By Jamie Nye

New faces in new places for the Saskatchewan Roughriders

Jul 8, 2011 | 5:20 AM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will go into week with veteran defensive lineman Luc Mullinder taking a back seat to newcomer Remond Willis.

Willis arrived last week and was placed on the practice roster after his release from Winnipeg. He comes highly recommended to Head Coach Greg Marshall from somebody within the Winnipeg organization.

Interestingly enough, it could be Winnipeg's depth at defensive end that helps Saskatchewan's lack of depth in that same area.

Willis confident in abilities

In his first go around with the media on Thursday, Willis didn't sound like a young rookie just hoping to make an impression in Saturday's game. He sounds like a rookie knowing he'll make an impression against the Montreal Alouettes.

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“I'm going to get there,” stated Willis when asked about going up against Anthony Calvillo, who rarely gets hit none the less get sacked.

Asked what he brings to the table, “Speed, 255 pounds of speed all day.”

And that's just what the doctor ordered for a stagnant Roughriders pass rush.

Mullinder in backup role

The need for speed from the rush end spot for the Saskatchewan Roughriders leaves non-import veteran Luc Mullinder in more of a rotational role within the Riders defence after starting last week. Defensive line coach Mike Walker says it's not that Mullinder is out of the picture, he's still got a chance to redeem himself, they just feel that Remond Willis has the speed and agility to come around the corner on the quarterback's strong side to move him around the pocket more.

Something Mullinder wasn't able to do against Ricky Ray and the Edmonton Eskimos in the season opener.

Earlier in the week, Mullinder was frustrated with the criticism he and some fellow linemen received from the coaching staff by being called 'soft', but that is a characteristic that doesn't look to be on the list of attributes for his replacement.

Rookie motivated to prove people wrong

Willis had a fairly decent showing with the Blue Bombers in the preseason tallying two sacks, something Roughriders linemen have been unable to do so far in two preseason games and their regular season opener. The 25-year old from Missouri believes it was the depth up front for Winnipeg that led to his release as Odell Willis and Phillip Hunt are locked in as the starting two defensive ends for the Bombers.

But he feels after his release from the Stampeders in 2009, he's much better prepared to play in the Canadian Football League.

“After I got cut in Calgary, I went home and trained in the offseason and didn't do anything but run, lift, and pass rush all year and I came back with a new mindset and new motivation and I'm here now.”

Rider News and Notes

The Roughriders are still figuring out what combinations they'll use for the ratio this week as they try to make room for imports Chris McKenzie, Tad Kornegay, Remond Willis, Jerrell Freeman and Brandon West to be added to the roster. Something that may help them do that is a nagging 'lower body' injury to safety James Patrick. If Patrick can't go it looks like the Roughriders first pick of the 2011 Canadian Draft, Craig Butler, could start at safety.

Ernie Wheelwright will be added to the injured list, while Hugh Charles may also miss Saturday's game versus Montreal with a hamstring problem. Linebacker Chris Graham and defensive back John Eubanks may be the odd men out to make room for Freeman and McKenzie.

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