SportsCage CFL analyst Glen Suitor has noticed how Saskatchewan Roughriders' defensive back Jaxon Ford has elevated his game.
"The difference for Jaxon this year, as opposed to years gone by where he's had some opportunity to start at safety, back then he was young and trying to make plays happen, at safety, you have to let the game come to you, and he's doing that now. He's stepping up when it's available and making those plays," Suitor said on the SportsCage with host Barney Shynkaruk.
"He's allowing them to come to him rather than go out and try to find a big play to make because that's when you get in trouble. You get out of your position, you're letting some of your teammates down, then you're leaving guys in one-on-ones when you should be helping them, and all of those things can fall apart quickly. So I think there's a different level of maturity. He would be able to answer that, but he's playing great."
Saskatchewan faced the Ottawa Redblacks in their Week 5 match-up and defeated them 27-22. Ford finished the game with four tackles against the Redblacks.
"Here's his third-down stop, which was huge. It was a five-point game at that point," Suitor explained. "He comes off the edge, and he's getting his nose dirty in a lot of plays."
The six-foot, 210-pound DB is now in his fourth season with the Green and White. Through four games, Ford has totalled 13 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.
Evaluating the overall game against Ottawa, Suitor believes the Riders win was a team effort.
"I think it was a different way that they won than other games that they won earlier," Suitor reflected on the game.
"When your quarterback throws an interception, and it wasn't Trevor's fault, it was a hit that bounced in the air, early interception, and they had to overcome that. They had to overcome some special teams mishaps, then the special teams came up and contributed. So they won in a different way."
Saskatchewan's next opponent will be hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday. Last year, the Riders faced them twice and defeated them. The first 28-23 in Week 2 and later 29-9 in Week 11.
