There are not many pieces left of the Rider defence from the end of the 2015 campaign. Jeff Knox Jr. at linebacker and half Tyree Hollins are the only starters from last season at Training Camp. After that, defensive lineman Markus White and safety Matt Webster are the only others to see some sort of regular rotation in the defence in 2015.
Considering how the defence performed at times, it’s no surprise that there are so many changes. That gets us to Training Camp 2016 in Saskatoon and our focus today on the defensive line.
This is the position that is the hardest to pinpoint who will be in the starting rotation and from there the position they will be playing. The big part of a Chris Jones defensive line is how the players multi-task; they will play more than one position, and if you watched the Eskimos last season, Odell Willis rotated in at linebacker in some formations.
There is a real mix of players at camp: some are great CFL vets, some with NFL experience in their first CFL camp, and rookies looking for their first pro shot.
We will break this down in three parts: Canadians, Americans with CFL experience and Americans in their first CFL camp.
The Canadians:
Justin Capicciotti (1st SSK/5th CFL)
Hasan Hazime (1st SSK/4th CFL)
Dylan Ainsworth (3rd SSK/3rd CFL)
Levi Steinhauer (3rd SSK/3rd CFL)
Tim Agbaje (2nd SSK/2nd CFL)
Kolonji Kashima (1st SSK/3rd CFL)
Jordan Reaves (1st SSK/1st CFL)
This is a stronger and deeper group than a year ago, bolstered by the acquisition of two players, Justin Capicciotti and Hasan Hazime. Capicciotti was a CFL East Division all-star a year ago with the Ottawa REDBLACKS and may have been the biggest free agent acquisition this past off season. He will be pressed to pressure the quarterback and match his 11 sacks of a year ago. Hazime is a CFL vet and is filling a much needed roll as the Canadian in the defensive tackle rotation.
Dylan Ainsworth and Levi Steinhauer have been special teams’ standouts and with Capicciotti starting at defensive end, these two may get consistent reps at end.
The signing that went under the radar is the pick-up of former REDBLACK 3rd round pick, Kolonji Kashama. He has spent the last two seasons in a special teams role with Ottawa playing in 17 of 18 games in 2015.
Tim Agbaje was a free agent signee out of the University of Saskatchewan in 2015 and dressed in six games. Jordan Reaves is a former college basketball player who was in Winnipeg’s training camp last season as a receiver.
Americans with CFL experience:
Corvey Irvin (1st SSK/3rd CFL)
Shawn Lemon (2nd SSK/6th CFL)
Caesar Rayford (1st SSK/2nd CFL)
Markus White (3rd SSK/3rd CFL)
A.C. Leonard (1st SSK/2nd CFL)
Shawn Lemon is in his second go-round with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after playing a single game with the club in 2011. In Lemon’s 46 career CFL games, he has 28 sacks with his best season coming in 2014 when he picked up 13 in 18 games with the Calgary Stampeders.
Corvey Irvin spent five seasons in the NFL with six different teams before landing in Montreal in 2014 where he has spent the last two seasons.
Caesar Rayford’s CFL experience included a stop in Montreal in 2014 before he gave the NFL another shot a year later.
Markus White is the elder statesman on the Rider defensive line. The former Florida State Seminole can play every position on the defensive line. Before the Riders, White played three seasons in the NFL on both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins rosters.
A.C. Leonard is a former tight end who played with the Lions last season and had 17 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns (both against the Riders).
New Americans:
Tre’ Von Armstead (1st year – Baylor)
Ino Vitale (1st year – SW Baptist)
Tony Criswell (1st year – Missouri)
Jonathan Newsome (1st Year – Ball State)
Jonathan Newsome was signed by the Riders two days into this year’s Training Camp. He was a 5th round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 and had 7.5 sacks in 30 games before being released.
Tre’ Von Armstead is a former All-Big 12 tight end who was signed by the Riders as an offensive tackle and has now moved to the defensive line.
Ino Vitale was one of the many finds from the Rider free agent camps this past off season.
Tony Criswell is a former Missouri Tiger basketball player who played a couple of seasons in the National Basketball League of Canada with London and Halifax.
In summary, you will find a little of everything on this Rider defensive line.
