Roughriders rookies Jake Doughty, Jeff Knox Jr. build special bond
Knox Jr. second in CFL tackles; Doughty fills big shoes at MLB
Even though the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 0-6, it isn't all doom and gloom.
Two of the team's breakout performers are a pair of rookie linebackers who have bonded both on and off the field.
Jake Doughty and Jeff Knox Jr. are both pleasant surprises for the Roughriders this season.
Knox Jr. is second in the CFL in tackles with 38. Doughty sits at 11th after tracking down 25 players so far this season. Doughty also has the Riders only interception this year.
But Doughty said it's their friendship off the field that's helped their play on it.
"Jeff and I are like Thing One and Thing Two," Doughty said. "Frick and Frack, pretty much."
Doughty and Knox Jr. met in training camp and have become roommates and good friends.
Even their numbers suggest unity, with Knox Jr. wearing No. 49 and Doughty in No. 50.
Opposites attract
"We are from completely different backgrounds," Doughty said. "I'm from Utah and he's from Pittsburgh, but opposites attract and we started to mesh."
Knox Jr., 23, also highlighted their different backgrounds, but still said "we're just good friends."
Head coach Corey Chamblin has noticed the bond.
Jeff and I are like Thing One and Thing Two.- Jake Doughty
"They work well together. They live together. They eat together. They drive together. They play together," Chamblin said. "They're totally opposite, but they have the right chemistry to be our linebackers."
But they don't see themselves as rookies. On a winless team, both said they need to step up to help get the Riders on a winning streak.
"Trying to be a leader as a rookie and just try and step into that role a little more," Knox Jr. said. "Just not knowing that I'm not a rookie that I can definitely be a leader and lead by example."
Neither player has experienced a win as a member of the Roughriders. Both said they would like to help the Riders create some turnovers.
"You get pressure on the quarterback, clock goes off in their head, they're going to want to make decisions quick," Doughty said. "Unfortunately for them, most of those quick decisions are negative."
Chamblin said he sees a bright future for his young linebackers.
"[Linebackers] Coach Pettaway is doing an awesome job with those young guys," he said. "I think they're a good crew. I think they're learning well. He's teaching them well and I think those guys just continue to grow. They'll be stars in this league."