Rams put tests behind them
May 7, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
Let the game begin.
As participants in the CIS's East-West Bowl all-star football contest, University of Regina Rams receivers Mark McConkey and Brenden Owens went through the testing portion of the week. They'd rather just play the game.
"Testing is a big part of the week, but it's not my strength," McConkey said. "That's why we have the whole week to show people what we can do. Testing may not be our strength, but we can catch the ball when you throw it at us."
During the testing, McConkey managed one bench press of 225 pounds and didn't post a time in the 40-yard dash. Owens didn't register a score on the bench press and ran a 5.02-second 40.
"(Testing) is one thing that (McConkey) and I don't do too well," Owens confirmed. "We're not the fastest guys or the strongest guys, but we pride ourselves on running good routes and adjusting to catch the ball."
Each proved that during the 2009 Canada West season.
McConkey, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder, finished sixth in the conference in receptions (36) and seventh in yards (464) in eight regular-season games. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Owens was ninth in the league in catches (28) and fifth in yards (472) in eight games.
Based on their showings -- and their potential for the future -- both receivers earned invitations to the East-West Bowl, as did Rams quarterback Marc Mueller. The contest goes Saturday at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont.
"I was hurt all year -- I had a bad hamstring -- and I didn't have great numbers compared to (Rams star Jordan) Sisco," said McConkey, a 20-year-old product of Calgary who has played two full seasons with the Rams. "I didn't expect (to be invited), so when Frank (McCrystal, the Rams' head coach) said I was going, it was a real surprise."
"I looked at it last year when Jordan and (Rams linebacker) Bruce Anderson went and I kind of hoped I'd be lucky enough to get a call," noted Owens, a 21-year-old Reginan who attended O'Neill High School before joining the Rams in 2007. "Then one day Frank came by and said I was going. I thought, 'Well, that's awesome.' "
The players who are selected to play in the game -- most of whom aren't eligible for the CFL draft until the following year -- spend the week under the watchful eyes of CFL scouts. That explains the emphasis on putting the players through the same tests and drills as those conducted at the CFL's pre-draft evaluation camp.
However, Owens went to London hoping the scouts don't base their assessments solely on the testing.
"There's always that concern," he admitted. "A lot of scouts, the first thing they look at is, 'What's that guy's 40 (time)? How many times can he put up 225? How high can he jump?'
"After that, then they review film and look at how many balls a guy catches, how he runs routes, how he adjusts to the ball in the air. The main thing is, we want to show our skills."
"I just want to do my best, do what I do well and give myself a chance (to be drafted)," McConkey added.
Both of the Rams receivers were happy to meet their counterparts from across the CIS as well as CFL personnel. They're also pleased to be in London with each other and with Mueller, who said previously he'd try to get them as many balls as possible in the game.
"It's a pretty big perk getting to go with a guy you run routes with every day, who you have timing with, who knows where to put the ball and where you like the ball," Owens said of Mueller. "It'll be great for us."