Having played 163 games for four teams during his Canadian Football League career, the former player-turned Saskatchewan Roughriders coach chose his words carefully after the team selected Kerry Joseph first overall in the Ottawa Renegades dispersal draft in April.

"There is no pressure, believe me," Barrett told reporters of Joseph's arrival in Regina. "I've been in that position before. You've got all the help you're going to need right here.

"You're going to have some protection. You're going to have some receivers. You're going to have a defence. Just enjoy yourself. Enjoy the ride."

All of what Barrett said is true — well, maybe not the pressure part — but that won't stop the 32-year-old Joseph from being the most-watched Rider when Saskatchewan opens the 2006 season June 16 against the hometown British Columbia Lions.

That's what happens when general manager Roy Shivers trades one of the club's most popular players (Corey Holmes), a Canadian defensive back (Scott Gordon) and a 2007 first-round draft pick for the chance to acquire a player he believes could lead Saskatchewan to the Grey Cup for the first time since 1997.

First, Joseph will be asked to lead Saskatchewan into the playoffs, something the inconsistent duo of Marcus Crandell and the departed Nealon Greene failed to accomplish in 2005.

While Joseph has never played in the post-season, he also wasn't blessed with the strongest support group in Ottawa, which posted a record of 19-35 from 2003 to 2005

Still, the Louisiana native managed to throw for more than 3,500 yards in two of his three seasons in the nation's capital, despite battling a variety of injuries.

A year ago, Joseph became just the third passer in CFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards (1,006) and top 4,000 passing yards (4,466) in the same season.

He could exceed those numbers now that he doesn't have to face his nemesis — a tough Roughriders defence — twice in a season. In his first three CFL campaigns, Joseph never threw for more than 215 yards against the Roughriders.

He'll also play behind an offensive line that allowed a league-low 23 quarterback sacks last year, compared with the 65 surrendered by the Renegades.

To make Joseph feel even more comfortable in his new home, Saskatchewan picked former Renegades receiver Jason Armstead third overall in the dispersal draft. And earlier in the off-season, Shivers hired Tommy Condell, Joseph's offensive co-ordinator the past two seasons in Ottawa.

Armstead is a dynamic playmaker and will be Joseph's primary target in Saskatchewan.

The one-man highlight reel racked up 3,353 all-purpose yards in 2005, second in the CFL to Holmes (3,455).

Jamel Richardson (663 receiving yards in 2005), Jason French (601) and Matt Dominguez, who missed all but two games with a knee injury, round out a solid receiving corps.

Condell takes over from Marcel Bellefeuille, who joined the Montreal Alouettes on Jan. 6 to be their running backs and receivers coach.

Saskatchewan ranked last in the Western Division and eighth in the then-nine-team league with 441 points in 2005.

"They (Roughriders) did some good things," said Condell, "but I'm here now and I'm excited to be here and we're going to go and attack."

It all starts with Joseph, who ranked sixth in the CFL in rushing yardage last season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Joseph also picked up 8.5 yards with every completed pass, a full two yards more than Crandell and Greene.

"We've been inconsistent putting points on the board more than anything else," said Barrett.

"If we can stay healthy, we feel confident this could be our year."

It all starts with Joseph.