Riders defensive end John Chick was named the West Division’s nominee for the CFL outstanding defensive player award on Thursday.Photograph by: Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald filesREGINA — A bug of some kind did something to Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end John Chick on Thursday that few opposing offensive linemen have done this CFL season.
It laid him out.
Chick was ill and therefore wasn't at the Roughriders' practice at Mosaic Stadium. As a result, he wasn't available to comment on his selection Thursday as the West Division's nominee for the CFL outstanding defensive player award.
Chick was selected by a panel comprising members of the Football Reporters of Canada and CFL head coaches. He'll take on Montreal Alouettes rush end Anwar Stewart in the next round of voting.
"Absolutely fabulous," Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller said of Chick's selection. "Very deserving."
"He's a real load for anybody that's going against him," added defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry. "With some of the things that we see him do, though they're not associated with some of the traditional statistics, he's an overpowering force in many ways. He also has plenty of finesse in him."
Chick had 32 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the regular season. He won the West nomination over Calgary Stampeders cornerback Dwight Anderson, B.C. Lions linebacker Korey Banks and Edmonton Eskimos rush end Kai Ellis.
"Chick is a phenomenal football player," noted Roughriders linebacker Sean Lucas. "We're watching film from games and sometimes he makes plays when you don't even know he's making plays. He's running linemen over and hitting the quarterback.
"He definitely puts a lot of fear in some of our opponents. I don't think the guys really want to block him. He's an animal out there."
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Chick was the only Roughrider to advance to the next round.
Quarterback Darian Durant (outstanding player) lost out to Calgary tailback Joffrey Reynolds, tackle Gene Makowsky (offensive lineman) was beaten by Calgary tackle Ben Archibald, slotback Rob Bagg (Canadian) lost to B.C.'s Ricky Foley, linebacker Jerrell Freeman (rookie) was outvoted by B.C. tailback Martell Mallett, and returner Jason Armstead (special teams) lost to B.C.'s Jason Arakgi.
"It's like I say about individual awards: They're great when you get them," Miller said. "If you don't get them, that's just another thing. We're very happy that (Chick) got one and we're happy that we have an opportunity to play to get to the Grey Cup."
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Defensive tackle Marcus Adams also wasn't at practice due to illness.
Miller doesn't think there's another bout of illness going through his team, but if there is, the timing isn't that bad.
"Certainly it'd be better this week than next," said Miller, whose squad is idle until the West final Nov. 22. "I think for the most part, we're through that. I think these are kind of tail-end situations because just about everybody else on the team has had it."
Aside from Chick and Adams, defensive end Stevie Baggs (patellar tendinitis) and linebacker Tad Kornegay (tight hamstrings) didn't practise.
Slotback Weston Dressler, who suffered a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle in a game Oct. 10, came out of the locker room to watch a bit of practice — and he did so without the protective boot he'd been wearing.
Miller, however, reiterated that Dressler won't be back this season.
"He would probably be ready to play about a week or two after the Grey Cup," Miller said.
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Miller said assistant coaches Kavis Reed and Marcus Crandell are to be in Calgary for Sunday's West semifinal between the Eskimos and Stampeders.
The other members of the coaching staff will watch the game individually and discuss what they saw before the Roughriders return to practice Tuesday.
Asked Thursday which team he'd like to face in the West final, Miller replied: "I think we're going to match up fine with either one of them."
ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com
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