By Mitchell Blair
For Riderville.com
Jerrell Freeman admits that if he wasn’t playing football right now, he would probably be in the middle of getting his law degree. Some in the CFL would tell you that Freeman has been laying down the law all season.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker has had a tremendous 2011. Its one that will almost certainly garner him the team nomination for most outstanding defensive player, and it could arguably give him the distinction of being named the Riders most outstanding player.
The 25-year-old linebacker leads the CFL in tackles going into this week’s game against Calgary with 86. He also has three interceptions and four sacks while leading a Rider defence that despite the team’s 4-11 season has had better numbers than one might expect from a squad that has accumulated just four wins in 2011.
“Things have gone pretty good as far as I’m concerned, “Freeman said after a recent practice. “I got banged up a little bit and that forced me to miss one game, but I’ve been able to fly around the field and make plays. I just feel that making tackles isn’t enough. I’m looking to do more than just make a tackle. I want to make a sack or create a turnover or do something positive for our team on every play I’m on the field if I’m given the opportunity.”
Freeman came to Saskatchewan in 2009 and while he dressed in all 17 games, he never had the opportunity to start at linebacker as he made all his contributions on special teams.
While he didn’t start in 2010, the graduate of tiny Mary Hardin-Baylor, a division 3 school in Central Texas, did see the field quite a bit and he flourished leading the team in sacks with 7 including three in a July game against B.C. that allowed him to be named the defensive player of the week. If the Riders had won the Grey Cup, chances are Freeman would have been named the game’s top defensive player after an effort in which he had eight tackles, two knockdowns and a quarterback sack in the 21-18 Montreal win.
It was expected that Freeman would come to camp this season and inherit one of the linebackers’ jobs and that is exactly what he did. Freeman knew the coaching staff had the desire to have Freeman be an impact player. He says he had no problems in doing that and living up to the expectations of the coaching staff.
“I didn’t feel any pressure from the coaching staff,” Freeman admitted. “If there was any pressure, it was the pressure I put on myself because I’m my worst critic. I just push myself as hard as I can and be the best player I can be.”
Defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall has been impressed with Freeman’s play and thinks he has only scratched the surface when it comes to what he has shown.
“He’s been solid for us and he’s made a lot of plays.” Hall said. “It’s hard to believe that this is his first year as being a starter. I think what he has learned this year will make him better as he goes along. He needs to take his abilities and experiences and take it to another level. He understands the game and now it’s up to him to understand how he can do the same thing without exerting so much energy,”
Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Ken Miller says what he learned last year in limited action has paid off big-time this year.
“He shows up on game-day. There has been a few times this year when he hasn’t practiced on day one or day two, but when the lights come on, he gets that look in his eye and you know he’s ready.” Miller stated. “This is his first year as a starter, but he got a lot of opportunities last year, especially down the stretch and he came through with flying colours. He just continued to progress at the start of camp this year and he has been fabulous right from the opening day of training camp.”
Freeman is well aware of the talk around him when it comes to being the Riders most outstanding defensive player and while he preaches that it is a team game, he does acknowledge that he is thinking about that honour and perhaps getting more.
“I have personal goals and those goals are lofty ones,” Freeman said with a laugh. “My goal was to come in and be the best defensive player in the league and I think my numbers have shown that I have put myself in that position.”
Freeman adds that while the Riders are out of the playoffs, it doesn’t mean his intensity will wane any over the last three weeks.
“I don’t care if we are 15-0 or 0-15,” Freeman insisted. “The bottom line for me is to be a professional and to have pride. I will be playing with the same philosophy, the same passion and the same intensity. I can guarantee you of that.”
Whether or not Jerrell Freeman follows in the footsteps of other Riders like John Chick and Vince Goldsmith, who have been named CFL defensive player of the year, is something that can’t be answered for a few weeks yet, but there is nothing to suggest that he isn’t worthy of receiving the league’s top honour. There are some offensive players around the league that would certainly testify to that.
