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But instead of signing a second-tier nose tackle as I expected, Jones and his team shifted gears and went after the second-rated national defensive lineman in free agency, all-star end Justin Capicciotti.

Capicciotti now bookends the D-line with another new face, Shawn Lemon, to give the Riders a quality national starter on defence, as well as a formidable pass rush to pressure and contain opposing quarterbacks.

But what these signings do not do is settle the concerns over the nose tackle position, and it could have a domino effect on the rest of the roster.

Given the signings of Corvey Irvin and Markus White, I now assume that nose tackle is an international position, and developing nationals Rory Connop and Brandon Tennant seems less certain.

Conversely, to avoid any confusing substitution packages, Riders special-teams ace Dylan Ainsworth will be asked to play more of a role at defensive end, a role in which he excelled at Western University.

Who the nose will be may still be up in the air, but one thing for certain is that the signings at linebacker, paired with 2015 rookie-of-the-year nominee Jeff Knox Jr., gives the Riders perhaps the best group of linebackers in the league.

The SAM linebacker is actually a misnamed defensive back, but any way you look at it, the Riders got one of the best in the game with Otha Foster. He’ll be called on to cover the opposition’s slot, and sometimes best, receiver.

It is said that a player’s third season in the CFL is his breakout year and, like Foster, middle linebacker Greg Jones is entering his third campaign; he should lead the Riders in tackles.