Robertson, Lanier II provide dynamic defensive duo for Riders

A phone call two years ago helped bring together a dynamic duo to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive line.

“I ended up signing right before (Anthony Lanier II) and I remember he was calling me because he was all over the place,” defensive end Pete Robertson said.

“He said, ‘Hey, Dirty — that’s the nickname he calls me — and he was like, ‘You going to Canada?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, man, come with me, I think it would be something we would both enjoy.’ ”

“He said, ‘Hey, man, I’m going over (to Saskatchewan). Come up here with me and let’s do it again and go up here and show them how we ball,’ ” Lanier II added.

“I came up here, got to know the other guys around us and we said, ‘We’re going to take everything we know about each other and the game and put it into each other so we can all ball.’ ”

Robertson and Lanier II had been teammates on the then-Washington Redskins in 2017 and ’18.

Both joined the Riders for the 2021 CFL season — Robertson had originally signed in 2020 but the season was cancelled — and became contributors on the team in their first season.

Lanier II had one sack in 13 games at defensive tackle while Robertson had five sacks in 11 games.

Now starters in 2022, the two have been causing havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Robertson has a CFL-leading seven sacks while Lanier II is in second in the league with four.

They’ll try to add to their statistics Friday when the Roughriders play host to the Ottawa Redblacks at 7:30 p.m. The Green Zone Game Day shows start at 5 p.m.

If you’ve been around Riders practice, you’ve probably heard Lanier II at some point. The 29-year-old is often yelling and poking fun at other teammates or letting out one of his dog howls.

“I just always want to be having a good time. One thing I hope I give a person each day is a smile or something to be happy about because you never know what people are going through,” Lanier II said.

“I have the dog call because you put in that dog work. If that dog don’t hunt, the dog don’t eat.”

Both were named CFL top performers for Week 4, with Lanier II recording three sacks and a forced fumble and Robertson adding two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Saskatchewan’s 41-20 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.

“Iron sharpens iron so when you sit in there and you look across the edge of the line from somebody who you know and love and they are saying they are going to get (to the quarterback) before you do, it makes a pretty competitive race,” Lanier II said.

Robertson was also named a CFL top performer for June, along with teammate Jamal Morrow.

“I haven’t really thought about what (the award) means to me, just more what it means to the team,” Robertson said. “It shows the guys that every game, the next game upcoming that I’m here to play.”

As Lanier II and Robertson have made the adjustment to the CFL, Robertson said it has been nice to have someone he’s familiar with when coming to a new country and new league.

“Just with that chemistry and that bond and brotherhood that me and him built over the years, it was a great feeling,” Robertson said.

“When I was coming in last year, I wouldn’t have known everyone but I knew I had a guy that I could depend on and lean on for certain situations.”