Latest news with #JorgenHus
National Post
28-05-2025
- General
- National Post
Roughriders' Joe Couch happy to be back with team after being cut
Joe Couch can get back to tracking ball flights and not airline flights. Article content Article content After being released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 14 during the second round of training camp cuts, the 30-year-old punter considered flying back home to Australia as he pondered his future. Article content He also considered sticking around Canada in hopes of getting back on a CFL roster. Article content The decision was made easier when Roughriders long snapper Jorgen Hus extended an invitation to Couch to stay at his Saskatoon home with his family of four as he waited for another opportunity. Article content Article content 'I was kind of just waiting to see what was happening across the league, and then, yeah, if I didn't get a call, I'd be on my way back to Australia,' said Couch, who spent the 2024 season on Saskatchewan's practice roster. 'I was honestly prepared to leave Wednesday when I got cut, but I was like, 'You know what? I'll stick around because I've worked hard and I think if, after a couple of weeks, maybe a team will bring me in.' Article content 'It's such a funny game, like anything can happen, so you've just got to stay ready and that's what I was doing.' Article content While Couch had his own bag of footballs he could practice with, Hus also put him to work. Article content 'He was cooking me up beautiful dinners so I was like, 'I want to help this guy out,' ' said Couch. 'He was planning on getting all these trees in before he left to Regina (for the third week of training camp). So we had some holes to dig and some evergreens to put in. Article content 'And babysit. He's got two girls, so you know, if one's being a bit of a hassle, I'll just jump in and be like 'Alright, let's watch TV, or let's put on some Paw Patrol or something.' ' Article content 'He was a great babysitter,' said Hus, father of a nearly two-year-old and an eight-week-old. 'It was good having him around. He was definitely a lot of help around the house and was good with the kids. Article content 'And yeah, we put him to work in the backyard, but we fed him well.' Article content And no, Couch didn't stay on the couch. Instead, he got the spare bedroom. Article content 'We didn't put Couch on the couch,' chuckled Hus. Article content Article content Following the retirement of Adam Korsak this off-season, Couch was in competition with fellow Aussie Bailey Flint for Saskatchewan's starting punting job this year. Article content However when Couch was released, Flint handled all the punting duties in Saskatchewan's first pre-season game against Winnipeg — averaging 40.6 yards per punt. Hoping to increase that statistic, the Roughriders opted to bring back some competition with Couch being re-signed on Monday. Article content 'Obviously being here last year, they recognized that I could just fit in and get the job done,' said the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder. 'And obviously I was really happy to be back when they called me so I get to see the boys again.'
National Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Roughriders training camp preview: Special teams and coaching staff
Article content The 2025 Canadian Football League season is approaching as the Saskatchewan Roughriders have opened training camp. Article content Article content After previewing the offence and the defence in these recent articles, it's time to look at the special teams and coaches as training camp is underway: Article content This group features two returning starters as Brett Lauther will continue to handle kicking duties for Saskatchewan in 2025 while the longest-serving member of the team, Jorgen Hus, will continue to serve as the long snapper. National kicker Ben Hadley, who participated in rookie camp, was moved to the retired list on Saturday. Article content Article content As for the punting situation, that's something that will be sorted out in camp after the recent announcement that Adam Korsak has been transferred to the retired list ahead of the 2025 season. Article content Kosask has been a phenomenal punter for Saskatchewan for the past two seasons after he beat out Kaare Vedvik for the starting job in 2023. Now, it's up to Joe Couch, who spent the 2024 season on the Riders practice roster, or fellow Australian Bailey Flint, who was signed by the Riders this off-season after playing eight games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last year, to win the starting job. Article content While they also drafted another Global punter in Jesse Mirco, who remains unsigned, the punting job truly looks like it will be decided in camp and be won by whoever has the best performance in practice and the two exhibition games. Additionally, backup kicker Ben Hadley has been moved to the retired list ahead of camp. Article content Article content Plenty of continuity with this group as Corey Mace is back for his second season with the Roughriders after turning the team around in 2024. Article content Article content Mace has built the culture he said he was going to establish with plenty of buy in from the fellow coaches and players. Now it's about building on that in 2025 as expectations continue to rise. Article content Former Grey Cup champion Andrew Harris joins the staff this year to lead former teammate A.J. Ouellette and the running backs (replacing Anthony Vitale) while former University of Regina Rams offensive coordinator Josh Donnelly joins the team as an offensive assistant. Article content Defensively, Mace will continue to call the play while Phillip Daniels (defensive line) and Joshua Bell (defensive backs) are also back from 2024. Travis Brown will be leading the linebackers this year as he takes over for J.C. Sherritt, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Edmonton Elks.
