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SASKATOON — Wes Cates had close-up view of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ running backs and he liked what he saw.

The former Riders tailback, a Plaza of Honour inductee, was a guest coach for the opening week of the Green and White’s training camp in Saskatoon.

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“I just wanted to come out and add things where I can,” Cates said before heading back to Regina. “(Running backs coach) Kent Maugeri is a great coach and he pays a lot of attention to detail.”

So does Cates, who offered the following appraisals of the Roughriders’ five tailbacks:

William Powell: “He’s the veteran and he’s proven. He’s smooth and everything he does seems effortless. William will be a great leader by example and he’s an in-between-the-tackles type of runner. He can also bounce it outside and get yards, too.”

Marcus Thigpen: “You give him the ball and he’s going to create a home-run play. He’s a great athlete and he can do it all as well. He’s one of the fastest players, if not the fastest player, on the field. That’s scary every time he touches the ball.”

Kienan LaFrance: “He’s a Canadian who can do everything and there aren’t any weaknesses in his game. You forget that he’s Canadian, because he does everything so well. If you have a ratio issue, he’s your guy.”

James Butler: “He’s built well. He has a nice physique and does everything really well. He’s like a jitterbug and he’s very quick.”

Jamal Morrow: “He’s the most natural receiver, by far. He looks really fluid in his routes and he catches the ball really well … when he gets his hands on the ball, it sticks.”

mmccormick@postmedia.com

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