The numbers 43-55-12 are so low they look like a suitable locker combination. In this case, they’re the rushing yards the Saskatchewan Roughriders have surrendered in each of the last three games.
Whenever there’s logical connection to be made between padlock groupings and any type of week-over-week gridiron gains, the defence deserves its due.
“We’re all starting to get in that flow state where we’re working together and working well off each other as well as (defensive coordinator Joshua) Bell calling a good game and giving us chances to be stout on the run,” Run-game coordinator and linebackers coach Travis Brown.
Buoyed their recent dominance, the Riders enter Saturday’s road tilt against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with some of the best defensive run stats in the CFL.
They’ve allowed 619 yards through eight games, an average of 77.4 yards. They’re behind only the B.C. Lions in both categories. They’re tied for second with Toronto by giving up 4.5 yards per carry.
That’s contributed to the Riders surrendering 215 points, the fewest in the league, just 26.9 per outing. As a former defensive lineman, that warms the heart of coach Corey Mace.
He attributes the success to the group at large.
“We talk about it in three phases, being one of 12 and sometimes specifically in the run game,” Mace said. “It just takes one person not to do their job to turn a three-yard run into a 75-yard run. The guys have just been honing in on that, and it’s turned out really well for us.”
It’s worked out much better of late, that is, for the Riders. They struggled against the run early in the season.
The Riders were sixth in the CFL in this department before they’re outstanding three-game stretch, allowing 101.8 yards per game.
What’s changed? Mace said the defenders have done a better job drilling down on the details. More continuity hasn’t hurt, either.
“We’ve got some new players who were thrown in the mix early, people who were still learning the defence,” Brown said. “We were building the bond. As a front seven, just continuing to spend time as a group and reviewing film together as well helps. The group has bought in. Props to the guys.”
For all the improved cohesiveness, it’s the linebacking corps that leads the way in stopping the run.
“Those guys certainly flash on tape,” Mace said.
It might be the deepest position group on the roster. The calibre of players listed as backups behind Josh Woods, Jameer Thurman, and Antoine Brooks Jr. is staggering. The list includes Nick Wiebe, Ryder Varga, David Gbenda and Aubrey Miller Jr.
“I always want more linebackers on the field,” Brown said. “It’s not always something that’s possible.”
The way the Riders have slowed up opponents’ ground attack has forced teams to pass the ball more.
That’s something those in the front seven can hang their hats on.
“You’ve got to take a lot of pride in stopping the run. That’s how you win football games,” said defensive lineman Liam Hoskins, who had his first CFL sack last week. “It’s always a focus every week – stop the run – and you earn your opportunities to pass rush. As D-linemen, we want to get after the quarterback and work our craft. That's obviously the fun part.
“We’ve been getting better every week with that. I’m just trying to be as physical as I can. When I’m able to help that effort, it feels real good.”
Brown knows the Riders will have to be sharp when they face Tiger-Cats running back Larry Rountree III, who has 462 yards on 108 carries this season.
Slow him down and stymie the run for the fourth straight game, though, and it go a long way towards limiting Hamilton’s offensive playbook and ensuring to a third straight victory.
“If we can eliminate the run early, with how good our offence is, it really gives us a chance to get them in that one-dimensional mindset,” Brown said.
