Big Blue sold on Sayles

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This article was published 08/06/2022 (1192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steven Richardson didn’t receive the same attention as some of the others on Winnipeg’s vaunted defensive unit, such as Willie Jefferson, Jackson Jeffcoat or Adam Bighill.

Ask anyone associated with the Blue Bombers and they’ll tell you how important it was having the elite run-stuffing defensive tackle during the team’s two Grey Cup runs.

“You would see some things (in Richardson) that you just don’t see in a lot of guys,” head coach Mike O’Shea said Wednesday, after a closed practice at IG Field.

“His ability to lift (offensive) linemen off their feet was unparalleled, really, in this last year. I think he would strike fear in some O-linemen ‘cause they knew they were going to get tossed around because he was so powerful.”

Richardson, however, bolted to the B.C. Lions during the offeason (he’s currently sidelined after suffering a significant injury during a workout session in April) and it’s looking more and more like Casey Sayles will be expected to fill the shoes of the man they call ‘the Stove’ for the two-time defending CFL champs.

Sayles, 26, from Omaha, Neb., is in his second year in the league. He suited up for 14 games last season and had eight starting assignments, registering five sacks and 28 defensive tackles.

“I’m really excited. Obviously, it’s unfortunate (Richardson) left. I was in contact with him during the contract process to see if he was coming back or not. But, yeah, we were a tight group last year and we’re going to be just as tight this year,” the 6-4, 282-pound Sayles said.

“So, obviously, it’s an awesome opportunity for me to step up and be in that starting role. I think the year I had last year was pretty good, especially for a backup… there’s definitely some pressure on me, but it’s something I’m used to.”

After bouncing around between the NFL, AAF and XFL, Sayles has finally found some stability in Winnipeg. He had two stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the second coming after he shone in the AAF with the Birmingham Iron. He then played five games for the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks before the pandemic forced the league to cease operations.

“It was tough going into two leagues that shut down… but, yeah, being here for a second year is pretty phenomenal. Being back here again with the same guys, I just feel at home here in Winnipeg. It’s nice knowing the facilities, coaches and players and everything and kind of having more of a vet role now,” said Sayles.

Defensive tackle Jake Thomas knows exactly what the Bombers lost in Richardson as he lined up next to him for two seasons. T .he veteran is confident there won’t be a drop off with Sayles at the position.

“I think Casey was a really good player last year, a great guy as well. But I think he’s taken that next step. You see it a lot with first and second year guys with understanding the game a bit more,” said Thomas.

“He’s had a really good camp and a really good week this week. I think the sky’s the limit for him and I think you can expect some big things from him this year.”

In Week 1 last season, Richardson partially tore the plantar fascia ligament in his foot and went on to miss the next six games. The Bombers gave up a league-high 746 yards on the ground during that stretch, although the talented squad continued to win.

With a healthy Richardson, Winnipeg finished as the third-best team in the league against the run.

“I don’t really remember. I haven’t really gone back and watched it too much. Obviously, we got better against the run as the year went on. But we didn’t give up a ton of points. It’s all about just limiting scoring,” said Thomas. “Yards are yards, but touchdowns, field goals, that’s what we want to eliminate.”

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Despite limited action, Sayles finished the year with the third-most sacks on the team behind only Jeffcoat and Jefferson. Jefferson believes a heavily counted on Sayles will be a major a problem for offences.

“You can expect him to make a lot of plays in the backfield,” Jefferson said.

“Casey’s a strong guy. He’s twitchy at times, so when he knows plays are coming his way or when he knows he can make a play, he just has to believe in himself and try and make those plays in the backfield.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.