Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive linemen during practice at Mosaic Stadium.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting defensive about their run defence.
That's what happens when a team is sixth in the CFL with 814 rushing yards allowed and has given up an average gain of 6.5 yards. But the members of the Riders' beleaguered run defence feel that statistics don't tell the whole story. They think that they have been improving, especially in the last two games.
That's what happens when a team is sixth in the CFL with 814 rushing yards allowed and has given up an average gain of 6.5 yards. But the members of the Riders' beleaguered run defence feel that statistics don't tell the whole story. They think that they have been improving, especially in the last two games.
"In the last two games, when we've needed to stop the run, we've been damn near 100 per cent,'' defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry said Friday after the Riders completed their final preparations for Sunday's game (5 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. "To me that is where the traditional stats fail the fan who is dependent on the media to teach them the game. The fallacy is all yards are three feet but all yards are not equal. There are times when game situations take precedence over the stats.''
Instead of looking at the overall statistics, the Riders (3-3) prefer to look back at their effort in last Friday's 35-20 loss to the B.C. The Lions managed just one fourth-quarter first down — on a 13-yard touchdown run by Martell Mallett with 37 seconds remaining. With the exception of that play, the Riders were able to force the Lions into punting four straight times.
"In that situation, the Lions weren't playing the Roughriders, they were playing the clock,'' said Etcheverry. "The idea is by running the ball, they keep the clock moving. They couldn't do that. So, we took those relatively important yards out and when they needed to do it, they couldn't gain a first down in the fourth quarter. We had four times when we gave the ball back to our offence.
"We would like to keep them from gaining a year on every single play and taking the ball away from them. That's an ambitious goal. Overall, I would like to improve on the running game in terms of yards but I don't look at the stats and I don't believe in them. They are just something for people to talk about.''
People are talking about the Riders' play against the run. Some members of the defensive line have read comments from fans on www.riderville.com and those comments have raised their ire.
People are talking about the Riders' play against the run. Some members of the defensive line have read comments from fans on www.riderville.com and those comments have raised their ire.
"The fans always have something to say about our defence or our offence,'' said Riders' defensive tackle Marcus (Chunky) Adams. "If we win a game, they love us. If we lose. some fans hate our guts. We're just trying to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. We don't try to lose on purpose, it happens but we try to win every game we play. When we lose? Life goes on.''
The Riders are well aware of the concerns raised about their run defence. Some of the defensive linemen are taking those comments personally.
"It's a personal blow because we're trying to stop the run with five people in the defence that we're running,'' said defensive tackle Keith Shologan. "They are obviously saying that we're not getting the job done. You have to look past those things. We're not responsible for gaps or anything like that. We're responsible for an area and we're trying to make plays.''
The concerns about the Riders' run defence have been heightened with Sunday's game against the Tiger-Cats looming. The Tiger-Cats (4-2) boast the CFL's second-best record into heading into Week 7. The Riders (3-3) are to face an explosive offence and rookie running back in DeAndra' Cobb, who is fourth in the CFL with 400 rushing yards on 61 carries.
Cobb has exhibited a flair for breaking long runs, which has even the most loyal of Riders fans worried about what he might be able to accomplish at Mosaic Stadium. Cobb sounds more impressed with the Riders' defence than the fans.
"They do a good job of swarming around the ball,'' said Cobb, who is averaging 6.6 yards per carry. "Their defence is different but you have stay patient and let them all come to you. You know that there will be a lot of different looks but you have to stay focused.''
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