PRE-SEASON PERSPECTIVE

Riders focused on first game at new stadium

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are keeping Saturday’s pre-season game in perspective.

Some observers feel the 7 p.m. exhibition contest against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is significant because it will be the first CFL game of any description at $278-million Mosaic Stadium.

Others maintain that a preseason game isn’t as important in the overall scheme of things as the regular-season home-opener on July 1 against the Blue Bombers.

“I don’t think anyone will even remember the first pre-season game,’’ veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn said. “The first regular-season game is going to be the big one.’’

Veteran receiver Rob Bagg is looking forward to playing at the new Mosaic Stadium after watching the facility grow from a hole in the ground.

“I believe they don’t start writing down the first catch and the first touchdown until the regular season starts,” Bagg said. “This game is just another step in the process of building a quality football club and we’ll approach it exactly like that.”

Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, said Friday that Glenn would dress, but isn’t likely to see any game action.

Jones said Brandon Bridge will start and play most of the first half.

“It means a lot,” said Bridge, who is in his second season with the Riders. “I put in a lot of work during the off-season, definitely throughout mini-camp and at training camp. We have a great group of quarterbacks and to call my number first is definitely an honour.’’

Bryan Bennett will play much of the second half.

Marquise Williams will see spot duty. Saturday’s game was to be Vince Young’s CFL debut. However, the comeback attempt by the former NCAA and NFL star is on hold after he suffered a hamstring injury Tuesday. Young, 34, hasn’t practised since the injury and he won’t play Saturday.

“Everyone knows (injuries) are part of football and you hate to see what happened happen to anybody,” Bennett said. “We’re all supportive of him and we wish him well and to get back as soon as he can. As we all know, when a guy goes down, it’s up to the next guy to step up. We have to still execute and get things done.”

Jones didn’t cite any particular reason for setting up the quarterback rotation as he did. Bennett has been second to Glenn on the quarterbacking for most of camp.

“I gave it a lot of thought and that’s just what I wanted to do,” Jones said. “It’s nothing that has happened on the field or statistics or anything else.”

Jones’s decision means Bridge will have the distinction of taking the first offensive snap at Mosaic Stadium.

“I don’t think it means much, more or much less,” Bridge said. “It means that Jones wants to see me go out there first. I know there are other quarterbacks that can go in. It’s still an evaluation, so you have to do your job and not try to be a hero.”

Bennett is more excited about getting the pre-season started than he is with the prospect of breaking in the new stadium.

“That stuff is cool and it’s cool for us,” Bennett said.

“For guys who have been here for a while, like Rob Bagg, being in a new stadium means more to him than to a guy like me who is in his first year in Regina. I had never been in the old Mosaic Stadium, except to throw some routes when I came up earlier.

“It’s a great day for the fans and the people who have been around for a while.”

Jones has been evaluating his players daily at training camp. He now has the chance to see what they can do against an opponent.

“I want to get in a good, solid evaluation of our quarterbacks,” Jones said.

“Offensively, we want to see the ability to move the ball, sustain drives and take care of the football.

“Defensively, we want to show that we can stop the run and be able to play man-to-man coverage.’’