Chad Geter has had a change of heart.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ first-year linebacker used to hate playing on special teams when he was at Gardner-Webb University. The last time he covered kicks was during the 2013 season but, in the four past years, he didn’t miss special teams.
Now, nine games into his first CFL season, Geter is a big fan of the teams — to the extent that he repeatedly used the word “love” to describe his feelings toward them.
“Coach (Chris) Jones came to me and said he wanted me to be a guy on the film who coaches watch and say, ‘We’re going to have to try to double-team that guy and keep him away from the ball,’ ” Geter said Wednesday after the Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium. “I took that to heart.
“I wanted to do that. I wanted to make sure I could get down there (covering kicks), do what I had to do to make the tackle and make teams say, ‘Yeah, we need to block that guy.’ I take pride in that being my job on this team.”
Geter was a star linebacker at Gardner-Webb, earning conference all-star honours three times. He also was named an FCS All-American after the 2016 season.
He was invited to attend the San Francisco 49ers’ rookie mini-camp in 2017, but tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights prior to the camp. His first opportunity to resume his career came in April, when he attended a Roughriders tryout camp in Charlotte, N.C.
He earned more looks at Saskatchewan’s rookie camp in Bradenton, Fla., and its training camp in Saskatoon. With his showings at those camps, he won a roster spot as a reserve defensive lineman — and as a special-teamer.
He has thrived in that latter role. Through nine games, he has recorded a team-high nine special-teams tackles.
“Playing in the CFL, where there’s no fair catch and we have to give (returners) five yards (to avoid a no-yards penalty), it’s almost 100 per cent going to be a return,” Geter said. “You’ve also got a wider field (than in the NCAA), so angles and leverages play a much bigger part.
“It took a while to adjust to it, but we have great special-teams coaches here. We talk about it every day, we meet about it every day and they give us items and ideas and strategies to use to perform in a game. I try to make sure I use everything they give me.”
Geter also has five tackles and a sack as part of the rotation at defensive end. Jones — Saskatchewan’s head coach and general manager — said Wednesday that he sees a bit of the Roughriders’ other D-ends in Geter, including Charleston Hughes.
“I had no idea who Charleston Hughes was until I got here, but after I realized who he is and how successful he is and his mindset, I’ve talked to him every day trying to get techniques and ideas,” Geter said.
“If I can remind Coach Jones of a guy like Charleston Hughes, then I must be on the right path — but I’ve got to keep going.”
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On Wednesday, Hughes was named one of the CFL’s top performers of the month for August.
The 11-year veteran had four sacks and two forced fumbles in three games during the month. He leads the CFL this season with 12 sacks, seven more than his nearest pursuer.
In addition to his sacks, the 34-year-old product of Saginaw, Mich., also has 25 tackles, three forced fumbles and a 57-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Calgary Stampeders receiver Kamar Jorden and Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly were the other two selections for the CFL’s monthly honours.
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Kicker Brett Lauther was on the field for Wednesday’s practice, but he didn’t attempt any field goals.
Lauther was on the limp with an undisclosed injury after Saturday’s 24-21 victory over the host B.C. Lions. On Wednesday, Jones said Lauther was “fine.”
Defensive tackle Mic’hael Brooks didn’t participate at all in Wednesday’s workout. His spot on the D-line was filled by Curt Maggitt.
“(Brooks) is a little bit banged up, but he’ll be OK,” Jones said. “I don’t know that he’ll play (Sunday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers), but it’s not like it’s anything major.”
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The Bombers enter the Labour Day Classic riding a two-game losing streak and likely are stinging from being booed by their fans in their previous home game.
The Roughriders (5-4-0) and Bombers (5-5-0) are tied for third in the West Division entering the contest, so there could be some desperation on Winnipeg’s part to right the ship.
“We’re all playing right now to catch Calgary,” said Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros. “You can say that team is coming in here playing desperate, but I think we are as well. It’s not like we’re in any position that we really want to be in.
“We find ourselves at 5-and-4 in the middle of the pack. We know where we want to be at the end of the season and we have to continue to get better as the season goes on. No matter who comes in, it’s going to be a challenge.”
Jones isn’t worried about the standings at the moment, nor is he concerned about the playoff implications attached to the Labour Day Classic or the rematch in Winnipeg on Sept. 8.
“I can’t control that,” he said of the playoff race. “All I can control is how well I prepare the football team and the things that we do and try to make sure that our guys are ready to play fast, that they’ve got their legs under them and that they have a great understanding of our schemes.”
