The Saskatchewan Roughriders fell to 5-2 on the Canadian Football League season with a 20-16 setback in Montreal last Thursday night. With the victory the defending Grey Cup Champion Alouettes improved to a league best 6-1 to start the season.

The main point of discussion in Riderville since Thursday night is the second half where the Green and White were outscored 17-0 after dominating the first half of the contest at Percival Molson Stadium.

The biggest question asked of me over the weekend is, “did the Riders meltdown in the second half or is Montreal that much better of a team?” My response is that Montreal are the defending champions for a reason and their defense was awful in the first half. However, in the second half the defense loaded up on the line of scrimmage to take away the run and the pressure that they were able to generate on Quarterback Shea Patterson was enough to disrupt the passing game stalling the Riders’ offensive momentum from the opening half.

Additionally, back-up Quarterback Davis Alexander came in and played like he had nothing to lose in the second half. Als football operations have lauded Alexander’s ability and performance this season despite being locked behind Cody Fajardo and Caleb Evans on the QB depth chart. Alexander looked poised in the face of pressure, showed some escapabilty and had receivers make plays for him, something that was not the case for starter Caleb Evans who had to contend with his receivers making numerous drops. Additionally, Evans seemed to be looking over his shoulder curious if Alexander would be warming up after the next play. It’s an example of, “playing not to lose, as opposed to playing to win.” In large part I believe the noise about Alexander potentially getting into the game lead to Evan’s ineffectiveness in the first half. (It will be interesting to see if Evans gets another chance to start a game with Cody Fajardo on the 6-game injured list.)

The Riders cannot be let of the hook entirely as missed tackles, some costly penalties, missing two, tough long-distance field goals and some near miss big plays on offence also lead to the team not getting the job done against the Als and leaving Montreal with their first win since 2021.

As Head Coach Corey Mace alluded to in the 620 CKRM Cooperators Roughrider Radio Network Postgame show, “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” So, the team will not take a moral victory or an oh woes me approach. Instead suggesting that the team will need to learn from the result and get ready to rebound this week against Edmonton.

 Here’s what else we learned in the game:

• Frankie Hickson got his first start of the season, in place of the injured A.J. Ouellette, and he made the most of his opportunity. Hickson ran the ball 16 times for 117 yards and a touchdown. He would add a catch, as well, for 16 yards.
• Not to be lost in Hickson’s performance is the play of the offensive line in the first half. Some of the biggest run lanes of the season were opened for Hickson who capitalized on their play and took advantage of the gaping holes.
• Anthony Lanier II’s motor doesn’t stop. He was moved back inside on the defensive line after starting on the end vs. Winnipeg a week earlier. He was consistently double-teamed but was a big part of winning the line of scrimmage and forcing Montreal to abandon the run game. Additionally, his field-goal block in the first half gave his team a huge boost of momentum in the first half.
• It’s a game of inches, part 1: Literally two inches were between Brett Lauther and two successful field goals. I have never in person seen a game where posts were hit on two different field goal attempts. Lauther’s 57-yard attempt would clunk off the cross bar, then a 53-yarder with lots of leg would nail the upright. Literally, an inch either way and they go through.
• It’s a game of inches, part 2:  I’m not sure if there is a more dependable second down receiver in the CFL than Mitchell Picton. When needed the Regina product gets to the right spot, at the right time to make, usually, the drive extending play. On third down late in the fourth quarter with the Riders driving Picton did all of the above. However, his toe would scrape the sideline prior to him making a drive extending catch, rendering his participation ineligible and turning the ball over on downs to the Als ending the game. It was that close and had to be determined by the CFL command centre.
• What are your thoughts on the command centre? Too much participation? Too long to get it right? OR isn’t the goal at the end of the day to get it right so the first two points are moot?  
• How about the razzle dazzle? The Riders opening play offensively was a receiver throw from pass catcher KeeSean Johnson, who started in place of Kian Schaeffer-Baker. Unfortunately, Montreal didn’t fall for the deception and covered the play well. BUT I loved the tendency breaker and every bit of creativity from the offense is welcomed as it makes the games fun taking you back to younger days when you would draw up a play in the dirt in the huddle with your buddies on the school yard.

That’s it for this week. Here’s to the Riders going 1-and-oh this week when they take on the winless Edmonton Elks on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.