaches and the players giving me that best opportunity while we’re out here,” Jones said as an explanation for his success. “It’s the other 11 that are blocking for me. It’s the scheme and the focus that we always have to be successful.”

Receiver/defensive back Duron Carter (outstanding player), defensive back Ed Gainey (defensive player), linebacker Henoc Muamba (Canadian) and defensive end Tobi Antigha (rookie) are the Roughriders’ other awards nominees.

The division winners are to be announced Nov. 9.

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The Roughriders announced the signing of tailback Shakir Bell on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old product of Indianapolis played 15 games with the Edmonton Eskimos over the 2015 and ’16 seasons, recording 181 carries for 1,058 yards and two touchdowns and 34 receptions for 312 yards and two TDs.

He signed with the Redblacks in May but was released in June.

The Roughriders plan to use Marcus Thigpen at tailback in Saturday’s home game against the Eskimos because Cameron Marshall (knee) and Trent Richardson (ankle) are banged up. It’s unclear if Bell will play.

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The Roughriders had a snow day Wednesday.

Chris Jones said there was “an awful lot of snow” on the field for the closed practice, which made for poor traction during the workout. That could affect the footing for Saturday’s game.

“If it’s like it is right now, it’s going to be a slow football game,” Jones said. “There was a couple of inches of snow (on the field Wednesday). Hopefully they’ll be able to clear it prior to the game.”

In previous seasons, the Roughriders have practised inside the Credit Union EventPlex during inclement weather. That wasn’t considered Wednesday.

“We are in Canada,” Jones said. “I looked at that (snowy East Division playoff) game last year with Edmonton and Ottawa and so you’ve got to be prepared for it.”