Two Als join lineup after trade
Saskatchewan bolsters offensive line, receiving corps with pair of Canadians
The Saskatchewan Roughriders loaded up for the CFL’S stretch run on Wednesday.
The Riders did that by completing a deadline-day trade with the Montreal Alouettes that improved the Green and White at two positions.
The Riders acquired two nationals — offensive lineman Philip Blake and receiver Patrick Lavoie — from the Alouettes. In exchange, the Riders sent national receiver Joshua Stanford and a secondround pick in the 2020 draft to Montreal in a deal that was announced after the CFL’S trade deadline of 12:59 p.m. had passed.
Blake, 32, was selected by the Alouettes in the third round (32nd overall) of the 2011 CFL draft out of Baylor University. The Denver Broncos selected Blake in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. He remained in the NFL until 2014 before joining the Alouettes in 2015.
Blake started all 57 games during his tenure with the Alouettes.
Lavoie, a 30-year-old Laval University product, was originally selected in the second round (11th overall) of the CFL draft by the Alouettes. The slotback has spent seven seasons in the CFL with the Alouettes and Ottawa Redblacks. He has a total of 138 receptions for 1,264 yards and seven touchdowns in 115 career regular-season games.
The Riders bolstered their offensive line and receiving depth without giving up a lot. Stanford was selected in the eighth round (62nd overall) of the 2016 CFL draft by the Riders. He has dressed for 14 games this season at wide receiver with 17 receptions for 169 yards and no touchdowns.
Saskatchewan’s offensive line started slowly, but has improved and leads the CFL with 19 sacks allowed. Blake provides depth and could also start at guard, tackle or centre rather quickly due to his four years of CFL experience.
The Riders have struggled to score touchdowns on offence, especially at wide receiver. None of the team’s wide receivers have recorded a touchdown catch this season. Those struggles weren’t going to change with Stanford at the position.
Lavoie can play fullback, slotback or wide receiver and he can also contribute on special teams. Whether he and Blake will be on the roster for Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers remains to be seen.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, didn’t seem too concerned about Blake and Lavoie learning the team’s systems.
“You’re dealing with veterans who have been around the league for a long time,” Jones said. “They ’ve seen everything possible that there is to see in the league.”
Acquiring Blake may be timely because centre Dan Clark wasn’t at Wednesday’s practice due to an undisclosed injury that he suffered in Monday ’s 19-12 win over the visiting Edmonton Eskimos. It’s not known if Clark will be available for Saturday’s game in Winnipeg.
Brendon Labatte moved from left guard to centre in Clark’s absence. Labatte is familiar with the position switch, having started nine games at centre during the 2017 season, while Clark was sidelined with an injured elbow.
“Pre-practice every day, I take my snaps and I go through it,” Labatte said. “In terms of the play calls, identifying the guys and getting them going in the right direction, I feel pretty comfortable with that stuff. I don’t think it will be a huge change if I ever had to go in there if Dan wasn’t able to go.”
Josiah St. John and Terran Vaughn split repetitions at left guard while Labatte was at centre.
Wednesday ’s practice took place the day after the CFL officially announced the Riders have clinched a playoff spot. It’s the second consecutive year that the Riders have advanced to the post-season.
“It’s not the spot that we want to clinch yet, but to know that you have a ticket punched into the post-season is a good thing,” Labatte said. “We want home-field advantage, so there is still a lot to play for.”
The Riders can clinch a home playoff game for the first time since 2013 with a win and a loss or tie by the B.C. Lions.
You’re dealing with veterans who have been around the league for a long time. They’ve seen everything possible that there is to see in the league.
NOTE
The Riders also announced Wednesday the signing of placekicker/punter Felix Menard-briere to their practice roster.