It seems like Tobi Antigha is in perpetual motion.
Antigha played receiver in college before being moved to defensive end by Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones in 2017. The shift paid off, as Antigha’s play at his new position earned him the award as the Roughriders’ top rookie.
In his second CFL season, the 25-year-old product of Tampa, Fla., has been moving all over the Roughriders’ defence. He spends the majority of his time at rush end, but he also has played some defensive tackle and some linebacker.
“I’m everywhere,” he said with a chuckle in advance of Thursday’s game at Mosaic Stadium against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7 p.m., CKRM, TSN). “Pretty soon I’ll invent a new position and they’ll have to call it a different position.
“It’s fun being able to line up in different spots and making plays in different spots.”
So far this season, Antigha has three defensive tackles, two special-teams stops and a fumble recovery.
According to Jones, Antigha’s intellect and film study is the reason why he’s asked (and able) to play so many positions on the Roughriders’ defence.
“He’s a lot like Anwar Stewart, where he ends up where the ball is,” Jones said in reference to the former Montreal Alouettes defender. “I’m trying to use those talents.”
Antigha confirmed that having to know what’s going on at different positions is a challenge, but it’s one he’s willing to accept.
The more versatility he can show, the better.
“Knowing all the positions on the field is a difficult responsibility, especially when there are live bullets flying around and there’s pressure to get the play call and understand what you’re doing in a quick, timely manner,” he said. “It’s always tough, but I take that challenge with high expectations that I’ll get the job done.”
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Shaq Evans has one of the more unique names on the Roughriders’ roster, but the rookie receiver has higher aspirations for his handle.
“I’ve made a few plays so far, but I want to make more,” Evans said. “I want to make sure the fans know my name.”
The former NFL prospect enters Thursday’s game as the Roughriders’ leader in receiving yards this season, with 133. Evans has appeared in only two games, though; he had 56 yards on four catches against the Ottawa Redblacks on June 21 and 77 yards on three receptions versus Montreal on Saturday.
One of his catches against the Als was a spectacular leaping grab over cornerback Tommie Campbell for a 35-yard gain.
“It has been years since I played in a game, so you have to remind yourself that you’re still a good player,” said Evans, who last appeared in a regular-season game in 2013 when he was at UCLA. “Making a big-time play like that was huge for my confidence.
“I think I’m off to a good start,” he added. “I’m just trying to make big-time plays for the fans, get them going, get this team going and get a W. That’s all we’re focused on right now.”
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Brandon Bridge will make his second consecutive start at quarterback for the Roughriders, but he hopes his stint Thursday will last longer than the previous one.
Bridge was pulled at halftime of Saturday’s game and replaced by David Watford, who went the rest of the way.
Bridge said he got calls of support from the likes of Kevin Glenn, Nik Lewis and Damon Allen, all of whom told him to stay the course as he prepared for Thursday’s game — which he planned to do anyway.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” he said. “It got me this far. It’s only a bad half of football. If you go back to every other game, everyone is going to say that I was shining bright like a diamond. Now it’s like one bad half and people think hell froze over.
“I just have to bounce back, take what the defence gives me and execute the game plan.”
Jones said he’s planning to treat his starting quarterback like he treated Glenn last season. Whenever Glenn struggled, Jones inserted Bridge — so Bridge is well aware that he has to perform or give way to Watford.
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Jordan Williams-Lambert normally would be manning a barbecue on July 4.
Like all of the Roughriders’ American-born players, Williams-Lambert spent Independence Day on the Mosaic Stadium turf instead of playing games and grilling something in his backyard.
“It’s always good to have family time on July 4, but now this is my family,” the Roughriders’ rookie receiver said. “I don’t mind being around them.”
Williams-Lambert noted that the team’s American players didn’t have anything special planned for Wednesday to mark the 242nd birthday of their country. In his case, he’s going to celebrate with his family in a long-distance way.
“I’ll FaceTime or shoot out a couple of texts and say, ‘Happy Fourth,’ ” Williams-Lambert said. “I’m missing it right now. I’m missing the food.
“But it is what it is. I’m looking forward to (Thursday’s) game and creating another opportunity before the bye week to get a win.”
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The Roughriders enter the game with a 1-2-0 record, which has prompted some members of Rider Nation to push the panic button.
Asked Wednesday if he had a message for the fans, Jones said his focus was on his football team and not the attitude of the team’s faithful.
“If we went undefeated, there’d be somebody complaining,” he said. “I remember when we won the state championship in high school. I was sitting in a café the next day and people were complaining we didn’t throw the ball more.
“I’m not going to sit there and worry about (that). I know what we’ve got to do.”
