REGINA — After each day of training camp, middle linebacker Rey Williams joins some of the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive linemen for some hand-to-hand combat.
The extra practice session appears to be choreographed. Williams and a teammate square off on the sidelines while the other players stroll off the turf at Mosaic Stadium.
Then a spirited exchange of hand-slapping and shoulder-pad grabbing takes place.
Then a spirited exchange of hand-slapping and shoulder-pad grabbing takes place.
The drills are part of Williams’ preparations for some of the changes that defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry has planned for the Riders’ defence.
“I feel that I’m going to blitzing a lot more this year and I haven’t done that in the past,” said Williams, who is expected to be the starting middle linebacker when the Riders open the regular season on July 3 against the visiting B.C. Lions. “I’m going to be engaged with the offensive linemen more and they like to get their hands on you. We don’t do that as linebackers during practice.”
“I feel that I’m going to blitzing a lot more this year and I haven’t done that in the past,” said Williams, who is expected to be the starting middle linebacker when the Riders open the regular season on July 3 against the visiting B.C. Lions. “I’m going to be engaged with the offensive linemen more and they like to get their hands on you. We don’t do that as linebackers during practice.”
Williams played defensive end at Hofstra University, so he’s familiar with the battle in the trenches. He’s just a little rusty after moving to linebacker when his college career was completed.
“Linebackers don’t like wrestling with the offensive linemen, but I do,” said Williams, who is headed into his third season with the Riders but first on top of the depth chart for middle linebacker. “I fare pretty well against them.”
Williams joined the Riders in 2007 and dressed for two games. He dressed for 15 games in 2008, including four starts at linebacker, and exhibited enough potential that the Riders were able to let Maurice Lloyd sign with the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent.
Williams is being counted on to fill the void left by Lloyd, who was a CFL all-star in 2008.
Williams is being counted on to fill the void left by Lloyd, who was a CFL all-star in 2008.
“I’m not looking to replace Mo,” said Williams, who at six feet and 228 pounds is roughly the same stature as Lloyd (five-foot-11, 235 pounds). “I want to be better than Mo. Every game I want to get better and hopefully my best is better than Mo Lloyd’s was. That’s what keeps me motivated through every game and every practice.”
Etcheverry has stressed that there is competition at middle linebacker, even though Williams appears to have the edge.
“(Lloyd) was very effective for us and our team is going to miss him,” said Etcheverry. “We have semi-redefined the position and we’re expecting different things from the person who wins the competition.”
“(Lloyd) was very effective for us and our team is going to miss him,” said Etcheverry. “We have semi-redefined the position and we’re expecting different things from the person who wins the competition.”
Williams, who re-signed with the Riders rather than test free agency during the off-season, is fine with competing for the starting job.
“I think anyone who comes in needs to compete for a spot,” said Williams. “To be a better football player, you have to compete every day.”
Williams is also excited about one of the responsibilities that may be added to the middle linebacker. There will be an opportunity for the starter to call the defensive plays in Etcheverry’s system.
“I think anyone who comes in needs to compete for a spot,” said Williams. “To be a better football player, you have to compete every day.”
Williams is also excited about one of the responsibilities that may be added to the middle linebacker. There will be an opportunity for the starter to call the defensive plays in Etcheverry’s system.
“It’s a challenge and it’s something new,” said Williams. “It makes you become a better football player and you learn more about the game that way.”
Regina Leader-Post
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