The University of Regina Rams’ spring camp may not have featured much spring, but it had plenty in the way of a camp for Frank McCrystal.
“It was good,” the Rams’ head coach said after Sunday’s scrimmage at the U of R field, which was pounded by rain, snow and wind during the Canada West football team’s three-day camp. “It went quickly. The guys were on task and focused all weekend.
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“I don’t think we had any surprises. Stefan Charles (a rookie defensive lineman from the BCFC’s Big Kahuna Rams) did very well. (Third-year defensive lineman) Benton Gieni stepped up and did some good things on the D-line, which was an area of concern.
“The defence played with more intensity than the offence in the scrimmage, which was good. Overall, it went well.”
McCrystal was impressed with the play of rookie running back Derek Bell out of Saskatoon Bishop Mahoney High School and rookie receivers Zach Oleynik (Balfour Collegiate) and Catlin Schneider (Balgonie Greenall High School). Veteran cornerback Jeff Lukomski also had a fine scrimmage.
Quarterback Marc Mueller, who is to leave today for next week’s East-West Game in London, Ont., saw limited playing time in the scrimmage. Two other quarterbacks — Matt Lang and Dylan Hart — sustained injuries during the camp, leaving Campbell Antonini and Jake McGeough to carry the load during the 70-play scrimmage.
Receivers Mark McConkey (East-West Game) and Brenden Owens (East-West Game) and offensive lineman John Hashem (who’s to attend training camp with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers) were among the spectators Sunday, while offensive lineman
Jon Rintoul was carted off with a knee injury early in the proceedings.
McCrystal said the Rams will take 65 players to their main camp, which is scheduled to open Aug. 20.
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Lukomski is entering his second season with the Rams — as well as his fifth season with the U of R Cougars men’s basketball team.
He’s eager to pull double duty again.
“I had a blast last year,” Lukomski said. “The guys are great, the coaches are outstanding and being in this (dressing) room just feels right for me. I like coming in here every day.”
Before he joined the Rams last season, Lukomski hadn’t played tackle football since his days at O’Neill High School. He became a starter in the U of R’s second regular-season game and finished the campaign with 20 solo tackles and an interception.
He matched that total of picks in Sunday’s scrimmage and added a couple of pass knockdowns.
“Now that I have a year under my belt, I feel like I know what’s going on out there . . .,” Lukomski said. “I know where I’m going, I’m playing more instinctively and I feel comfortable out there. I’m more confident that I’m going to make a play instead of worrying about making a mistake.”
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McCrystal had suggested before the camp started that he wanted to see the defence become more aggressive and develop an identity.
Judging by the volume of plays they made Sunday — and the volume of their celebrations — the defensive players got the message.
“It’s always going to be a work in progress, but it was better (Sunday),” said veteran linebacker Bruce Anderson. “We’re working on being more intense and more physical than we were the day before.
“(On Sunday), we stepped it up. The offence kind of pushed us around the first two days, but not (Sunday). We’re really pumped about what we saw.”
By Ian Hamilton,
The Regina Leader-Post
May 3, 2010
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
