Riders lead the way in CFL defensive takeways

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the takeaway kings early in the 2024 CFL season.

After five weeks of action, the Green and White lead the CFL with their defence forcing 14 turnovers. The unit is ahead of the Montreal Alouettes by one in that category despite playing one less game than the eastern team.

“It’s just the bond that we have in each other,” said defensive back Deontai Williams. “Guys know how to play with each other. We are all guys who want to get to the ball. That’s the group they brought in.”

“In a perfect world, we would have 30 but we have 14 right now and that’s good for a defence right now. We just have to take every opportunity that we can and just keep going along and keep trying to be that elite defence we want to be at the end of the season,” said Williams.

Leading the way for the Riders and the CFL in the turnover category is linebacker Jameer Thurman. Thurman has a takeaway in every game he has played in so far (three fumble recoveries and one interception).

“I’m just running to the ball. Guys are making plays around it and they always say good things happen when you run to the ball,” said Thurman in the locker room following the team’s 30-23 win over the Toronto Argonauts on July 4.

Sitting second in the CFL in takeaways is defensive back Rolan Milligan, who has three interceptions early in this campaign.

“I think we emphasize it a lot – being able to get to the ball and figuring out what coverage versus what plays and situations would give us an opportunity to get the ball,” Milligan said.

Winning the turnover battle has the Riders out to a 4-0 start to the season and a plus-10 turnover differential.

Last season, the Riders got out to a 3-1 start in their first four games but were minus three in the turnover differential.

One of the biggest reasons the players credit for the change in fortunes has been having new head coach Corey Mace in the room.

“He’s a defensive-minded guy who played defence and understands. He knows that to have a great defence, everyone has to be accountable at doing their job and doing what they are supposed to do,” Williams said. “We don’t play like robots. We’re allowed to be free-wheeling and go make the plays we want to make and be playmakers out there.”

The Riders will have a tall task facing them this week in the B.C. Lions and quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

Adams Jr. is on pace to throw for 6,307 yards this season and has thrown 11 touchdowns and 1 interception so far.

“Just play the game that we play. He’s probably one of the best quarterbacks in the league but other than that, I feel like we have the guys in the room that can make the plays the team and defence needs,” Williams said.

Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday in British Columbia.

Notes: Defensive end Malik Carney (knee) was limited in practice for a second straight day. Mace said he expects Carney to play in the game.