Tiger-Cats interview Riders' Hall: source

It seems Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille is looking to a familiar face to help improve the defence.

A source requesting anonymity told the Canadian Press on Tuesday that Richie Hall, the respected defensive co-ordinator of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has met with the Ticats to discuss a similar position with them.

The source added that Hall spoke with Hamilton officials Monday and that his contract with the Roughriders has expired, leaving him free to entertain other potential offers.

Denny Creehan was Hamilton's defensive co-ordinator in 2008, and what's interesting is he still has a year remaining on his deal with the Ticats.

"Richie and I are friends," Bellefeuille said Tuesday. "We talk all the time.

"I'm in the process of looking at everything right now and I haven't even started evaluating the defensive side of the ball. I'm still looking at the offensive side."

Bellefeuille and Hall worked together for five years as assistant coaches in Saskatchewan.

Bellefeuille joined the Riders in 2001 as offensive line coach before being promoted to offensive co-ordinator in 2003.

He held that post through the 2005 season before joining the Montreal Alouettes in 2006 and then becoming Hamilton's offensive co-ordinator in 2007.

Bellefeuille was named Hamilton's interim head coach earlier this season when Charlie Taaffe was fired before assuming the post on a full-time basis before season's end.

Hall has spent 15 seasons as a coach with the Riders, the last eight as defensive co-ordinator.

He helped Saskatchewan win the Grey Cup last season and this year ran a defence that was first in fewest yards allowed (354 per game), second in pass defence (266 yards per game) and fewest passing touchdowns allowed (28), and third in fewest touchdowns (44) and points allowed (25.1 per game).

Hamilton (3-15) didn't enjoy nearly the same level of defensive success this season.

The Ticats finished last in yards allowed (440 per game), pass defence (325 per game), touchdowns passes allowed (34) and pass completion percentage (69 per cent), and seventh in touchdowns allowed (54) and points allowed (29.8 per game).

Riders want to retain Hall: source  

Hall, 48, played nine seasons in the CFL as a defensive back, including four years with the Riders (1988-91).

He helped Saskatchewan win the Grey Cup in 1989.

Hall appeared in 153 CFL games and was a four-time West Division all-star.

His staunch defence was a big reason the Riders were able to post a second-straight 12-6 record and finish second in the West Division this year, despite an abundance of injuries, especially on the offensive side of the football.

However, the Riders aren't completely out of the picture.

The source added Saskatchewan is interested in having Hall continue as its defensive co-ordinator.

Kelly coveted by Blue Bombers: source

The Riders did interview Hall for its vacant head coaching job last year, when Kent Austin stepped down to become the offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss, his alma mater.

The Riders ended up hiring from within, promoting offensive co-ordinator Ken Miller to head coach.

However, Hamilton won't be the only CFL team looking for a defensive co-ordinator as both the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have head coaching vacancies.

Mike Kelly, receivers coach for the Edmonton Eskimos, is generally regarded as the front-runner to become Winnipeg's general manager and head coach.

In fact, the source added the Eskimos gave Winnipeg permission to speak to Kelly on Monday.