It was an off-season of much needed change for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, especially on the defensive-side. In the 3-and-15 season just a year ago, many of the problems began and ended on the opposite side of the football.
Heading into training camp, there are only a handful of familiar faces, and of those who are returning, it doesn’t add up much experience.
Where it is most evident, is with the defensive backfield. Of the over 15 or so defensive backs in camp, only three (Matt Webster, Dan West and Tyree Hollins) are remaining from the end of the 2015 season. There is a familiar face returning to the Green and White in Graig Newman, a few CFL vets and a whole lot of fresh faces to the Canadian game.
After the first couple of days of practice, one thing is for certain: all of the defensive backs must be able to play multiple positions, sometimes in the same game. For example; Newman has seen time at safety, boundary half and field corner. So, for this story, there will be no assigning of positions.
Here’s how things shake down:
The vets (*Indicates International Player):
*Tyree Hollins (2nd year SSK/2nd year CFL)
*Darrius Brooks (1st year SSK/3rd year CFL)
Matt Webster (3rd year SSK/3rd year CFL)
*Ed Gainey (1st year SSK/5th year CFL)
Tevaughn Campbell (1st year SSK/2nd year CFL)
*Johnnie Dixon (1st year SSK/4th year CFL)
Graig Newman (3rd year SSK/5th year CFL)
Dan West (2nd year SSK/5th year CFL)
No one has more than five years of CFL experience and Graig Newman is the elder statesman at 30 years old. Darrius Brooks returns from a couple of seasons in the NFL, and will be looked to as the playmaker in the backfield. In his two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2012-13), Brooks had five interceptions.
The four Canadians will fight for a regular rotation in the backfield but all will make a difference on special teams. Tyree Hollins, Ed Gainey and Johnnie Dixon will need to step up early to improve a Rider secondary that had only ten total interceptions for the season in 2015.
CFL Rookies:
Troy Adams (Northeastern)
*Johnathan Shuler (Austin Peay)
Joel Brtka (Niagra {Jr})
*Justin Cox (Mississippi State)
*Xavier Walker (Middle Tennessee)
*Rollins Stallworth (Stanford)
Troy Adams, Johnathan Schuler and Justin Cox were all at mini-camp in Florida, Cox and Shuler both spent time in the NFL last season. Rollins Stallworth is a former receiver with the Stanford Cardinals.
As camp continues to evolve, you will see constant movement of players from position to position. Not just in the defensive backfield, but from offence to defence. Riders supplemental draft pick, Kevin Francis was a receiver in college, but has taken reps at linebacker and defensive back; Jordan Reeves was originally a defensive back, but has taken reps at linebacker and now at defensive end.
This will be a work in process right up to the home opener June 30th at Mosaic Stadium and beyond. One thing you can count on, this will be an athletic and aggressive group of backs.
