Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
Running through the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive feats is probably what it feels like if you comb through the report card of an honour roll student.
The Riders finished first in net offensive yards allowed (317.5 per game), tied for first in sacks made (45), were first in two-and-outs forced (107), tied for first in interceptions (21) and were second in points off of turnovers (147). Their 11 pick-sixes is a CFL record.
They were also second in opponents’ rushing yards (91.9 per game) and first in opponents’ passing yards (245.8 per game).
That prized student took another step forward this year.
RELATED:
» Collaros feels he’ll be ready to go on game day
» Nye: What helps and hurts the Riders in the playoffs
» Landry: Sam Eguavoen has the make of a superstar
» Exclusive Q&A with Riders defensive end Willie Jefferson
In its third year under Chris Jones’ guidance, this Riders’ defence is the embodiment of what he’s come to be known for as a defensive coordinator. It’s hyper-aggressive, loves forcing turnovers and can fire itself at an offence with looks and formations that it never has to deal with otherwise. The similes, metaphors, analogies and adjectives for it could go on forever. A member of that whatever you want to call it defence for three years now, Ed Gainey sums it up best.
“Fireworks,” the defensive back and West CFL All-Star said on Thursday.
In his time in Saskatchewan, Gainey has blossomed into one of the league’s biggest defensive threats. The three interceptions he had this year put him at 16 as a Rider. He had two in four years split between Hamilton and Montreal before that.
“People don’t get to the football like we do,” he said. “We get a game plan each week and we work out the kinks and everything and we make sure that the game is more physical than mental.
“We feel like if teams match up against us physically then we’re going to win every time. The way we prepare, the way we pursue the football it makes us different from other teams.”
While you have the likes of Gainey, Loucheiz Purifoy and Nick Marshall in the backfield, the defensive linemen are the face of this beast and it starts a yard off of the ball with them.
Willie Jefferson has spent all five of his years in the CFL with Jones. At six-foot-six and 245 pounds, Jefferson doesn’t look the part of the generally shorter, more stout quarterback chasers in the league, but he thrives in Jones’ schemes. His bias for the present-day lineup he’s in noted, he said that this one is the best of the five he’s played in.
“When I signed here in 2016, middle of the season (after being cut in the NFL), coach Jones already told me it was time for a culture change and that’s what I came here to do. I came to set the standard,” said Jefferson, also a West All-Star that had 34 tackles, 10 sacks and two interceptions that took a long, scenic route back for touchdowns.
“Charleston (Hughes) came here this year…helped it out and we’re back in the playoffs trying to get to the Grey Cup.”
Hughes, the longtime Calgary Stampeder, had the third-best season of his career in Saskatchewan. At 34, he had a league-leading 15 sacks and was named a West All-Star.
“Willie came with us at the end of the first year (in 2016) and right away was a really good player for us,” Jones said. “Certainly Charleston when he came over, you put him on the other side and it’s a good combo.”
Like Jefferson, defensive lineman Eddie Steele has played for Jones for the last five seasons, following him from Edmonton to Saskatchewan. In that time, Steele has learned that you might be asked to do some unconventional things. In Steele’s case, it’s the odd stint on the offensive line.
“He definitely isn’t afraid to put guys into different positions to make plays. He likes to use his athletes in unorthodox ways,” Steele said, “but successful, that’s one word that can explain his defences.
“Ever since I’ve been with him we’ve been one of the top defences in the league, that’s for sure.”
Jones has built defences in Montreal, Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton and now Saskatchewan with the same philosophies. This one is special because of its productivity, but that could come from continuity, too. The three years Jones has spent with the Riders is his longest stop since he spent five years in Calgary from 2008 to 2012.
The Riders defence and by extension the team, have exceeded just about everyone’s expectations this season. The architect of this defence, Jones might be the least surprised. Like any coach, he continued to look at what his team could do, as opposed to what it’s done.
“You can’t ever say that you’re going to go out and do some of the things we’ve done,” he said, shortly after finding out he is the West nominee for coach of the year.
“Early on our goal is to try to score 10 defensive touchdowns. We’ve been close in years past. Quite honestly, there’s about three more out there that we should have scored but we left them out on the field.
“You always set high expectations if you want to be a great defence. Really, you just want the respect of the rest of the league.”
