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Mike Rose isn’t focusing on the past despite taking on the Calgary Stampeders this week.
The defensive tackle spent seven seasons with the Stamps, winning the Grey Cup in 2018 and was a three-time CFL all-star (2021-23). He was released in the offseason and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders shortly after that.
Now his focus is on helping the Green and White.
“I’m here to bring a championship to Regina,” Rose said. “I want to prove (general manager and Jeremy O’Day) and the (Saskatchewan) Roughriders right.”
Head coach Corey Mace, who was the Calgary defensive line coach from 2016-21, said Rose doesn’t appear to be approaching this week any differently.
“He’s a fun-loving guy and is always going to try to find ways to have a successful game. Just for him, intrinsically, he knows those (Calgary players) pretty dang good and can provide some information for the defensive line room as far as some of their strengths and weaknesses,” Mace said.
“We haven’t talked about (facing his former team), he hasn’t talked about it. He is just ready to go play a game.”
Kickoff for the game between the 4-0 Riders and 3-1 Stamps is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Mosaic Stadium. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.
Rose coming to Saskatchewan also reunited him with defensive tackle Micah Johnson, who was in Calgary from 2013-18.
“That’s a hall of famer and it’s easy to pick up stuff out of his game and use it in my own game. It translates really well,” Rose said about Johnson.
The Riders are in the top half of the CFL when it comes to sacks, garnering 10 in four games — tied for the third-most in the league.
“We can win in multiple ways. We have a lot of good D-line. We have good practice squad guys, too, that no one knows about so we just have a lot of good defensive linemen. A lot of depth,” Rose said.
When it comes to the combo of Rose and Johnson, Mace believes the duo has been as good as advertised.
“They are doing a lot of really good things. I know everybody is going to point and look at one statistic, but we are so much more than that. We preach disruption, and those are two disruptive guys in the middle,” Mace said.
“Those are just two of them. We have other guys as well who are doing the same thing. We feel very confident in our defensive line.”
The Riders’ rushing defence is once again one of the league’s best, only giving up an average of 66.5 yards per game. They will look to shut down one of the best rushers in the CFL this season, as Dedrick Mills comes into the game as the second-leading rusher in the league with 311 yards on the ground. He also has five touchdowns this season — tied for the most in the CFL with Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver Kenny Lawler.
Only Riders rusher AJ Ouellette has rushed for more this season (347 yards).
Riders’ slotback Sam Emilus (foot) was limited in practice while defensive back Tevaughn Campbell (groin) did not participate.
