May 22, 2018

Notebook: Eddie Steele makes his debut at camp

SASKATOON — The smile on Eddie Steele’s face gave him away.

Asked Tuesday how difficult it was to miss the first two days of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp, the veteran defensive tackle tried (but failed) to keep a straight face.

“You want the truth or the political(ly correct) answer?” replied a grinning Steele, whom the Roughriders had put on the suspended list Sunday before opening training camp.

“It’s tough because I wanted to be with the guys, being in the meetings and getting all the systems. But at the same time, I’m going into my fourth year with Coach (Chris) Jones and this defence. There haven’t been too many changes, so I wasn’t too worried about being behind.

“Technique-wise, it would have been nice to be here earlier, but I’m going into my ninth year, so if I don’t have it figured out by now, it’s probably a little too late.”

Steele, a 29-year-old product of Winnipeg, played for Jones with the Edmonton Eskimos during the 2014 and ’15 CFL seasons and with the Roughriders last season. Steele hit free agency in February, but eventually re-signed with Saskatchewan.

He was physically ready to begin training camp, but an undisclosed personal issue at home in Regina kept Steele away from camp for the first two days. He was activated off the suspended list Tuesday and was on the field when the Roughriders practised at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“It felt good to be out there and to get sweating and get my hands going,” Steele said. “Really, it wasn’t the end of the world not to be here the first couple of days.”

Steele missed four practices, so his legs are marginally better than those of his teammates who worked out Sunday and Monday. He admitted he developed some blisters on his first day of camp, but was otherwise happy with the way things went.

“I wouldn’t say there’s rust,” he said. “I’ve been pretty sharp with my technique after working with (guard Brendon) LaBatte all off-season. It felt good to get out there with the pads on and get moving.

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The addition of Steele was one of a few transactions the Roughriders announced Tuesday.

Perhaps the most notable moves involved the releases of international defensive tackle Nick James and international defensive back John Ojo, both of whom are CFL veterans.

James played three games for Saskatchewan last season before spending the final nine weeks of the regular season on the injured list. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder had seven tackles during his time on the roster.

Ojo played under Jones in Edmonton in 2015 and was a West Division and CFL all-star. He ruptured an Achilles tendon in training camp in 2016 and, after rehabbing the injury, had a tryout with the NFL’s New York Jets in 2017. The Roughriders signed him in March.

“Physically, they weren’t ready,” Jones said Tuesday when asked about the duo. “They both have just got to knock the rust off. Big Nick coming off that injury, and Ojo as well, they were just too rusty and just didn’t want to go and risk injury and that type of thing.”

Defensive tackle Rakim Cox, who missed the first two days of camp with a back injury, was back on the field Tuesday and may get a shot to replace James. Cox played five regular-season games with the Roughriders last season.

International defensive back Daniel Davie, who was signed Tuesday, fills Ojo’s roster spot. The signing of national DB Tristan MacDonald-Doughlin also was announced Tuesday.

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The other transaction that occurred involved the retirement of Regina-born offensive lineman Jeremy Zver.

The University of Regina product had been working as the second-team centre at camp, but he told the Roughriders of his plans Monday night.

“We didn’t draft him, but we thought enough of him to bring him back when we got the opportunity,” said Jones, whose squad signed Zver last July after he declined a spot on the B.C. Lions’ practice roster. “We spent a year developing him and he just decided that he wanted to go in a different direction.”

Dariusz Bladek, who had been working primarily at guard during camp, took over as the No. 2 centre during Tuesday’s practice.

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A question about the play of the Roughriders’ veteran receivers through three days of camp got Jones looking at the big picture Tuesday.

“Yesterday, I was a little disappointed with a lack of effort at the end of the first practice — the first day in pads — with their blocking,” Jones said. “We’ve got to show up every single day. We’re never going to be good enough to just show up and do our own thing …

“We’re here to win a ring. We’re not here just to be a good football team and collect paycheques. We’re here to try to win a Grey Cup.”