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Defensive coordinator Josh Bell will take on some familiar faces as his Saskatchewan Roughriders meet the Toronto Argonauts on Friday.
Bell was on the Corey Mace defensive staff in Toronto from 2022-23. Those teams featured current starting quarterback Chad Kelly and current head coach Mike Miller, who was the quarterbacks coach from 2022-25.
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“I have a lot of love and respect for those guys,” Bell said.
“I’m excited to see what (Miller) has in store for the old rookie ball coach on the other side. Chad, I love him because you know what his fire is. Those guys are lighting it up because of who he is as a man, his personality and his evolution,” he said.
“Some people coach against Xs and Os. This week, we’re coaching against the energy and aura of those guys because that’s what they are emitting on their film and gameplay. They are emitting a personality and a certain attitude more than just Xs and Os.”
The former defensive back in the CFL is in his first season as the Riders’ defensive co-ordinator after Mace gave Bell the role this past off-season.
Bell dialled up the pressure against the Calgary Stampeders in a 40-37 win last week with a noticeable amount of blitzes.
“It’s kind of a reaction there. It’s like a counter-punch — they tell you when to blitz. It’s not what you want to do but it’s kind of like a flow,” Bell said. “It worked sometimes, sometimes it didn’t.
“There was a couple (of blitzes) I wish I would have sent — I second-guessed myself. You always want a couple plays back. I heard from some peers I was crazy because I blitzed and I’m like, ‘I didn’t realize I blitzed that much.’ It was truly a counter-punch. Kind of like when you’re in a flow state. It worked so we got a dub.”
Toronto is off to a 1-1 start but Kelly has been slinging the football for the double blue. Through two games, Kelly has thrown for 869 yards and seven touchdowns but five interceptions.
“He’s going to throw the ball up and try to look for those explosive plays,” Riders defensive back Tevaughn Campbell said.
“He’s going to rely on his arm. As a secondary, we are excited for the opportunity to go up against a quarterback like that. We just have to catch the ones thrown to us. If we happen to be in position to make a play, we have to make those plays.”
While the Riders don’t have gaudy sack number — three through two games — they have been causing chaos.
“Those guys have been working. They have continued to learn, and they have been chaotic but we’re looking for them to be closers for us. We have been as chaotic as we can but we should have about 10 or 12 sacks. We’re still working hard and still pushing them,” Bell said.
“We’re excited to see where they can go from there.”
Running back A.J. Ouellette has been listed as doubtful for the game after suffering an ankle injury against Calgary. Wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby is out with a shoulder injury.
Kickoff for the game on Friday is set for 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.
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