Every Monday afternoon on the SportsCage, join Barney Shynkaruk and members from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ coaching staff with a breakdown of game match-ups and the very latest from inside the Riders’ locker room.
On September 9, defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Joshua Bell was our guest on the Riders Coaches Show.
Bell took time from preparing for the Montreal Alouettes, the Riders' week 14 opponent, to discuss strategy, the team’s defensive backs, and answer fans' questions.
In the Labour Day rematch, the Roughriders intercepted Winnipeg quarterbacks four times, including a pair by Tevaughn Campbell. Campbell now has six interceptions on the season, with three coming in the last two games. Bell isn’t surprised by the season that Campbell is having, returning to the CFL after playing six seasons in the NFL.
“This is a guy that I've seen as a rookie coming to the league. I don't know what his ceiling is because he's still learning. He's still a pro coming to work every day.”
Bell also credits internal competition within the defensive backs room for elevating Campbell’s game.
“Tevaughn’s a monster competitor with Agent Zero (Rolan Milligan Jr.) in the room he's always looking at. They're looking across at each other, like, who's the highest guy on the totem pole when it comes to interceptions and plays made. So those guys are doing a good job of competing internally, and it's showing up with the results in the game.”
Fans chimed in during the conversation, asking Bell why the team seems to play a lot of zone defence in the secondary.
“I don't want to play as much zone either. I'd like to play a little bit more man coverage. But I love winning games, and I don't think they ever pass out lowercase w's. So the recipe has been a little of this, sprinkle a little zone, and it keeps tasting good after the game. So I'm not complaining.”
The 10-2 Roughriders are preparing to host the 5-7 Montreal on Saturday. The Alouettes have lost five games in a row, but Bell says the Riders are ready for a battle regardless.
“We believe in what they're building in Montreal. They're building something good, coach Maciocia, Mass and Noel Thorpe. What those guys are doing out there has been incredible to watch, to play against, and to coach against. As we get prepared for them this week, I may get one or two more gray hairs.”
The Green and White return home to take on the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates will bring you the pre-game show at 2 p.m., and Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder will have the game call at 5 p.m. Listen or watch our comprehensive coverage on 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
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