Mitchell Blair
Rey Williams is back where he wants to be. The Saskatchewan Roughriders middle linebacker couldn’t be happier being back in Riderville after being away for three seasons and his early season play is showing that.
“It’s a pleasure to be back,” Williams said. “I loved being here the first time around and I love the fact that Brendan Taman gave me an opportunity to come back. People that know me know I love this place. They do it right, right from the front office down. It’s a class organization led by Mr. Hopson. They do it right. It’s all about football. The consistency here makes players feel comfortable and that’s great.”
Williams has been a force for the football team this season in the first three weeks of the season as he has registered 14 tackles with eight of those coming in last week’s 39-28 win over Toronto which helped him earn the CFL defensive player of the week honor.
His early season play has certainly caught the attention of defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall. The 32 year old has impressed Hall with what he’s done to start the season.
“He’s gotten off to an outstanding start,” Hall said. “He got a touchdown for us in the first game of the season and he was all over the field making plays against the Argonauts. He’s a seasoned veteran that understands both myself and Corey. He has been a leader and he has the tenacity that you need as a middle linebacker. “
For whatever reason, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats did not want Williams to be a part of their future after Kent Austin took over football operations. That decision came after a season in which the Hofstra grad was 3rd in the league with 95 tackles. He wasn’t impressed with Austin saying he had no respect for him and while he is not bitter with the organization, he does have plans in letting the former Rider quarterback and head coach know that he made a mistake. However, he does admit that he should perhaps deliver him a thank you card as he prepares for back-to-back games against his old club.
“I don’t like Kent, but I should probably give him a hug and thank him because he did me a favour.” Williams says with a laugh. “I don’t have a beef with the guys over there or the organization. Its Kent that I have the problem with and I will be barking at him this weekend if we get the chance. At the end of the day, Hamilton is just another opponent and we know we have to beat them if we want to be successful.
As part of a defense that has allowed just 67 points over the first three weeks of the season, it has some, albeit early, wondering if this defence can compare to the 2009 defence that got all the way to the Grey Cup and was led by guys like Williams, John Chick, Stevie Baggs and Eddie Davis. Williams says he does notice some similarities, but he believes it’s a comparison he is hesitant to make.
“It’s too early to do that,” Williams stated. “We had a great unit back then with a lot of experience who had been in all kinds of battles. We have a good mix of experience and rookies that are playing some great football, but we have to be playing that football in Week 6, Week 12, and so on. Its been a good start, but we have some growing to go.
Williams and the rest of the Riders look to improve on their 3-0 start Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock when they play the first of back-to-back games against the Ti-Cats at Mosaic Stadium. As the two teams line up on their respective sidelines, Williams says he would much be wearing green than the black and gold of the Ti-Cats and that he is glad GM Brendan Taman picked up the phone to invite him back. Its safe to say there are many out there that root for the football team who are glad Taman picked up the phone as well.
