Tobi Antigha is a film buff.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ jack-of-all-trades, like all of his teammates, watches film to get a handle on what CFL teams want to do in games against Saskatchewan.
But Antigha is viewed by Roughriders defensive backs coach Jason Shivers as one of the team’s most diligent watchers of film — a fact evidenced by Antigha’s ever-present iPad.
“Watching film is just fun for me,” the defensive end/linebacker/safety said after Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Sometimes I watch it just to watch it; I don’t even break stuff down. It’s fun to watch because I’m still a fan of football and a fan of different players.
“Sometimes I’ll pop in (video of Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker) Adam Bighill and see what he’s up to and see how he’s moving around on the defence. Sometimes I’ll pop in (video of the Edmonton Eskimos’ offence) and see what Duke Williams and Mike Reilly and Derel Walker are doing and to see what Reilly is seeing to try to get (his receivers) the ball.
“It’s just what I do. It comes with the job, I guess.”
As mentioned, watching game film is something every member of the Roughriders does. But Shivers — who isn’t even Antigha’s position coach — noted the second-year CFLer regularly talks to all of the defensive coaches to discuss what he has seen on video.
“He’s always bringing up things,” said Shivers, whose team plays host to the Eskimos on Monday (2 p.m., CKRM, TSN). “He’s trying to get crystal-clear on things and that has really helped him progress the way he has.”
Antigha was a receiver during his college days at Presbyterian, where he made a point of watching film to get a handle on what opposing defences wanted to do. He has continued that habit.
“That’s something I’ve always tried to carry with me because I haven’t been the greatest player or athlete,” Antigha said. “Any advantage that you can get is what you try to do and for me that always happens in the film room.”
Video also played a major role in Antigha’s career after he first tried out for the Roughriders.
During one mini-camp, Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones wanted to work out some offensive linemen, but there weren’t any defensive linemen on hand. Jones asked other players to pretend they were D-linemen and rush the passer — and Antigha shone in that role.
Jones told the rookie that he had a better chance of making the Roughriders as a defensive end than as a receiver, so Antigha decided to make the switch. Once again, watching video helped him.
He went to YouTube.
“I didn’t really have anybody present with me who could teach me, so the next best thing was YouTube,” Antigha said. “I watched guys like (NFL stars) Von Miller, Melvin Ingram and Khalil Mack — guys who match my body type and athleticism — and tried to pick some things up. I tried to emulate some of the stuff that they were doing.”
Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, the filmwork paid off for Antigha. As a CFL freshman, he recorded 30 defensive tackles, six special-teams tackles, five sacks, three tackles for losses and one fumble recovery en route to being voted the team’s top rookie.
“I’m not on (the NFL pass-rushers’) level by any stretch of the imagination, but with more reps and more practice, I saw myself getting better at specific things,” Antigha said.
“Last year, I was an athlete, but I wasn’t necessarily a pass-rusher. This year, I’m more of a pass-rusher — even though I don’t rush as much. When I do get the opportunity, you can see that, ‘OK, he can pass-rush a little bit.’ ”
If Antigha is doing less pass-rushing this season, it’s because the Roughriders are moving him around more in their defence. He has more interceptions (two) than sacks (one) and he got both picks after dropping to safety.
He recorded his first sack of the season Sunday, when he dropped Montreal Alouettes quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first quarter of the Roughriders’ 34-29 victory at Percival Molson Stadium.
Antigha said the sack wasn’t a result of film study as much as it was understanding what Manziel wants to do when pressured. Asked if he was spying Manziel, Antigha replied: “A little bit.”
“I was trying to, but he’s so elusive that it kind of made my spy a little harder than usual,” said Antigha, who only rushed after Manziel left the pocket. “It’s not like Reilly or (Winnipeg’s Matt) Nichols. When (Manziel) gets moving, he can get moving — and he made some of us look really, really bad.”
If so, Antigha will see those plays again when he watches film of the game … over and over and over.
In Shivers’ mind, Antigha’s extensive filmwork shows just how badly the 25-year-old product of Tampa, Fla., wants to improve as a player.
“It’s all about each player understanding what it is that’s going to make them good,” Shivers said. “Some players are naturally gifted and some players need to watch more film. Maybe they lack a little bit in the athleticism department, but they’re better in the thinking department and that could be the difference in them making plays.
“Tobi’s in the middle. He has got enough athleticism to rush the passer or to drop into the deep middle, but his thinking puts him over the top when it comes to what we’re able to do with him in the defence. That comes from film study.”
