Jones, Riders looking to find replacements on D-line at camp

CFL.ca Staff

REGINA — They haven’t played a game yet this season, but that isn’t stopping Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Chris Jones from keeping score.

“We keep score every day,” Jones told members of the media after the second day of training camp.

“Yesterday the offence won by four and today the defence won by 18. Usually that’s the case when you put the pads on for the first time.”

The Riders defence, and more specifically the defensive line, had an extra spring in their step in the heat on Monday.

The Riders defensive linemen go through drills during the first few days of training camp (Riderville.com)

With two key off-season departures – free agent defensive ends AC Leonard and Ese Mrabure – the competition to fill those roles was hot and heavy during the first few days of training camp.

Leonard made an impact in his second season in Riderville in 2017, playing in 17 games and collecting 33 tackles and five sacks while Mrabure suited up in 16 games and tallied 17 tackles and two sacks. That meant finding replacements for those two guys was at the top of Jones’ list heading into training camp.

“We brought a lot of guys because we lost a good player in AC (Leonard),” said Jones. “We had to find a guy that can replace him. Ese (Mrabure) played some really good football for us too. We had two big holes to fill and certainly we had to bring in enough guys to be able to be wrong on some.

“We’ll be wrong on some of them. We will think that they are guys that we are looking for and they won’t be. But hopefully we will be able to find their replacements.”

Charleston Hughes, who was acquired by an off-season trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will add physicality to the Riders defensive line after finishing the season with a league-leading 11 sacks. In 147 career games over 10 seasons with the Stampeders, Hughes collected 372 defensive tackles, 38 special teams tackles, 99 sacks, three interceptions and one touchdown. Zack Evans was also an off-season pick up for the Roughriders that will be looking to make an impact on the inside of the line in 2018.

Willie Jefferson will be looking to build on his stellar 2017 campaign this year (Riderville.com)

While the new players wearing green and white will be looking to impress the team’s coaching staff, Willie Jefferson has already made himself known. The terror for opposing quarterbacks played 18 games in Saskatchewan and collected 45 tackles, eight sacks and one touchdown.

“If he doesn’t get double teamed, he’s pretty hard to handle,” Jones laughed when asked about Jefferson. “I think with Charleston (Hughes) on the other side and some of these guys that we’re adding, they’re not going to always put their double team to Willie.”

Tobi Antigha gives the Roughriders even more options for Jones and his staff on certain coverages as he heads into his second CFL season. The 25-year-old played in 17 games in his rookie campaign with Saskatchewan and tallied 30 tackles and five sacks.

“We can match Charleston up and we can put Tobi in coverage situations,” Jones said, explaining his options on the defensive line. “We can match Tobi up on some guys. Certainly, it gives us some options on second and long.”

– With files from Riderville.com

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