By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostSeptember 18, 2009
REGINA — It appears that Tad Kornegay is about to take a few steps back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
REGINA — It appears that Tad Kornegay is about to take a few steps back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
At the start of the 2009 CFL season, Kornegay was converted from a defensive back to a weak-side linebacker. Though undersized for the position, the 6-foot-0, 185-pound Kornegay has matured into a force. But a hamstring injury to non-import cornerback Donovan Alexander in Sunday’s 55-10 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might mean a return to the secondary for Kornegay.
Kornegay, an import, worked with the first-team defence Wednesday as the Riders continued their preparations for Sunday’s game at Mosaic Stadium against the Edmonton Eskimos. Kornegay was coy when asked about playing the wide-side cornerback.
“I was just filling in for people who couldn’t practise today,’’ said Kornegay, who had played cornerback and defensive halfback in his four previous seasons in the CFL. “I was also just making sure that my defensive back skills were still there.’’
How does Kornegay rate his skills at cornerback?
“Way better than my linebacker skills,’’ Kornegay said with a chuckle. “I’ve always been a DB and I will always say that.’’
Kornegay was a cornerback with Fordham University and through the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He joined the Riders in 2007 and dressed for 15 games in the secondary as a cornerback and defensive halfback. He dressed for nine games in 2008 in the secondary.
During the off-season, the Riders decided to use a smaller and faster player as a weak-side linebacker. Kornegay has filled the role and more. He is second on the team with 40 tackles and is second with three interceptions.
“The most amazing thing is you can take him from corner and move him into the box,’’ said Riders secondary coach Nelson Martin. “I’ve actually seen him drop his shoulder on guards and tackles and take them on with no hesitation at all. In all my years in football, I’ve never seen a defensive back tougher than him. He’s fearless.’’
That attribute may have helped Kornegay as a linebacker. He has to work on other skills while manning the wide side of the field.
“I have to be more relaxed and calm because DB is a different mentality,’’ said Kornegay. “As a linebacker, you have to be more aggressive. As a defensive back, you need to be focused and calm out there.’’
Alexander has missed two practices with an injured hamstring and remains doubtful for Sunday’s game. Returning Kornegay to cornerback likely means a shuffle at linebacker.
If the move is made, Jerrell Freeman would take over as the weak-side linebacker and Mike McCullough would remain at middle linebacker. Freeman and McCullough have been alternating at middle linebacker since starter Rey Williams was sidelined with a knee injury in Week 6. Riders head coach Ken Miller said they would sort out the roster issues after today’s practice.
Meanwhile, the Riders don’t have any qualms about facing the Eskimos with Kornegay as a cornerback.
If the move is made, Jerrell Freeman would take over as the weak-side linebacker and Mike McCullough would remain at middle linebacker. Freeman and McCullough have been alternating at middle linebacker since starter Rey Williams was sidelined with a knee injury in Week 6. Riders head coach Ken Miller said they would sort out the roster issues after today’s practice.
Meanwhile, the Riders don’t have any qualms about facing the Eskimos with Kornegay as a cornerback.
“Tad moving to the corner is like him going back home,’’ said Martin. “There isn’t any adjustment at all and we’re fortunate that way.’’
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