It appears as though the Saskatchewan Roughriders secondary shuffle may continue. With defensive backs Marcus Sayles, Tevaughn Campbell, Nelson Lokombo, Jaxon Ford, and Rolan Milligan Jr. not practicing, the Green and White are moving players into different spots on defence.
Sheldrick Redwine, a former fourth-round NFL Draft pick, signed with the Riders three weeks ago and has been working out with the first-team defence at halfback and corner. The veteran of 34 NFL games has assimilated to the Canadian game.
“It's a learning curve, but over time, through reps and repetition, it slows down. I'm getting used to it.”
Redwine spent three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and then made NFL stops in Carolina, New York, with the Jets, Miami, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Washington. He admits the field size is the biggest adjustment he needs to make.
“It's nuances, the field being wider and longer, and the end zone. It's quicker routes, but you still have longer progression routes that you can have in the red zone.”
Redwine dressed for his first CFL game in Ottawa during Week 18, just 18 days after signing with the Riders. Head coach Corey Mace has been impressed by what he has seen from Redwine.
“Being here for as long as he was and having to go and get some time out there, I thought he did really well. You want to see that trend continue upwards for him. He had a great career in college and was a fourth-round [NFL] draft pick for a reason. Seeing him out here, you can understand why.”
The 28-year-old Redwine wasn’t phased by his quick insertion into the lineup.
“I'm a football player. My goal is that it doesn't matter if this is my first game or my 100th game, when I get out there, I expect to produce and be able to help the team win.”
In 34 regular-season NFL games, Redwine made 77 tackles, one sack, three pass deflections and one interception that he made off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger.
“Every time you get your hands on the ball, it's a beautiful opportunity.”
And that ball has a spot in his home.
"I've got a Roethlisberger [football] on my shelf.”
Redwine has been practicing at cornerback and halfback, which reflects his athleticism.
“The old adage was put him at the field corner, but we ask our corners to do a lot," Mace said. "We moved him around a couple of places since he’s been here to find something that fits well with his skill set. Ultimately, we put a lot of stress on our DBs to be able to play multiple spots, so he’s going to have to do that too.”
The six-foot, 195-pound Redwine is on his seventh team since attending the University of Miami. He admits there have been a lot of defensive systems to learn.
“It's a learning curve. I see it as a new language. I compartmentalize everything. Football essentially is a universal language, every stop it’s gonna be cover three, it's gonna be cover two, just different terminologies. It's learning the different languages of each team that you go to.”
Redwine and his Roughriders teammates can clinch first place in the West Division on Friday night when they host the Toronto Argonauts. You can catch the game across the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network starting with the Countdown to Kickoff at 4 p.m. and kickoff follows at 7 p.m.
