Greg Harder
Leader-Post

REGINA -- As the Saskatchewan Roughriders' resident jack of all trades, Tad Kornegay was well positioned to enjoy a breakout season in 2009.

So, what does he do for an encore?

"You just want to play better," offered Kornegay, who was converted from defensive back to outside linebacker during last year's training camp. "I'm getting used to it now. This is my sixth year (in the CFL). I'm definitely getting my wisdom years in so the game is getting slower for me and I think I'll do very well this year. I know the position. I know (Gary Etcheverry's) defence better now. I'm in a comfort zone."

The 2009 campaign will be tough to top for Kornegay, who became a full-time starter for the first time in three seasons with the Riders. He was also named a West Division all-star for the first time in his career after recording 74 defensive tackles, 10 special-teams tackles, four forced fumbles, three recoveries and three interceptions.

By the way, he did it all while pinballing between a variety of positions due to injuries, seeing time at two different linebacker spots as well as cornerback and halfback positions.

"How many people can do that?" said Etcheverry, who agreed that Kornegay is a defensive co-ordinator's dream. "Last year some people had questions and he basically defined the position. He has done just a fabulous job for us. I thought he was the most valuable player on our defence last year because he played a multitude of positions. He did everything. I've said before, if we lined him up at nose guard, he'd play that and they couldn't block him."

Etcheverry feels that one of the backbones of the Rider defence is the flexibility of its parts. In theory, that means the team doesn't skip a beat when the inevitable occurs and players miss time due to injuries.

Kornegay epitomizes that philosophy, hence the nickname "Mr. Everything."

"I love it!" said the 5-foot-10, 185-pound import, who signed a new deal in the off-season -- just two days after becoming a free agent. "I've been blessed with this (ability) so I'm going to take advantage of it. Any way I can help my teammates out and the team, I'm going to do it. I'm very privileged that I can be out here and help every position out. Wherever they put me, I want to be at my best."

Although he has been a defensive back for most of his life, Kornegay is already starting to feel like a linebacker. He's also adjusting to more of a leadership role, accepting the torch from veteran guys like former secondary captain Eddie Davis, who retired in the off-season.

"I'm on the bubble," Kornegay, 28, said with laugh. "Every day I say I'm still 22 years old but I'm starting to feel it a little bit. I'm definitely all for (being a leader). I'm all about the young guys who want to be here, be successful here and help our program out. Sometimes I have to realize I am the guy who can pass on the knowledge.

"We lost a lot of big guys like Eddie Davis, John Chick, (Stevie) Baggs and Renauld Williams. I'm one of the other guys that did very well and knows this defence very well so I definitely have to pass on that knowledge. I like my role now."

In terms of his individual performance, Kornegay is convinced he can be even better this season. That said, he has a different kind of encore in mind -- a Grey Cup encore, one with a different result.

"The No. 1 goal is to win that Grey Cup," he added. "We came a little short last year (losing in the final seconds to the Montreal Alouettes). That's basically what I want to do. I was a Western all-star. It would be good to be a CFL all-star but my main focus is on winning every game and trying to get that Grey Cup."

Courtesy: www.leaderpost.com