By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostSeptember 11, 2009
REGINA — For the second straight week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders' special teams are to get a boost with the return of a veteran player.
REGINA — For the second straight week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders' special teams are to get a boost with the return of a veteran player.
Neal Hughes is to make his first start of the 2009 CFL season in Sunday's sold-out Banjo Bowl against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hughes has been sidelined since the fourth day of training camp with an injury to his right leg. He was eligible to come off the nine-game injured list after Sunday's 29-14 victory over the Blue Bombers.
Last Sunday, import returner Jason Armstead made his first start on special teams. Armstead spent 1 1/2 seasons with the Riders before being traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats midway through the 2007 season. Armstead re-signed with the Riders on Aug. 31 after stints with the
Montreal Alouettes and Blue Bombers. Winnipeg released Armstead during the off-season.
"It is definitely an improvement for us because we've added some veteran guys,'' Kavis Reed, the Riders' special teams co-ordinator, said Friday. "We've added guys who have a lot of experience playing special teams and a lot of energy. They make me a lot better coach because a smart coach has the best players out there.''
Hughes, a Regina product, is in his sixth season with the Riders as a backup running back and special-teams ace. Through five seasons, Hughes has 61 special-teams tackles. He recorded a career high 22 in 2006 21 in 2007 and seven in 2008 while he posted career highs in every offensive category.
Hughes should help a special-teams unit that has struggled through the first half of the season.
"Our effort has been outstanding,'' said Hughes, who plays on all four special teams. "You can tell the guys are going 100 per cent every play. There are a few little things that go wrong and that's just the nature of special teams. We're a great group and I'm looking forward to contributing to that effort.''
Reed appreciates those kind of thoughts from a veteran like Hughes.
"Sometimes there are guys who think that special teams are something that they have to do,'' said Reed. "I'm bringing a guy back like Hughes who wants to do it. That can be infectious to the guys, who see that he wants to do it and that he wants to do it well. That kind of leadership comes through.''
The Riders are looking for help with the losses of linebackers Rey Williams and Kye Stewart, who are sidelined with knee injuries. Stewart and Jerrell Freeman are tied for the team lead with 12 special-teams tackles each. Williams and James Patrick are tied for fourth with six special-teams tackles each.
There may be more help on the way with the possible returns of defensive end Kitwana Jones and cornerback Leron Mitchell. Jones won't be on the roster for Sunday's game but he's
expected to be on the active roster when the Riders play host to the Edmonton Eskimos on Sept. 20.
Jones spent four seasons with the Riders before being traded to the Eskimos on May 14 for quarterback Juan Joseph, who was released after training camp. Jones re-joined the Riders on
Thursday after being released by Edmonton on Tuesday.
Mitchell was also eligible to come off the nine-game injured list after Sunday's game. Mitchell, who has been sidelined since suffering a broken leg July 4, 2008, hasn't been activated for Sunday's game.
"It's a matter now of managing the resources that we have,'' said Reed. "We also have to get the right people in the right places because we've been playing musical chairs with a lot of people. We knew that this time would come when we anticipated getting Hughes and Mitchell back. We didn't know that we would get lucky in getting Kitwana back.''
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