BAGGS AND CHICK

Riders' defensive ends Stevie Baggs (left) and John Chick during practice at the Credit Union EventPlex on Wednesday. The pair of defensive terrors are making a run for CFL sack leader. Baggs has 11 sacks and is tied with B.C. Lions defensive end Ricky Foley, while Chick has 10.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post

REGINA — There is room in professional football for friendly competition.

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive ends Stevie Baggs and John Chick are involved in one for the team and league sack lead. Baggs has 11 sacks and is tied for the CFL lead with B.C. Lions defensive end Ricky Foley. Chick has recorded 10, good enough for a third-place tie with John Bowman of the Montreal Alouettes.

“John and I are competitive but it hasn’t led to any bad blood between us,’’ Baggs said after the Riders completed Wednesday’s workout at the Credit Union Eventplex. “It has actually brought us closer together because of the success that we’ve had. As long as we’re winning, that competition can be one that we strive for.’’

That doesn’t mean Chick and Baggs aren’t above some good-natured ribbing when it comes to those sack totals.

“We both want the lead but it’s really very friendly,’’ said Chick. “I can honestly say that it’s not on our minds to any great extent. When one guy gets one, the other guy says he’s going to get another one but what we’re really focused on is the next two weeks.’’

The final two weeks of the season hold a great deal of promise for the Riders. A win Saturday over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats would clinch a home playoff game for the Roughriders. The Riders would finish first in the West Division for the first time since 1976 with a victory on Nov. 7 over the Calgary Stampeders.

“Two more wins and we’ve done something that this team hasn’t done in 33 years,’’ said Chick. “We’re really looking at that, getting a week’s rest and seeing who’s coming to our house. That is more important.’’

Baggs and Chick are among the league’s best pass-rushing ends and have helped the Riders (9-6-1) accumulate 37 sacks. The Lions are the CFL sack leaders with 42, followed by Montreal with 38. Defensive ends Bowman and Anwar Stewart lead Montreal with 19 combined sacks. Foley and Brent Johnson, the Lions’ defensive ends, have combined for 17 total sacks.

Baggs, Chick and Luc Mullinder, who is part of the Riders’ rotation at defensive end, have a total of 23 sacks. It’s a statistic that Baggs feels could be higher if the Riders played a more conventional defence.

“We’re a cutting-edge defence, which means we don’t have four down linemen rushing the quarterback,’’ said Baggs, who has 51 tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception this season. “If John and I rushed every play — like most teams — we would have more sacks. Despite that, we’re still among the league leaders in sacks.’’

Chick feels the Riders’ defensive scheme is geared more toward the team than the sack totals of the defensive ends. Baggs and Chick didn’t record a sack in Saturday’s 33-30 overtime victory over the Lions but linebacker Sean Lucas had two and defensive halfback Eddie Davis had one.
“Last week, we were instrumental in a lot of defensive backs coming through,’’ said Chick, who this season has recorded 24 defensive tackles, five knockdowns, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. “We had three sacks last week where the DBs came through untouched because the Lions were worried about what we were doing.’’

Sack totals draw attention but Baggs and Chick have other goals. They want to disrupt the opposition’s offence and force turnovers. The Riders are tied for second in the league with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with 51 takeaways each. The Alouettes lead the CFL with 55 takeaways.

“We want to get a turnover as opposed to a sack,’’ said Baggs. “Ultimately we want to win and the man with the ball wins in the end.’’

NOTES: Wednesday’s inclement weather forced the Riders indoors. They have also scheduled today’s workout at the Eventplex ... Rookie Chris McKenzie is expected to start Saturday for defensive halfback Eddie Davis. Davis had arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Davis, who injured his knee early in Saturday’s win over the Lions, may be sidelined until the West Division final on Nov. 22 ... Kicker Luca Congi was sent home Wednesday due to illness. Riders head coach Ken Miller expects Congi to be OK for Saturday’s game. Linebackers Mike McCullough and Jerrell Freeman were at practice on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s workout due to illness.