Watch above: The Saskatchewan Roughriders front four is stronger than ever despite the departure of Ricky Foley. Kim Thue reports from Rider training camp.
SASKATOON – Gone is out-spoken fan favorite Ricky Foley, and his 12 sacks from a year ago. His replacement on the Saskatchewan Roughriders is two time all-star Alex Hall, who returns to the CFL after spending 2014 south of the border.
“I was already familiar with the team,” said Hall. “It was nothing new. The team already had good players before when I came, so I just tried to come in and mesh in with the guys.”
During Hall’s two seasons in the CFL, 2012 and 2013, the six foot six d-end racked up 25 sacks — second most in the league over those two years.
He rejoins a line that already boasts last season’s sack leader John Chick, as well as Tearrius George, one of the most dominate inside pass rushers in the game.
“We’ve got great potential,” a confident Chick stated. “Things are looking good right now. From the coach through to the last player, we’re going to have a solid group.”
“We all got to work together as a front four,” adds George. “I can’t do what I do if Chick doesn’t do what he does and Alex doesn’t do what he does.”
READ MORE: Roughriders strong at backup quarterback
Last season, the trio of Chick, George and Foley combined for 39 sacks. As a team, the green and white brought the quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage a league high 61 times.
That production isn’t expected to drop off because of the Foley / Hall swap.
The only question is which one of the three — Hall, Chick or George — will lead the team in quarterback sacks at season’s end.
“They got a saying on the d-line ‘I’ll race you to the quarterback’. So it’s always a friendly little competition in there,” said George, who finished last season tied for second on the team with 12 sacks.
“But at the same time, whoever gets it, we’re happy that we got it.”
“Competition is definitely healthy,” chips in Hall. “It makes everybody play better.”
Chick added that while individual success is nice, team success is the ultimate goal.
“There is always that ribbing and all that kind of stuff, but it’s going to be more about what we do as a team, and I really see that.”
Young players such as Rory Connop, Dylan Ainsworth and Derek Walker are currently battling for the fourth starting job on the defensive line, alongside the trio of superstars, during the first week of camp.
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