Training camps in the Canadian Football League allow athletes to show what they can do and earn a roster spot. They are also an opportunity for the players to receive high-level coaching and improve their craft.
For Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Micah Johnson, the coaching comes from familiar voices. Johnson has either played with or against six members of the Green and White’s current coaching staff.
“It's crazy. I laugh about it all the time. I tell the young guys, I don't know how. But just last year, especially when I look around and see all the coaches, I laugh. So they pick at me and be like, man, Micah, I don't know how he's still doing it. So I'm like, hey man, bring me over there to y'all's side when I'm done.”
Johnson believes that having coaches who have recently played the game gives the Riders an advantage when they deliver their messages to the team.
“I tell the guys, you've got to listen to those guys. All these coaches here were legends when I was playing, and they know what they were doing. They were very smart, cerebral players, from Bill to Ed, obviously Mace, even now that they brought Drew (Andrew Harris) over. So, I think it's easy for young guys to listen because your coach can speak that language, and he's able to talk to you about things he's gone through, the same things you're going through. I know it helps, especially all the coaches. The familiarity makes it way easier.”
Roughriders training camp continues in Saskatoon all week.
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