There has been plenty of pressure in Riderville in 2022, but Pete Robertson has been responsible for the a lot of the good kind this season for the green and white.
Robertson returned to the Riders lineup last Friday against the BC Lions and said it felt great to be back on the field after missing over a month’s worth of action following a foot injury suffered in Saskatchewan’s win over Ottawa on July 8.
The defensive end noted it was good for his teammates in AC Leonard and Garrett Marino to getting back on the field against the Lions last Friday.
“It was more about all of three of us getting back into motion, cause we all kind of went out at the same time, return at the same time and I think all three felt good by lining back up and playing with (Anthony) Lanier. ”
With the absences along the defensive line throughout the last few weeks, Robertson believes Lanier stepped up for the Riders.
“Lanier played lights out man, those four weeks, five weeks we were all out he played lights out from a defensive end, a three tech to the nose, man he was causing havoc, and when you have a guy like that who can make plays like that individually as a man it makes you feel better when you’re out but it also gives you that sense of I need to get back there and help him.”
Unfortunately for Lanier, the defensive tackle will be out this week for the final matchup this season between Saskatchewan and BC, Riders Head Coach Craig Dickenson says he has been battling an illness following the game last week.
When Robertson suffered his foot injury in July, the Texas Tech product had a comfortable lead as the league leader in sacks with seven. When he returned to action last week, Robertson still found himself on top of the list of the sack leaders. Robertson says he wasn’t too surprised to see himself on top of the leaders with his return to the lineup but is more focused on helping the team succeed.
“I’m just eager to make big plays and doing the things that my teams needs me to do to force that win and try to gives us a chance to win that Grey Cup”
In last week’s game, Robertson recorded one sack to remain tied for the league lead in sacks at eight alongside Lorenzo Mauldin of Ottawa.
Even though he finds himself on a top of an individual list across the league, Robertson credits the play of his teammates for helping him achieve individual success. “I get better as long as the team gets better. ” He added “I’m doing well when we’re all on the same page, I love rushing for the guys, trying to get back to the quarterback before he releases the ball.” He added that he has a lot of trust with his teammates.
The defensive end says the Riders will be have a tough task ahead of them in the Lions.
“BC is a really good team and you can’t take nothing from them” he added. “You have to play well on all levels to beat that team.”
One different aspect of the third matchup between the two teams will see the game take place inside of BC Place, and Robertson thinks that will help his team from an audio perspective.
“I think it will be a bit better on us, we won’t have as much of noise on the defensive side because they want their offence to focus, but I think it will give us a chance still gives a hold of the cadence, it’s another quarterback back there so I feel like it will go a little bit different. ”
You can catch tonight’s game on 620 CKRM with Countdown to Kickoff at 5:30 and opening kickoff at 8:30.
