Tonight, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will start a crucial portion of their schedule that will go a long way towards determining their final spot in the standings, as they will kick off a key home and home set with the BC Lions.
Following the upcoming two games against the Lions, Saskatchewan will meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a pair of matchups.
Heading into this evening, the Riders trail BC by four points for second spot in the Western Division, along with the Lions holding an edge in the season series between the two squads following a win in Regina back on July 29.
The Riders will try and reverse a recent home trend as they’ve lost their last two games at Mosaic Stadium. The last time Saskatchewan lost three straight games on home turf was in 2015.
A New Coat of Green & White Paint
It should be a new looked Riders team on the field tonight compared to the one that faced the Leos back in July. The Riders will have three defensive linemen back in the lineup. (Pete Robertson, AC Leonard and Garrett Marino.)
The team was also battling the effects of a COVID outbreak in the locker room throughout July. Improved cardio should help a team that was outscored 18-0 in the final half of their last meeting with BC.
QB Cody Fajardo says he’s feeling much better compared to the previous encounter with the Lions.
“I just feel like it’s a different team here, more positive energy coming back from that bye week, obviously winning last week, so I think our mentality is much better and I hope that leads to better football play.”
The defensive line may see more of a rotation to help ease in the returns of Robertson, Marino, and Leonard. Riders Head Coach Craig Dickenson knows the trio will be vital in order for the green and white to shut down Lions QB Nathan Rourke.
“You got to get to him and you have to get to him with four or five, if you bring seven, he’ll find holes in that coverage and exploit it so it’s important that we get our horses back, our big guys, our best players back and we feel like we’re getting closer to that.”
Despite being sidelined since July 8, Robertson is tied for the league leaders in sacks with seven. Anthony Lanier, also has seven sacks on the season.
One thing that Robertson believes is evident when watching the game film this week from the last game with the Lions, is that the Riders were missing a couple of key guys on the defensive line.
He adds that pressure will be key in order to shut down Roruke.
“We really just want him to get uncomfortable in the pocket, that’s the main goal.”
Riders AC Leonard
Leonard is looking forward to his return for Saskatchewan.
“I feel like we bring a different energy with us three, pick the defence up, pick up our defensive line and we’re holding everyone accountable and be ready to go.”
Amari Henderson says the return of the pass rushers for the green and white defence will help the secondary cover the league’s top receiving core.
“The DBs love when the defensive linemen get back there, just like how the defensive lineman love when DBs cover so they can get back there and get a sack on the quarterback.”
There will be a couple of changes to the offensive line. With the release of Na’Ty Rodgers and Terran Vaughn being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Andrew Lauderdale will start at left tackle with Jamal Campbell starting at right tackle.
The BC perspective
Tonight’s opponents for the Riders will be a BC Lions team that ranks number one in offence. Rourke leads the league in passing. The Lions also have three receivers (Dominique Rhymes, Keon Hatcher, Lucky Whitehead) in the top ten for receiving yards with Bryan Burnham returning to the lineup after being sidelined with a injury in July.
BC Lions Nathan Rourke
Rourke is the top candidate for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player as he has been named a top performer for the last three weeks and five times overall this season. Along with increased chatter of possible NFL tryouts in the winter, the Canadian QB says it’s important for him to keep himself focused in the present moment.
“Sometimes it’s easier than others, sometimes it can be difficult, I try as much as I can to stay off that type of stuff, not read the articles , stay off social media, make sure that I’m surrounded myself with my teammates and making sure that I understand that it’s not about me, it’s about the team and I think with that mentality I am able to stay a little bit more in the present and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Burnham believes that Rourke is already an elite talent in the league.
Bryan Burnham of the BC Lions
“I said it so many times he doesn’t surprise me just because it’s not , it doesn’t come out of nowhere. He works for this , he worked for it everyday. He’s getting what he put into this.”
The longtime veteran of the Lions believes the receivers have played a small role in Rourke’s success this season.
“He’s got weapons across the board that he can , be confident delivering the ball to wherever.”
One of those receivers that has helped the Lions offence has been Lucky Whitehead. Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic says the former Dallas Cowboy’s game has translated well north of the border.
620 CKRM will have all the coverage of today’s Riders and Lions game, Countdown to Kickoff begins everything at 5:00, opening kickoff with Michael Ball is at 8:00.
Also at today’s game, the newest inductees (Ken Miller, Weston Dressler, and Mike McCullough) of the Plaza of Honour will be recognized during the game.
It’s also Purolator’s Tackle Hunger game, fans can receive a picture with the Grey Cup with a donation of a non perishable food item.
