Facing a diminished role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Richie Hall took on the challenge of becoming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator. Saints Jerseys 2020 . Hall served as Saskatchewans defensive co-ordinator the last four seasons. Saskatchewans defence allowed the fewest touchdowns in the CFL while recording the most interceptions to anchor the Riders Grey Cup run in 2013. But after Saskatchewan posted a 10-8 record last season, head coach Corey Chamblin said in December that Hall wouldnt continue as the Riders defensive co-ordinator. Chamblin indicated Hall would be offered another role within the organization. Instead, Hall accepted the task of rebuilding a Winnipeg defence that allowed a CFL-worst 135.9 yards rushing per game. As a player, in all my years of coaching, the emphasis has always been weve got to stop the run, Hall told reporters during a conference call. If youre able to control the run, youre able to control the line of scrimmage and everything starts up in the trenches. You have to be able to counter everything they do. If a team is able to run the ball effectively against you, it can dictate the flow of the game. Defensively, we want to be able to dictate the flow of the game. Hall, 54, a native of San Antonio, has spent all but two of his 20 years coaching in the CFL with Saskatchewans defence. Hall was Edmontons head coach in 2009 and 2010 before returning to Regina, where hed also won Grey Cups in 89 as a player and 07 as the defensive co-ordinator. Hall replaces Gary Etcheverry, who was fired after just one season overseeing Winnipegs defence. The Blue Bombers missed the playoffs with a 7-11 record under rookie head coach Mike OShea. Richie has always had a good plan, OShea said. Theres no time that hes entered the game without a good plan. His players always feel solid about the plan. Hes also got the ability to adjust. His knowledge of our game and of the opposition, the various co-ordinators in our game, theres nothing Richie hasnt seen or dealt with. With former Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille returning as offensive co-ordinator, OShea feels well supported by the experience of his two assistants. I say this to the coaching staff when we first get together If you see me tripping, catch me, OShea said. There are mistakes that are going to be made and its up to all of us to make sure that we dont make those mistakes and they dont cost us games. First-year starter Drew Willy, the CFLs third-ranked passer with 3,769 yards, gave Winnipegs offence credibility and the defence did finish the season ranked second against the pass. But only expansion Ottawa (37) had fewer sacks than the Bombers (43), who also allowed a CFL-high 481 points. Chamblin told reporters in Regina last month he took over Saskatchewans defence for the West Division semifinal against Edmonton, a game the Riders lost 18-10 despite not allowing an offensive touchdown. OShea, a former all-star linebacker, insisted Hall would have freedom to implement his defensive packages with the Blue Bombers. One of the things I firmly believe in is you hire men youre going to trust and let them coach, he said. I wont be sticking my fingers in to upset the apple cart. Richie is going to have his systems. Hes going to put the time in to come up with a great plan. As head coach, he and I are going to talk about that plan before the game. Ill have input and there will be times I get on the headset and Ill talk about the flow of the game and what Id like to see. My preference is always to let the coaches coach. Thats what I hired him for. Hall was a CFL all-star as a defensive back in the 1980s with both Calgary and Saskatchewan. He says hell commute for now between Winnipeg and Regina, where his wife, Helen, is employed. After so many years of wearing green and white, Hall acknowledged it will be an adjustment wearing different colours on what was once an enemy football field. I think its going to be strange but you also understand its football, he said. You become committed to the jersey you put on. Thats the life of a coach, thats the life of a professional athlete. Wholesale Saints Jerseys . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Saints Jerseys China .Y. - OK, it is done. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . His stated reason for abruptly resigning as head coach of Canadas Olympic womens hockey team was he felt there were doubts about his ability to coach the team to Olympic gold in February.Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. The Ohio State Buckeyes are back on top. They can thank the inaugural College Football Playoff for that. Elliott ran for 246 yards, totaling over 200 for a third straight game, and Ohio State won its first national championship since 2002 with a 42-20 victory over Oregon in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday night. The Buckeyes snuck into the final four of the CFP committees final rankings on Dec. 7 after not being included in any of their previous unveilings. Their vaulting into the No. 4 spot came a day after Elliott gained 220 yards and two scores in Ohio States 59-0 shutout win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes then went out and silenced their critics in the Sugar Bowl when Elliott ran for 230 yards and two more touchdowns in their 42-35 win over top- seeded Alabama. Elliott put the final stamp on the stunning title run Monday night. After the Ducks pulled within a point in the third quarter, Elliott ran for a trio of scores to lift Ohio State to its sixth national championship. The emergence of the sophomore Elliott took the pressure off Cardale Jones, who was making his third career start. Jones, of course, took over at quarterback following the injuries to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. Jones was 16-of-23 for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 38 yards rushing and a score for Ohio State, which won despite turning the ball over four times. Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota was 24-of-37 for 333 yards and two touchdowns to go with a pick for the No. 2 Ducks, who routed Florida State 59-20 in the Rose Bowl to reach the title game. Mariota also carried the ball 10 times for 39 yards, Byron Marshall caught eight passes for 169 yards and a score and Thomas Tyner ran for 62 yards on 12 totes in defeat. After failing to capitalize on a pair of Ohio State miscues in the first half, the Ducks were able to post 10 points on the Buckeyes first two turnovers of the third quarter. The Buckeyes committed their third turnover on their opening series of the second half. The ball popped off the hands of Jalin Marshall after Ohio State moved the ball into Oregon territory, and an alert Danny Mattingly was there to pick it off. Mariota fired a 70-yard TD pass to a wide-open Byron Marshall on the very next play to trim the gap to 21-17. Elliott darted up the middle for two yards to move the chains on a 4th-and-1, but Jones lost the ball on the next snap when the ball slipped out of his hand as he rolled right. Aidan Schneider hit a 23-yard field goal to whittle the deficit to 21-20 midway through the third quarter. Ohio State, though, responded by pounding the ball with Elliott. He carried it six times for 44 yards on its ensuing touch, finishing off the 12-play sequence with a bruising 9-yard TD run off the left edge to up the Buckeyes margin to 28-20 on the final play of the third. The Buckeyes defense then forced a three-and-out and Elliott was back at it again. Jones zipped a 19-yard completion to Jalin Marshall over the middle and Elliott barreled in from two yards out to make it 35-20 at the 9:44 mark of the fourth. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys. Joey Bosa drove Mariotas shoulder to the turf on a first down play and the signal caller had to exit for a snap. Jake Fisher was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Tyrell Crosby was whistled for a false start to make matters worse. It was 3rd-and-26 when Mariota re-entered the game and he hit Dwayne Stanford for a pickup of 19 yards, and Oregon coach Mark Helfrich elected to punt. Mariotas 4th-and-11 pass fell incomplete on the Ducks next touch and Elliott powered in from a yard out with 28 ticks on the clock to cap the scoring. Earlier, the Buckeyes put up 21 straight points after Oregon scored a touchdown on its opening drive. Ohio State found the end zone on consecutive possessions late in the first quarter after punting on its initial series. Jones fired a 26-yard strike on a 3rd-and-8 to Corey Smith, then rolled left and tossed another 26-yard completion to Jalin Marshall. Jalin Marshall prolonged the drive when he fought for the first-down marker after going in motion and receiving a pop pass from Jones on a 4th-and-2. Elliott then zoomed through the secondary off the left side of the line for a 33-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7. Marshall returned a punt 17 yards to the Oregon 46 and Elliott later barreled to the 1 following a 17-yard run. Jones flipped a 1-yard TD pass to Nick Vannett in the left flat with 1:08 left in the first quarter. After a rolling Jones lofted a 43-yard completion to Devin Smith on a 3rd- and-12 in the second quarter, he snuck in from a yard out three plays later for a 21-7 Buckeyes advantage with 4:49 to go in the half. Schneider nailed a 28-yard field goal in the final minute to get the Ducks within 21-10. The Ducks, who turned the ball over just 10 times during the regular season, had a pair of close calls on their opening drive. Tyner lost the football after dashing through a huge hole off right guard, but it bounced right back to him and he gained 12 yards. Mariota later fumbled when he picked his way for seven yards on a scramble, but a replay showed that his knee was down. Mariota then capped the initial 11-play, 75-yard march when he eluded pressure, stepped up in the pocket and hit Keanon Lowe for a 7-yard score. Oregons first half was defined by miscues. Mariotas first two incompletions were third-down drops and the Ducks were not able to capitalize on a pair of Ohio State fumbles. The aggressive Ducks elected to go for it on a 4th-and-goal from the OSU 3 following a fumbled exchange between Jones and Elliott, but the Buckeyes stuffed Tyner at the 1. Oregon then went three-and-out after recovering a Corey Smith fumble following a 47-yard reception. Game Notes Ohio State coach Urban Meyer won his third national title and first with the Buckeyes. He became the second head coach to win national championships at two different schools, joining Nick Saban ... Elliott carried the ball 36 times, averaging 6.8 yards per carry ... Oregon was without freshman receiver Darren Carrington, who failed an NCAA administered drug test prior to the game ... Ohio State outgained Oregon 538-465 ... The Buckeyes were 8-of-15 on third down, while the Ducks finished 2-of-12. ' ' '