Tobi Antigha’s part-time job became full-time employment in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ most-recent game.
On a few plays this CFL season, the Roughriders’ second-year defensive end has dropped to safety in the scheme devised by head coach-GM Chris Jones. But during a 26-19 loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 2, Antigha played all but three defensive snaps at safety.
“It was kind of unexpected, but I’ve always been prepared because I know a little bit about every position on the field,” Antigha said in advance of Sunday’s CFL clash with the Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium (5 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
“With what we do, safety is a really easy task so I knew I’d be able to make that transition.”
Mike Edem was to man the safety spot for Saskatchewan against the host Eskimos, but a pre-game roster snafu forced the Roughriders to scratch strong-side linebacker Matt Elam before the opening kickoff.
As a result, Edem moved up to play SAM and backup safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette started in place of Edem. But Brouillette was injured on Edmonton’s third offensive play, so the Roughriders turned to Antigha.
The former receiver has taken snaps this season at defensive end, linebacker and safety, but he’s not a prototypical CFL safety at 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds. Even so, Antigha wasn’t completely out of his element playing centre field.
“It was interesting hearing on the sideline, ‘Hey Tobi, do you know safety?’ ” he recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ (Jones) said, ‘All right, you’re playing safety the rest of the game.’ I said, ‘OK.’ I’ve been prepared for it, so it wasn’t something I couldn’t do.
“It is different, though. It’s a lot different than playing in the box or on the line of scrimmage. You have to make plays from depth and that’s a different type of body movement.”
After dropping to safety in previous games, Antigha recorded two interceptions — including one he returned 52 yards for a
touchdown in Saskatchewan’s 34-22 loss to Calgary on July 28. In Edmonton, Antigha had one tackle and one fumble recovery.
His full-game stint at safety didn’t lead to a new appreciation for defensive backs and the amount of ground they have to cover, though.
“I was ready to run around the field and try to make plays,” Antigha said. “Besides, with the way we pursue, everybody runs on the defence. Everybody’s expected to sprint and run all over the field.”
Elam and Edem are slated to play in their normal positions Sunday, which would allow Antigha to return to defensive end — at least until a defensive call sends him back to safety.
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Roughriders defensive end Charleston Hughes had two sacks in Calgary’s previous regular-season visit to Mosaic Stadium.
That was the first game Hughes played against the Stampeders since they traded him to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Feb. 2. Shortly after that transaction, Hamilton sent Hughes to the Roughriders.
On Sunday, Hughes gets another chance to get after Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
“I’m ready to play against them again,” said Hughes, who went into the week with a league-leading nine sacks this season.
“I know they’re revved up to play me and to face me one more time, especially after the two sacks that I got in the last game. I know they put in a new tackle, Randy Richards, and I know he feels like he has what it takes to face me. Step up to the challenge and we’ll see.”
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The game Sunday concludes the CFL’s “Diversity is Strength” weekend.
Several Roughriders were wearing the league-issued T-shirt that was created for the campaign when they met with the media Saturday. In Saskatchewan, the green T-shirts feature the number ‘32’ and the name ‘Hughes’ on the back.
The shirts pay tribute to former Roughriders running back/special-teamer Neal Hughes, who is Metis. He’s one of 12 individuals with ties to the CFL whom the league is honouring this weekend for helping to break down societal barriers.
“Diversity is Strength in itself means that this league is full of so many different nationalities and people that come from all different walks of life,” said Saskatchewan cornerback Jovon Johnson, who was sporting the T-shirt.
“Honouring a guy like Neal Hughes, who I played with years ago (in 2007), is special just because you never know a guy’s background until you actually get to know him. Playing with him, I learned a little bit about him and what his life was all about.
“It’s a special moment for him.”
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The Roughriders cancelled their on-field walkthrough Saturday, opting, in Jones’ words, to “do something different.”
The coaches and players stayed indoors for meetings and other activities instead of hitting the field for the hour-long session.
“We did a little bit more when we brought them back,” said Jones, whose team had a bye last week — part of a 17-day stretch between games. “We had a long break and we did a little bit more working out this week than what is a normal week. We put them in the weight room a lot.
“What I was trying to do (Saturday) was get them off their feet and out of the heat.”
