Complete Game Notes
 
KICKOFF: Friday, Aug. 29 (6:00 p.m. MDT)
SITE: Mosaic Stadium (Regina, Sask.)
CAPACITY: 33,427
RANKINGS: (first poll released Sept. 2)
RADIO: 620 CKRM (Michael Ball/PxP, Marco Ricci/CC)
STATS: Live at www.canadawest.tv
TICKET INFORMATION: www.reginarams.com
 
Quick Notes
• This will be the second non-conference game between Alberta and Regina, with the only other meeting coming on Aug. 25, 2006 (27-20 win for Regina)
• Including that non-conference win, the Rams have won 12 of their last 13 games against Alberta (and six straight)
• The last time Alberta defeated Regina was by a 33-22 score in Edmonton (2009)
• The Rams have a 3-5 all-time record against CIS competition in eight non-conference games played
 
Breakdown - Offence
QUARTERBACKS
• Cayman Shutter will return to start at QB for the second consecutive season
• Shutter, a transfer from the University of Hawaii, completed 180 passes for 2428 yards and 13 TDs in 2013
• John Kiesman and Noah Picton are battling for No. 2 on the depth chart
• Kiesman backed up Shutter last year, completing 35 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns and leading the Rams to a win over Alberta in his only start of the season
• Picton redshirted last year, but was an impressive 12-for-12 in the team's non-conference win over Manitoba
 
RUNNING BACKS
• Dillon Dawson and Jens Johnson are in a battle to start at running back
• Dawson, a fifth-year veteran, has 269 career rushing yards and has 51 carries for an average of 5.3 yards per rush
• Johnson, who played hockey for three years in the SJHL before joining the Rams, had 21 rushes for 89 yards last year
• Coaching staff also expects rookie Atlee Simon to challenge for playing time this year
• Simon starred for Thom Collegiate and was No. 91 in CanadaFootballChat.com's Top 100 ranking for the 2014 class
 
RECEIVERS
• Addison Richards, a second-team All-Canadian last season, is a lock to start at one of the wide receiver positions
• Catlin Schneider, Richard Sindani, and Mitch Thompson - who comes to the Rams after three seasons with the Regina Thunder - are in a battle at the other WR spot
• Landon Buch and Jared Janotta should reclaim their starting slotback positions, with Riley Wilson looking like he'll get the start as the third slotback
• Janotta enters his final season of CIS eligibility needing 42 receptions to pass former teammate Mark McConkey as Canada West's all-time leader
• Janotta also needs 706 receiving yards to overtake Chad Goldie as the U of R's career leader
• Buch, who has missed five games due to injury over the past two seasons, caught 12 passes for 264 yards and tied for second on the team with four TD receptions in 2013
• The team's deep receiving corps also includes Mitchell Picton, Davin Johnston, and Andrew Bennett, all of which are in the conversation at slotback
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
• After an injury-plagued 2013 season which forced four first-year Rams to see significant playing time on the offensive line, the staff expects this to be a much-improved position this season
• The team recruited Keenan Carrier and Tristain Hoath from the Saskatoon Hilltops, but were involved in a car accident two weeks ago and both have missed significant time so far at camp
• Kyle Paterson will again start at left guard for the Rams, with right guard up in the air between Hoath, Nathan Cugnet, and Lyndon Smith
• Two-sport athlete Jeremy Zver emerged as the team's starting left tackle last year and will be there again this year, while right tackle could see either draft-eligible veteran Aaron Picton or Matt Degelman there
• Look for the starting centre position to go to either Cugnet or whichever one of Picton or Degelman doesn't start at right tackle
 
Breakdown - Defence / Special Teams
DEFENSIVE LINE
• Fourth-year veteran Tyler Perkins will anchor the team's defensive line
• Perkins had 13½ tackles, forced a fumble, and blocked a kick for the Rams in 2013
• After making six starts on the offensive line last year as a rookie, Bryce McKinnon will move over to the defensive side of the ball and should be a starter on the line
• Also expected to see significant time on the line this year are Dean Viena and Eric Wicijowski
• Viena played basketball at Shoreline CC (Shoreline, Wash.) last year and has one season of CIS eligibility, while Wicijowski is a rookie out of LeBoldus HS in Regina
• Thomas Lill played both offensive line and defensive line last year, but should remain on the d-line in 2014
 
LINEBACKERS
• Connor Ketchen and Canada West all-star Michael Stefanovic will reclaim their starting positions in 2014
• Stefanovic and Ketchen finished one-two on the team in tackles last year, with Stefanovic also leading the conference outright in tackles for loss
• Dylan Minshull redshirted last year, but could very well join Ketchen as a starting outside linebacker for the Rams
• Zack McEachern, who comes to the Rams after playing junior with the Calgary Colts, is also likely to see plenty of playing time
• Rookie Danny Nesbitt - ranked No. 36 in CFC.com's Top 100 for the 2014 class - could also contribute at linebacker this year, but is currently dealing with an injury
 
DEFENSIVE BACKS
• The team's depth in the defensive backfield will be tested immediately with Tevaughn Campbell, Patrick MacDonald, Mason Rossler, and newcomer Korey Greene all dealing with injuries of varying severity
• For now, expect Kahlen Branning and either Jordy Kibamba or rookie Kadeem Ellis to get the start at cornerback
• Defensive halfback should see Robbie Avram and Jeff Propp starting there
• Joey Dwyer will likely start at dimeback for the Rams, with Justin Edralin moving from his usual spot at halfback to start at safety
 
PUNTERS/KICKERS
• Andrew Fabian - brother of Alberta kicker Stephen Fabian - comes to the U of R from the Calgary Colts organization and is expected to handle both placekicking and punting duties in 2014
• Zach Schmidt backed up Taylor Wandler last year and will likely serve in the same capacity for the Rams this year
 
RETURNERS
• With Tevaughn Campbell doubtful for Friday's game, look for newcomers Kadeem Ellis and Mitch Thompson to return punts for the Rams
• Kahlen Branning and Ellis will be the team's kickoff returners, with Catlin Schneider also likely to see duty at both PR and KR
 
HOLDER
• Backup quarterback John Kiesman is expected to serve as the holder on field goal attempts for the Rams
 
LONG SNAPPER
• Defensive back Justin Edralin should handle the snaps for punting situations, while offensive lineman Jeremy Zver is likely to be the snapper for field goal attempts