RIDERS FACE WEST TEST
Key stretch begins Saturday in Vancouver
The West hasn’t been the best for Chris Jones.
As the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations, Jones has an 1-11 record against West Division teams — compared to 6-5 versus the East.
That West record is significant because Jones and the Riders are preparing for five consecutive games against teams in their division. The Riders kick off that crucial stretch at 5 p.m. on Saturday when they invade BC Place to meet the B.C. Lions. Saskatchewan then plays host to the Lions on Aug. 13.
After a bye week, the Roughriders will play the Edmonton Eskimos (Aug. 25 at Commonwealth Stadium) before a home-andhome set against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Sept. 3 at Mosaic Stadium and Sept. 9 at Investors Group Field).
Jones’ lone win over a West Division team in his multiple roles with the Riders came last Sept. 18 when the Riders beat the visiting Eskimos 26-23 in overtime. That was a rare intra-divisional victory for the Roughriders, who are 3-25 against the West since mid-September of 2014.
At 2-3 this season, the Riders are last in the five-team West Division, with reasonable aspirations of winning a crossover berth in the East playoffs. Winning at least three games during the upcoming stretch would put the Riders at, or above, .500 and in control of their playoff fate in the second half of the season. That may be asking a lot, considering their schedule and past performances versus the West.
With that mind, here are five things the Riders must do to have success in their next five games:
GRIND IT OUT
The CFL is primarily a passing league, but an effective run game is needed to set up an aerial attack. At the very least, it keeps defensive ends honest because they have to respect the run.
The Riders’ ground game has been respectable, especially during a 38-27 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on July 29. Cameron Marshall had 18 carries for 110 yards, both of which were season highs for the Green and White.
At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Marshall is stocky and powerful. He also has the speed to burst through holes and the elusiveness required to outrun defenders.
Saskatchewan’s ground game was particularly effective on first downs versus the Argonauts.
The Riders averaged 7.8 yards per carry, two more than their season average, on first downs. That performance allowed them to convert 15 of 24 second-down situations.
The Riders would benefit from similar showings against much tougher West Division defensive fronts.
THE CARTER FACTOR
There was more to Duron Carter’s performance against the Argonauts than a spectacular onehanded snag for a touchdown.
That catch was part of a nine-reception, 131-yard breakout game for the 26-year-old wide receiver.
The Riders took advantage of Toronto’s defensive scheme, which often assigned single coverage to Carter. He’s simply too talented to be handled in that manner.
There isn’t any doubt the
West Division teams will have picked up on Toronto’s defensive scheme and its failings. That could mean a return to double coverage for the 6-foot-5 Carter.
The extra attention may be a good thing for Naaman Roosevelt, Bakari Grant and Caleb Holley. With the focus on Carter, the aforementioned trio can also burn defenders.
Against the Argonauts, Grant had five receptions for 115 yards, and Roosevelt and Holley each had touchdown catches.
Carter has shown he can be a factor, but his next big test will be against better competition in the West. It will be up to the Riders to get the ball to the other receivers if Carter is covered.
THE GLENN GAME
Kevin Glenn has been everything the Riders were looking for and more in the early portion of the season.
The 38-year-old Glenn has completed 11 touchdown passes, as opposed to four interceptions. He also surpassed 300 passing yards in three of the Riders’ five regular-season games and has twice tossed four touchdown passes.
He also needs 109 yards to pass Roughriders legend Ron Lancaster for sixth on the CFL’s all-time passing-yardage list.
Glenn’s quick release is ideally suited to the Riders’ offensive scheme. Despite his age, he remains nimble enough to outrun most defenders.
A concern is that Glenn has taken a beating in being sacked 12 times. But he gets up every time and the Riders must hope that continues, because he’s clearly the best option at quarterback. The offensive line has to keep Glenn upright and avoid even the chance of an injury because the cupboard is bare behind him in terms of CFL experience, with backups Brandon Bridge and Marquise Williams.
As it stands, Glenn is playing well and is smart enough in distributing the ball to his playmakers that the Riders should have a chance in every game. He just has to keep that up over the next five games.
LET’S GET CREATIVE
Last week, Jones caught the Argonauts by surprise when the Riders successfully executed an onside kick after Carter’s second touchdown.
Tyler Crapigna’s short kickoff was recovered by rookie Erick Dargan on Toronto’s 47-yard line.
The Riders didn’t score after the onside kickoff, but gained another offensive possession in a tight game. After a Josh Bartel punt, the Argonauts went twoand-out. On Saskatchewan’s next possession, Crapigna converted the field-position gain from the short kick with a 44-yard field goal that put the Riders ahead 30-24.
The Riders are the underdogs heading into the five-game stretch, and thus don’t have any- thing to lose in calling more trick plays that may catch the opposition off guard.
FREE WILLIE
Willie Jefferson is worth the price of admission.
The 6-foot-5 Jefferson has been a disruptive force on the defensive line for the Riders.
Heading into Week 7, Jefferson was tied for the CFL lead in quarterback pressures (12) and had used his long wingspan to knock down four passes. He’s also chipped in with three sacks.
His 20 defensive tackles are second on the Riders, one behind middle linebacker Henoc Muamba.
There’s more to Jefferson than rushing the passer. He often drops back into pass coverage, at which he has also been effective.
Teams have to game plan for Jefferson and that should create opportunities for the Riders’ other pass rushers, Tobi Antigha and A.C. Leonard, to pressure the quarterback.
The Riders need that kind of pressure to disrupt the rhythm of the quarterbacks they’ll be facing and help out Saskatchewan’s defensive backs. It’s a fairly simple process; the less time quarterbacks have to throw the ball, the less time defensive backs must cover receivers. That reduces the likelihood of defensive breakdowns.
A sustained pass rush and more highlight-reel plays by Jefferson would boost the Riders’ chances during this challenging five-game stretch.