Training camp: A look at the defence

Stingy defences have been Chris Jones’ calling card during his CFL coaching career.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t live up to that standard in 2016 — Jones’ first season as the team’s head coach and defensive co-ordinator.

Saskatchewan finished the season ranked eighth in the nine-team league in such statistical categories as points allowed (530), touchdowns surrendered (53) and net offence allowed (383.7 yards per game), and ninth in stats like yards per play (6.9), sacks (29) and turnovers forced (27).

The defence’s struggles, combined with the woes experienced by the team’s offence, contributed to the Roughriders’ 5-13-0 record in the 2016 regular season.

Saskatchewan opens training camp Sunday in Saskatoon with the goal of improving its defensive showing in 2017 — and the organization made numerous personnel moves in the off-season to address that issue.

Here’s a look at the Roughriders’ defenders entering training camp.

Defensive linemen

The front four accounted for just 19 of the Roughriders’ 29 sacks in 2016, with end A.C. Leonard and tackle Corvey Irvin tying for the team lead with five apiece.

Irvin left in free agency and Saskatchewan replaced him with a younger man in Zach Minter. He’ll be joined inside at camp by fellow free-agent signing Eddie Steele, a former Edmonton Eskimo who has been reunited with Jones.

Steele’s status as a national starter makes him a valuable commodity for Saskatchewan, which didn’t get much production from its Canadian defensive tackles in 2016.

Canadians Linden Gaydosh (who didn’t play for Saskatchewan last season due to injury), Makana Henry, Ese Mrabure and 2017 draft pick Emmanuel Adusei also can play tackle.

International Greg Milhouse Jr., who appeared in one game for the Roughriders last season, could be a force after starring at the team’s mini-camp in Florida.

Leonard and Jonathan Newsome are back at defensive end. So is Willie Jefferson, who re-signed with the Roughriders in the off-season before entering free agency.

Jefferson, another ex-Eskimo, had three sacks in five games last season after signing with the Roughriders following a failed attempt to land a job in the NFL.

Internationals Tobi Antigha and Gary Wilkins — both of whom also can play linebacker — opened eyes at Saskatchewan’s mini-camp in Florida in April and could push for playing time with good showings in Saskatoon.

Canucks Ivan Brown and Jordan Reaves can take reps on defence and are regulars on special teams.

Linebackers

The linebackers who finished 1-2-3 on the team in defensive tackles last season — Otha Foster III (71), Greg Jones (70) and Jeff Knox Jr. (65) — moved on in the off-season.

Canadian Henoc Muamba supplanted Jones as the starting middle linebacker late in the 2016 season, so that spot has been addressed. In five games last season, Muamba had 18 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Sam Eguavoen started ahead of Knox Jr., to begin the 2016 campaign, but a knee injury ended Eguavoen’s season after just six games. He has proclaimed himself healthy for camp, so the weak-side linebacker position appears to be in good hands entering camp.

That leaves the strong-side spot — and there are some intriguing candidates for that job.

Glenn Love was signed as a free agent and Cameron Judge was selected with the No. 2 pick overall in the 2017 draft. Love, a special-teams star, proved to be a fine defender when injuries forced him into the Calgary Stampeders’ starting lineup last season.

Kevin Francis, who played linebacker and safety at times in 2016, also could get a look at the SAM spot. Chris Jones isn’t averse to using defensive backs at linebacker either, and there are numerous possibilities in Saskatchewan’s secondary.

The Roughriders took Alexandre Chevrier in the draft and signed Alexandre Gagne as an undrafted free agent to add to their Canadian depth. The former University of Sherbrooke teammates join Dillon Grondin in the Roughriders’ stable of national ‘backers.

Defensive backs

The Roughriders cut cornerback Fred Bennett and halfback Justin Cox in the off-season, so the hunt will be on in camp for their replacements.

Rookie Zavian Bingham stood out at the Roughriders’ mini-camp in Florida, so he’ll be among the candidates to take Cox’s spot. Former New England Patriots DB Alfonzo Dennard also will get a look in the secondary, as will fellow newcomer Erick Dargan.

Cornerback Kacy Rodgers Jr., and halfback Ed Gainey are back and will be looking to build on their first seasons in Saskatchewan.

Rodgers, a converted safety, had 32 tackles and seven pass knockdowns as a rookie corner in 2016. Gainey, who had been signed as a free agent prior to the 2016 campaign, turned in a stellar season with 49 tackles, 14 knockdowns, three interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown.

At safety, the Roughriders have added a pair of CFL veterans in Marc-Olivier Brouillette and Mike Edem. Jeff Hecht, who started six games at the position last season, re-signed after becoming a free agent and also is the running for the starting position.

Internationals Royce Adams and Tyler Hunter return and will challenge for jobs at camp, as will Canadian Tevaughn Campbell. Newcomers include internationals Reggis Ball and Mark Roberts, a converted receiver.

Defensive backs recorded 10 of Saskatchewan’s 11 interceptions last season, but Cox (four) and Bennett (one) accounted for five of those. The Roughriders will be looking for more production from the secondary — and that search begins again in Saskatoon.