Picken makes the play
Tim Switzer, Leader-Post
Published: Monday, October 29, 2007

Sometimes it really comes in handy to have a former slotback playing defensive tackle.

Take Saturday, for example, when University of Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Laurence Nixon attempted a pass over the head of University of Regina Rams tackle Mike Picken.

Picken got his hands up, and while most D-linemen would have had the ball bounce off their outstretched arms, Picken was able to squeeze the ball for the interception.

"In all my years of coaching, I've never seen anything like that," said Rams defensive line coach Greg Nesbitt. "I've never seen a D-lineman snag a ball like that. He read the quarterback, saw his eyes and just got his hands in the right place at the right time because they were doing that dump pass over the middle every time."

Picken, who was named the Canada West defensive player-of-the-week Monday, downplayed the pick.

"I was attempting to block it when I saw that the ball was in my hands and just stuck there," said Picken, who was also fighting off the block of two Huskies offensive linemen on the play. "I was like, 'OK, this is a catch.' It brought me back to when I was playing slot. It was just one of those weird things that happens."

Picken also had a knockdown, a sack and two tackles in Regina's 34-31 win.

His efforts are even more impressive considering he has only been playing tackle for 31/2 weeks. Since joining the Rams last season, the 6-foot-4, 268-pound Picken has been a back-up defensive end. Before that, he played slotback through high school and for five seasons with the Chilliwack Valley Huskers of the B.C. Football Conference.

When tackle Bjorn Person tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the Calgary Dinos on Oct. 6, Picken got the call.

"It was the process of elimination," Nesbitt said with a chuckle. "(Picken is) very a good athlete and he's got a motor that just doesn't stop. If he makes a mistake, he makes it at 100 miles an hour and will still make things happen."

Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Picken has 13 solo tackles, three sacks and the interception.

"We weren't sure how well he would do," said Rams head coach Frank McCrystal. "He's a little more mature than some of the guys, he's tough as hell and we thought if anybody was gong to battle in there -- that's what you need, a tough guy -- it was him. He's not as big as some of those guys, but if he matches up well, somebody is in for a long day."

Picken matches up well with the Huskies O-line as its members are smaller than many in the league. If the Rams get past the Huskies in Friday's Canada West semifinal (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) and come up against the Dinos or Manitoba Bisons in the conference final, he may have trouble.

"When that happens and we have Mike in there, we'll have to move him around, doing slants and that kind of thing," said McCrystal.

Picken would love a chance to get to use his speed against the Huskies at least one more time this season.

"I get pushed around a little bit, but I just have to work on getting my footing properly," said Picken. "I have to keep a level head and make sure I maintain my gap."

RAMBLINGS: Person and running back Graham Mosiondz (foot) both practised Monday for the first time in three weeks ... Slotback Brenden Owens (shoulder) and offensive lineman Jon Hashem (ankle), who both left Saturday's game are day-to-day as the Rams prepare for Friday. Neither practised Monday.

tswitzer@leaderpost.canwest.com

© Leader-Post 2007


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