With the Saskatchewan Roughriders set to open rookie camp on June 1 and the main training camp on June 5, the team announced today that Garry Etcheverry (pictured) had stepped down as assistant defensive coach.
In 2009-10, Etcheverry served as the team’s defensive coordinator, employing an array of unorthodox schemes with mixed results. In last year’s frigid West Division final in Calgary, for instance, the Riders held a high powered Stampeder offence to just 16 points. The defence performed admirably in a 21-18 Grey Cup loss to Montreal Alouettes as well. But for much of the season the defence was pretty vulnerable to the run, and Etcheverry received a lot of criticism for his defensive philosophy.
Seeking greater consistency, the Riders re-appointed former Rider defensive coordinator Richie Hall to the post in the off-season. With Mike Walker and Alex Smith in charge of the defensive line and linebackers, and head coach Greg Marshall a former all-star defensive lineman himself, that kind of left Etcheverry as the odd man out.
Here’s a link to a short announcement on his resignation on Riderville.com
