New starters finding CFL stride, helping Riders defence start strong

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defence may have some new faces in 2021 but they have answered the bell so far.

The defence saw many veterans leave during the extended break between 2019 and 2021. Defensive end Charleston Hughes and linebacker Cam Judge both joined the Toronto Argonauts, linebacker Solomon Elimimian retired, linebacker Derrick Moncrief left to join the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, defensive lineman Zack Evans is a free agent and defensive back L.J. McCray chose not to join the team for 2021, as of now.

It means the Riders have turned to a new group of players and the results are starting to show.

Defensive ends Keion Adams and Jonathan Woodard, linebackers Micah Teitz, Deon Lacey and AJ Hendy as well as defensive lineman Garrett Marino and defensive back Blace Brown have found themselves as contributors early in this season’s campaign.

The Riders defence leads the CFL with eight sacks and is second in the league with four interceptions.

Between the seven of them there was 83 games of CFL experience – Lacey played in 54 games between 2014-16, Brown appeared in two in 2019, and Teitz played in 27 mostly as a special-teams player.

“(All of them) come with a great toolbox already and that’s been a plus,” said defensive co-ordinator Jason Shivers said of the first year CFL players. “They are really soaking up the defence and they go out there and execute at a high level.”

Woodard, Hendy and Brown played key roles in the team’s 30-8 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 14. Woodard had three sacks and a forced fumble in the game and Brown and Hendy both had his first career CFL interceptions.

“It’s an exhilarating feeling to see guys that come on, new to the team – Blace not so much but being (a first-year) starter … You love when those guys have success, you just want to cheer for them.”

Brown said the biggest change he’s made to his game in his second CFL season was to have more focus out on the field.

“I was a little goofy (in 2019) just being a rookie and not knowing too much of what is going on in the CFL and now that I have a grip on things, I watch a lot more of the games and everything is starting to come to me,” Brown said.

The second game of the CFL season went a little smoother than the first for the Riders, with the team undefeated at 2-0.

The team lead 31-0 before halftime but just staved off a B.C, Lions comeback to win 33-29 on Aug. 6.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the team believes the biggest improvement you can see happens between weeks one and two.

“We expected improvement and we saw it. I think the more they are around the CFL – a lot of these guys are rookies to the CFL but they aren’t rookies to pro football – so the more they see, the more they are going to get,” Dickenson said. “I was pleased with some of our first-year players and hopefully they continue to get better and we see some more first-year players make some impact.”

The Riders will welcome the 1-0 Ottawa Redblacks to Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.

While the Redblacks offence only managed 94 net yards in their 16-12 win over the Edmonton Elks, Dickenson expects them to come out firing this week.

“I’m sure they’ve done some self-scouting and they will try to come out and do things a bit differently. Matt Nichols is a good quarterback and they’ve got some good people on that team and we know it and they are 1-0,” Dickenson said. “I don’t know why (Ottawa) is picked ninth in the power rankings when you have 0-2 teams.”

Kickoff for the game is 5 p.m.

The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway at 3 p.m.

Notes: Defensive end AC Leonard left practice early with a hip injury … Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy left early as well but Dickenson says he will be fine … Fullback Albert Awachie is questionable for the game. The team signed fullback Alexandre Dupuis.