RIDING THE DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
We’ve all heard the old addage “Defence wins championships”. Well it appears Corey Chamblin and the Saskatchewan Roughriders subscribe heavily to that belief. Despite losing four of their last five games, where offence seemed to be the team’s sticking point, the Riders went out and acquire three CFL experienced defenders. Linebacker Ejiro Kuale, as insurance for Rey Williams who suffered a season ending knee injury. Defensive back Rod Williams, a former Edmonton Eskimo who has a history of being a aggressive pass defender. And more recently, defensive end Alex Hall, the CFL sack leader joining a line that is already putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Is this an example of the team focusing too much on one side of the ball with Chamblin being a defensive coach. Not really, instead it just shows what the second year head coach learned in his rookie season. In last year’s Western Semi-final in Calgary, the offence regained its explosive form, and put the Riders in position to win until the team defence broke down late. A play that likely cost Chris McKenzie a spot on this year’s team and why Dwight Anderson was sought in the off-season. Chamblin is confident the offence will eventually find the form it showed at the beginning of the season, instead he is insuring that on the cold November nights, the defence will deliver. We won’t know if this formula will work until the playoffs begin, but October 19th vs. BC and October 26th vs. Calgary will give us a better indication if he’s on the right track.
NOTES
–LB Weldon Brown will miss his fourth game with a knee injury but is expected to return for October 19th vs. BC
