Punchless Roughriders look to go on the offensive
As promised, Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach- GM Chris Jones has taken a long, hard look at the CFL team’s offence.
What he saw was pretty selfevident.
“Certainly we’ve got to protect the quarterback better,” Jones said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “We can’t let guys run free up the middle.
“We’ve got a 34-year-old quarterback that needs some protection. Then, when he does get the protection, he’s got to do a better job protecting the football.”
In the wake of the Roughriders’ 53-7 loss Saturday to the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Jones vowed to examine the team’s offence.
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant was under pressure throughout the contest and threw four interceptions — his first picks of the season. Backup Mitchell Gale added an interception and a fumble as the Roughriders accumulated 243 yards of net offence.
The Roughriders also didn’t score a touchdown in the contest, extending their streak without a major to 90 minutes. Their last TD was scored on the final play of the first half of their game Aug. 13 against the Calgary Stampeders.
It’s the latest in a string of droughts for the Roughriders this season. They went nearly 81 minutes without a TD before that major against Calgary and also had skids of almost 79 minutes and 43 minutes between touchdowns earlier in the season.
Durant wasn’t putting much emphasis on the droughts Tuesday, saying he doesn’t pay any attention to them.
“Of course we need touchdowns, but at the end of the day, some stats don’t matter,” he said. “I think Edmonton passed for 61 yards against Hamilton and won last year or something like that.
“At the end of the day, it’s about winning and losing games, not necessarily what the statistics mean.”
But the Roughriders have scored just 35 points in their past four games and, in eight games this season, have managed a leaguelow 145 points.
“We just want to win games,” Durant said. “If we win 7-0, then fine. (If it’s) 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, we just want to win. When you win, that will change the mood.
“It’s not necessarily how many points you score, it’s about scoring more points than the opposing team. That’s our goal.”
The Roughriders have deployed six different offensive line combinations in their eight games, which has disrupted the continuity and chemistry required to handle opposing defences’ stunts. On Saturday, that led to defensive linemen having unimpeded paths to Durant.
As well, the receiving corps has been rejigged a number of times due to injury and production.
Saskatchewan also hasn’t been able to generate much of a running game — it ranks eighth in the league with an average of 55.8 yards rushing per game — and has just one rushing TD on the season.
Offensive tackle Thaddeus Coleman bemoaned the penalties the Roughriders have taken in the red zone that hindered scoring drives, and lapses in concentration at inopportune times.
“We’ve just got to clean it up ...,” said Coleman, the only O -lineman to play all eight games at the same spot for Saskatchewan this season. “We’ve got to continue to get better every day and get more confidence in each other.
“That’s all it is. We do it in practice, so we know we’re capable of doing it in games. We’ve got to execute.
“We can’t talk about it. We’ve just got to do it.”
The Roughriders believe they have learned their lessons on offence from Saturday’s loss and will look to get back on track Friday when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos.
How Saskatchewan rebounds from Saturday’s defeat will determine if it still has a chance in the West Division playoff race.
“Whenever you get another opportunity, it’s all about how you bounce back,” Durant said. “We’re not going to hold our heads down.
“Whether you lose by one or by 51, a loss is a loss. We’re on to the next week.
“We have a big-time opportunity against a good team and we have to be ready for them.”
Whenever you get another opportunity, it’s all about how you bounce back. We’re not going to hold our heads down.