Riderville.com
The concept of change is a common theme through the first week of training camp in Saskatchewan.
Many players are adjusting to the new coaches, new teammates or new positions.
The biggest notice has been the switch of positions by Tyron Brackenridge and Craig Butler.
Brackenridge was the Riders Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 as an outstanding linebacker, while Butler continued to show that he’s got the talent to be a future All-Canadian at safety.
Well, think again.
The Riders are switching it up as Butler has been seen in the box at linebacker and Tyron Brackenridge has made the move to the safety spot in Saskatchewan.
But the two are definitely excited about the new look defence being employed by Richie Hall.
“It’s showing me that the coaches want me on the field and they want me to play. I think it shows we are going to have a lot of interesting schemes on defence and the next couple of weeks all of that will come to light and I’m excited.”
Last year was a painful year for not only Butler but the Rider fans who watched him in his rookie year destroy Buck Pierce and make numerous big plays. Butler’s sophomore year was more so on special teams and a rare appearance in the defensive back field.
With veteran safety James Patrick gone to Hamilton, it opened up a spot and Butler is ready to jump right in.
“Whatever the coaches here want me to do, I’m here to win a championship, that’s what I’m here to do. They’re putting me in position to make plays so it’s up to me.”
Last year, the playmaker on the defensive side of the ball was Brackenridge. He had 77 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown in his first full season in green.
In year one he was a halfback, year two a linebacker and now in year three he’s making the move to safety.
Brackenridge has no problem with learning another position.
“It’s allowing me to be more of free player. It allows me to see more of the field and it’s something that they thought I’d be really good at back there and help the defence and contribute and make plays.”
Versatility seems to be the name of the game on the Riders defence this season because it’s not only Brackenridge and Butler making moves.
During the first few days of camp in Saskatoon, many players have found themselves in one spot one day and another next.
Defensive Coordinator Richie Hall had a pretty big smile on his face when asked about the versatility that his defensive players have and the schemes he can put in place because of it.
“Oh I think you can be very creative. The one thing we’ve always asked our players to do is we want football players, not halfbacks or this or that. That means they can play multiple positions.”
“When you look at those people that you mentioned they all have the ability to play more than one position and therefore that makes us more of an effective defence.”
The versatility isn’t only applying to the defensive backfield and the linebackers it also applies to the players up front.
The Riders brought in Jermaine McElveen and John Chick and add them to defensive line that already features Tearrius George.
All three can play inside and rush the quarterback and they also have proven they can stand at defensive end at get to the quarterback.
Chick’s late arrival made the Roughriders pass rush a whole lot better.
“What he provides is experience. A guy who has played at this level, had a lot of success at this level, a good leader and that creates depth for us,” explained Hall.
“It’s just up to him and the other guys rallying around and making us a better pass rush than we were before he came here.”
What the Riders actually have up their sleeve will be unveiled as the season goes on but as you talk to more of the defensive players, they are definitely excited about what Hall and his fellow defensive coaches are writing up for 2013.
