Riders' John Chick finding his groove

The last seven games have been a hit for Riders defensive end John Chick.

During that stretch, Chick has seven quarterback sacks, giving him eight on the season, leaving him one behind league co-leaders Charleston Hughes and Jamaal Westerman.

“It’s a little bit of (a coincidence and change). I don’t think I’m any different of a player. We’re doing little different things,” said Chick.

When players start producing, they usually say that they’re not doing anything different.

When it comes to Chick, you tend to believe him. Over the course of his career, Chick has always had the same drive every single day. That’s during games and at practice.

“We pull off practice film every day (to) show the guys that are an affirmation of how you should practice. Every day, (Chick) shows up in those highlight tapes from practice,” said defensive coordinator Greg Quick.

Because he’s a model of consistency, Quick isn’t surprised at all to see the numbers starting to catch up to Chick’s play.

Even though Chick admits that he loves to sack the quarterback, he also knows that the stat isn’t the only way for a defensive lineman to have a good game.

“Too often it defines how good of a game you have. I could have one sack and not done anything else for the day and you guys would know I had the sack,” he said.

“I could do my job every play and help make the play and you wouldn’t know I’m out there. It depends who’s watching and what you’re watching for.”

Chick hasn’t done it alone. The defensive line is only as strong as its weakest link, over the last few games that weakest link has been made much stronger with addition of American defensive tackle Andre Monroe.

“(It’s made a) tremendous difference. Any time you got four guys that can bring it, they can’t just focus on one. When they do? Someone else can take advantage of it,” said Chick.

The fact that the defensive philosophy has changed is helping Chick pile up the sacks as well. Before Quick took complete control of the defence, a three-man rush was pretty much par for the course. Now, the standard four-man rush is common place.

Since the Riders have decided to go with four defensive lineman a whole lot more. It’s allowed the group to work together and build some chemistry on the field.

“If you’ve noticed, these guys are playing right and left. So, they’re working in tandem together. Andre and John have a great relationship. (Tearrius George) and Alex (Hall) have a great relationship on the other side,” said Quick.

“They’re working well together as a group of four, in tandems and together a defensive line unit under the guidance of Mike Sinclair.”

With Puralator Tackle Hunger at the game this week, the food bank is also enjoying the reemergence of the Riders getting pressure on the quarterback.

NEWS AND NOTES

Interim head coach Bob Dyce stopped practice once again on Friday. This time it wasn’t because of his team’s performance. Instead, everyone went into the locker room for a number of minutes then came back out. Dyce was trying to simulate half-time. He felt his players needed to stay focused after a break.

Receivers Rob Bagg and Nic Demski did practice on Friday after missing Wednesday’s workout.