Roughriders well aware Wilder presents challenge
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are prepared for Toronto’s Wilder side.
That’s James Wilder Jr., the dual-threat tailback for the Toronto Argonauts, who oppose the Riders on Saturday at BMO Field.
Wilder heads into the weekend as the CFL’S fourth-leading rusher with 617 yards, and his 447 receiving yards rank him 22nd in the league.
However, Wilder is first among all running backs in catches (45) and receiving yards. The combination of those attributes makes containing Wilder a challenge for any team.
“That’s what makes him so dangerous,” Riders defensive tackle Zack Evans said. “You can hand him the ball or you can hit him in the flats or even hit him on an out-and-up. He has range and we’ve got to mitigate that as best as possible.”
Rider Nation is well aware of what Wilder can do as a receiver after what took place in the 2017 East Division final.
With 67 seconds remaining in the game, the host Argonauts faced third-and-five at Saskatchewan’s 40-yard line, with the Riders leading 21-18.
With the Riders needing one defensive stop to advance to the Grey Cup game, Ricky Ray threw a perfect pass to Wilder for a 22-yard gain that beat the tight coverage by linebacker Sam Eguavoen.
Four plays later, Cody Fajardo scored on a one-yard run as Toronto grabbed a 25-21 lead — a score that held up for the duration — with 23 seconds remaining.
“I watched that play last year, but not this year because I’m past
that,” Eguavoen said. “Kudos to him, but I just didn’t look back and go for the ball.
“I’m always cautious of that happening when I do play him. I don’t play any slower, but I know that play is in the back of my head. If that ball does go up again, you know that I’m coming down with it.”
The Riders have already faced
the six-foot-two, 235-pound Wilder this season. On June 15, the Roughriders opened their season with a 27-19 victory over Toronto at Mosaic Stadium.
Wilder was held to five carries for 24 yards, but he did have four receptions for 68 yards. One key to containing him is for him to attract a crowd.
“You have to populate to the football,” Eguavoen said. “If he sees one person there, there are probably three more coming with some quick hits.”
Defenders can be aggressive against Wilder, but they have to be mindful when he slides out of the backfield as a receiver.
The Riders just faced two of the league’s other premier running backs — Andrew Harris (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and William Powell (Ottawa Redblacks), with mixed results.
Harris had 15 carries for 158 yards in a 31-23 loss to the Riders on Sept. 2, but was held to 21 yards on 10 carries in a Sept. 8 rematch (won 32-27 by Saskatchewan).
Powell had 18 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns in the Redblacks’ 30-25 win over the Riders on Saturday.
“You have to do a great job of tackling (Wilder) because he’s a guy who, very much like the back we just saw, his feet don’t ever stop,” said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager.