Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches exuding calmness, confidence in second CFL season together
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive backs coach Joshua Bell is trying a new countenance that — he hopes — matches the second-year calmness evident along the team's sidelines during its first two CFL games.
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'For our first year I was known for a (expletive deleted) face, like 'What the (beep) is that? C'mon, baby!' When I talk to my team this year, I'm gonna be more regal. I can't be so emotional when I'm trying to be a coach.'
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Gruden is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Before being suspended by the NFL in 2021 for sending derogatory emails, Gruden was known for his stoic, confident demeanour during football games.
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While winning their first two games this season and preparing to visit the winless, defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts on Friday, the Roughriders have indeed shown some of Gruden's sideline attitude. Perhaps it's a product of being together for a second straight year with basically the same coaching staff and roster.
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'We want to break it down for every single play. Oh, we gave up a big play? No problem. What did we learn, because we want to make the play on them when they do it a second time. We're very confident in the process, that our guys are learning, they're resilient, that they trust each other. Now they're reflecting that back on us and they're holding us even more accountable.'
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Even when his tossed challenge flag wasn't noticed during Saskatchewan's last game, second-year head coach Corey Mace didn't flip out. He simply spoke with the officials, who called back a touchdown scored by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and reviewed the previous play before dismissing Mace's challenge.
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Hamilton still scored. It wasn't a horrible challenge, asking for a video review on a long reception by Hamilton receiver Kenny Lawler that came close to being out of bounds at Saskatchewan's one-yard line.
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Mace chuckled about the incident during a recent practice, joking that he may have injured his throwing arm, before being asked if his staff was more relaxed this season.
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'To be honest, I'm not really paying attention to the other coaches,' said Mace. 'I know Bell's a high-energy guy. Maybe there's a little more comfort. But if you're a high-energy guy, be that. We want everybody to be themselves.
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