Riders Training Camp Preview: Defensive Linemen and Linebackers

The Riders report to training camp on Saturday June 1st and over the next four days I will take a look at two positions a day to break down who to look out for and what battles I'll be keeping an eye on at training camp.

DEFENSIVE LINE

KEITH SHOLOGAN, RICKY FOLEY, TEARRIUS GEORGE, MICK WILLIAMS, ZACK EVANS, KENNY ROWE, JERMAINE MCELVEEN, ANTONIO COLEMAN, WILL DAVIS, RICHARD SUMLIN, HILEE TAYLOR, RYAN WELLMAN

There is one name missing from the above list and if John Chick were to sign in Saskatchewan you can disregard everything you read about the defensive line of the Riders after this point.

Ricky Foley will vastly improve the ‘effort’ part of the defense. Although Corey Chamblin and Brendan Taman won’t utter his name, they both have said the defensive line needs ‘effort’ on any and every play. So, we gather Odell Willis took plays off last year, which isn’t a much of surprise if you watched him at all last season.

Foley showed that effort in the Grey Cup for Toronto last year. Now it’s a fight to see which rotation of players kick out to the other end spot. Keith Shologan spoke pretty highly of newcomer Will Davis based on what he saw in Florida. Kenny Rowe has the moniker ‘Death Rowe’ from college because of his play with Oregon but it hasn’t yet translated to him making an impact in the CFL.

Antonio Coleman and Hilee Taylor will also be in the running.

However, if Davis, Taylor, Rowe or Coleman is going to make the roster it means they’ll have to beat out two very capable veterans in Tearrius George and Jermaine McElveen. George tied Willis for the team lead in sacks last year, McElveen had the same number of sacks with Hamilton last season.

The benefit these two have is they can ‘get their hand in the dirt’ as defensive tackles and kick outside to rush the quarterback.

This battle is going to fun to watch as there are some offensive tackles that are fighting for jobs as well.

LINEBACKERS

TYRON BRACKENRIDGE, ABRAHAM KROMAH, RENAULD WILLIAMS, MIKE MCCULLOUGH, SAM HURL, CORY HUCLACK, DIAMOND FERRI, TRISTAN BLACK, AARON CRAWFORD, BRIAN PETERS, ANTHONY HEYGOOD, KEVIN REGIMBALD-GAGNE, THOMAS SPOLETINI, BRETT PISIO, JORDAN MATECHUK

This is a pretty set unit for the Roughriders off the start that everyone should be confident in.

They have their veterans, who are slotted in to spots like Brackenridge, Williams and Kromah.

But they also have their new comers like Brian Peters and Anthony Heygood who have the talent to push these guys to get into the starting unit. I mentioned in the look at DBs that I like the height and size of Chip Vaughn to possibly fit in at an outside linebacker spot, backing up Brackenridge. I’m excited about seeing these three because they come in with great reputations and pedigree.

There should be great competition here.

We should also see a lot more of Sam Hurl at linebacker this year when they go a 3-4 defense. Hurl is on his way to turning into a ratio buster for the Riders at linebacker and should be excited to watch in his sophomore year.

Diamond Ferri is a great safety valve if the rookie linebackers don’t pan out but could be in tough to stick around, unless they need him to return kicks.

What the Riders do with their non-import linebackers is fill the depth chart full of special teamers. McCullough, Tristan Black, Cory Huclack will be vital there but also have the ability to step up if a starter goes down. Message to Gagne, Spoletini and Pisio are work your butt off to get down field on special teams, don’t leave your lanes, make your tackles and there may be a future in this league.