After a strong first half in the season opener against B.C that saw the team lead 32-9, the Riders offence sputtered and sputtered badly in the second half as the green-and-white held on for a four point victory.
As the team started preparing for its Saturday night game ( 8 PM CKRM) against Hamilton at Mosaic Stadium, some are still wondering just what exactly the offence consists of after two different performances.
Offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas isn’t worried over the tale of two halves saying give B.C some credit for making some adjustments, but also realize that his team squandered some opportunities.
“While they made adjustments, we shot ourselves in the foot a few times.” Maas told reporters Tuesday. ” Cody dropped a ball in the backfield. I think we lost yardage on a play where we could have got a couple on. We started so hot that anything less than that was going to be noticed.
Fajardo also defended the play of the offence saying it may not have gone the way they wanted it to for the entire sixty minutes, but at the end of the day his team won which is what they wanted to do.
“You win your first game of the year in front of a sold-out crowd, there’s nothing to be sad about.” Fajardo said. “We went out there and did what we were supposed to do which is go out and try to win a football game.
Head Coach Craig Dickenson was asked if conditioning might have played a factor in the second half struggles. He said it probably did, but his team isn’t alone when it comes to that.
“I think every team is having that issue, Everyone is tired. You could tell by watching games this weekend that every team was hitting the wall at some point. “Dickenson said. “I think it was a factor for B.C in the first half because our offence was on the field for an extended period of time meaning their defence was feeling it.’ We talked with the team about putting drives together and helping the defence when they are getting tired. It will be like this for probably the first month of the season.
NOTES: Offensive lineman Mattland Riley once again did not practice. The team says it is non-injury related. Receiver Justin McInnis was back at practice after missing the B.C game with a hamstring problem and defensive back Elie Bouka joined the team on the field after completing his quarantine. Linebacker Kevin Francis and defensive lineman Pete Robertson didn’t practice due to hamstring injuries suffered against the Lions.
