Over recent years Canadian talent has developed across the gridiron in the Canadian Football League (CFL) that no longer restricts players to positions as teams try to abide by the Canadian ratio.
In the past, teams across the league would value Canadians who would play in positions typically reserved for Americans. These players were dubbed “Ratio Busters.”
With the growing Canadian talent, there are fewer “ratio busters” in the league as teams utilized Canadians at different positions on the field.
Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson believes the team’s depth for Canadian players is in good shape across their roster.
“Your ratio is what it is, trying to find good players at those spot. If you can find a guy who can start for you regardless of nationality that can be a ratio buster in some instances and we feel got really good Canadians, we would be playing them regardless of the ratio. ”
Two of the best Canadian outside linebackers will be on display during Saturday’s matchup between the Roughriders (1-1) and Stampeders (1-1) as Micah Teitz will be suiting up in green and white and Cameron Judge will be the other sideline for Calgary.
Teitz said he’s happy to be carrying the torch as one of the top Canadians at the position.
“I think it’s becoming a little bit more common to see more linebackers out there, but I will say we’re trying to pave the way for everyone coming up.”
The two players were teammates between 2018-2019 before Teitz took over Judge’s spot when the former UCLA Bruin left Saskatchewan to join the Toronto Argonauts in 2021. The Roughriders linebacker said he and Judge formed a strong friendship during that time and have remained friends off the field.
“We keep in touch throughout the season and it’s cool to see him have success as well.”
Last season, Judge solidified himself as one of the top defenders in the Canadian Football League with the Stampeders as he picked up 78 tackles, made a pair of interceptions including one that was returned for a touchdown and collected five fumble recoveries that also had one returned for a touchdown.
In 2022, the rivalry between the Roughriders and Stampeders cooled with the teams squaring off in the final two games of the season. With the Roughriders already eliminated from postseason contention, there wasn’t too much on the line in the two matchups between the divisional rivals.
This year, Saskatchewan and Calgary will face off twice in the opening six weeks of the year. Teitz says it’s an intense beginning of the year with the green and white battling divisional opponents in their first seven games.
“It seems like this year compared to the other years it’s been west heavy to start, and it seems like since I’ve been here it’s been east to start, it’s just interesting how they work it out.”
He also noted it would serve Saskatchewan well if they rack up some wins early in the season.
“Heading into the Labour Day time of year, if we’re you know, beating these Western teams that’s the best thing we can have.”
Tomorrow’s game will have extra meaning for Teitz as the Calgary product gets to play in his old stomping grounds at McMahon Stadium.
The former Calgary Dino always enjoys returning home, even as a member of the opposing Roughriders.
“I think I’m one of the only guys on the team that really likes the stadium there, it’s a bit old there, but I grew up playing there so it’s nice.”
While he won’t have as many fans in the stands on Saturday as Jayden Dalke did in the Roughriders season opener in Edmonton, Teitz says he will have some support in the seats in Calgary.
“There will be some 43’s for sure. ”
620 CKRM will have full coverage of tomorrows’ matchup between the Roughriders and Stampeders beginning with Countdown to Kickoff at 2:00, Rider Nation Pre-Game Show begins at 4:00 and the opening kickoff with Michael Ball and Luc Mullinder is at 5:00.
