Roughriders training camp preview: Special teams and coaching staff
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The 2025 Canadian Football League season is approaching as the Saskatchewan Roughriders have opened training camp.
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After previewing the offence and the defence in these recent articles, it's time to look at the special teams and coaches as training camp is underway:
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This group features two returning starters as Brett Lauther will continue to handle kicking duties for Saskatchewan in 2025 while the longest-serving member of the team, Jorgen Hus, will continue to serve as the long snapper. National kicker Ben Hadley, who participated in rookie camp, was moved to the retired list on Saturday.
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As for the punting situation, that's something that will be sorted out in camp after the recent announcement that Adam Korsak has been transferred to the retired list ahead of the 2025 season.
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Kosask has been a phenomenal punter for Saskatchewan for the past two seasons after he beat out Kaare Vedvik for the starting job in 2023. Now, it's up to Joe Couch, who spent the 2024 season on the Riders practice roster, or fellow Australian Bailey Flint, who was signed by the Riders this off-season after playing eight games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last year, to win the starting job.
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While they also drafted another Global punter in Jesse Mirco, who remains unsigned, the punting job truly looks like it will be decided in camp and be won by whoever has the best performance in practice and the two exhibition games. Additionally, backup kicker Ben Hadley has been moved to the retired list ahead of camp.
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Plenty of continuity with this group as Corey Mace is back for his second season with the Roughriders after turning the team around in 2024.
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Mace has built the culture he said he was going to establish with plenty of buy in from the fellow coaches and players. Now it's about building on that in 2025 as expectations continue to rise.
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Former Grey Cup champion Andrew Harris joins the staff this year to lead former teammate A.J. Ouellette and the running backs (replacing Anthony Vitale) while former University of Regina Rams offensive coordinator Josh Donnelly joins the team as an offensive assistant.
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Defensively, Mace will continue to call the play while Phillip Daniels (defensive line) and Joshua Bell (defensive backs) are also back from 2024. Travis Brown will be leading the linebackers this year as he takes over for J.C. Sherritt, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Edmonton Elks.
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