Riders expect tough test from Redblacks

The Saskatchewan Roughriders believe the Ottawa Redblacks will be a group with extra motivation this week.

Despite being 1-0 on the season after beating the Edmonton Elks 16-12, the CFL power rankings had them last in the league.

“I don’t know why they are picked ninth in the power poll. I don’t know how that happens when you have 0-2 teams and they have Ottawa ninth,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said ahead of the clash between the two teams Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

“I’m sure that’s ammo (for Ottawa). Guys don’t like it when you doubt them and they want to prove you wrong. I’m sure they are going to come out blazing and they are going to come out with a lot to prove and hopefully our guys feel the same way. We’re far from a finished product, we’ve got to come out and play our best game if we expect to win on Saturday,” Dickenson said.

The Riders (2-0) are coming into the game with the highest scoring offence in the CFL, scoring an average of just over 31 points a game thus far. Quarterback Cody Fajardo, who was the West Division’s Most Outstanding Player in 2019, has been a major key to that success. Fajardo is tied for the league lead with four touchdown passes and has added a touchdown on the ground as well.
While the team hasn’t hit many deep balls quite yet, that’s not a concern for Fajardo.

“I could care less about any statistic numbers-wise other than wins and loss columns. We are a dynamic offence. I think we have been presented with not very many opportunities. We have talked to the receivers and the biggest thing we can improve on is coming down with more 50/50 balls,” Fajardo said.

But the team will be without one of their top weapons this week and for the next few weeks, which could make that even harder. Wide receiver Shaq Evans suffered a broken foot in the Riders’ 30-8 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 14.

“He’s an all-star, he’s a guy who knows this offence inside and out who will always be at his spots and his marks and helping guys communicate. (He’s a) guy who I know when we are in a little bit of a rut, I lean on where I can throw him a 50/50 ball and he will go make a play,” Fajardo said. “Any time you lose an all-star receiver, especially to the boundary where most of the throws go, it’s always a little tougher.”

Slotback Paul McRoberts will make his CFL regular season debut on Saturday. McRoberts has enjoyed two stellar training camps but has only been on the practice roster for the Riders up until this point.

“People might look at it as pressure on me but I’m no taking it like that. I feel like this is what I was made to do and I’m going to have fun with it. I’m going to fit right in and play off (the other receivers’) energy. They’ve been killing it so we’re not going to skip a beat,” McRoberts said.

For the second straight game, offensive tackle Brett Boyko will be out due to an illness. Andrew Lauderdale will start at tackle in his absence.

Offensive guard Evan Johnson will play the Redblacks for the first time since he signed with the Riders. Johnson spent three seasons in Ottawa before joining the green and white.

“I had a lot of good times out in Ottawa … (I) loved those guys out there and (I’m) really looking forward to getting the chance to play them and hopefully get the W against them too,” Johnson said.

The Riders defence will also look to continue their start to the year. The unit has a league leading eight sacks, including three from defensive end Jonathan Woodard in the win over Hamilton. The Riders defence also has the second-most interceptions thus far with four.

The Redblacks offence struggled in their opening game against the Elks. The team only amassed 94 net yards of offence in the win, with the Ottawa defence scoring their only touchdown of the game.

Riders linebacker Deon Lacey is looking forward to facing his old teammate in Redblacks quarterback Matt Nichols. Both played for Edmonton in 2014 and 2015.

“It’s ‘Matty Ice’, that’s what we called him,” Lacey said. “He’s calm, chill and laid-back but most of all he’s a gamer. With his quick game, and if he can get the protection and get the ball deep down field, he’s pretty good at putting the ball where it needs to be.”

With the Queen City Ex also taking place while the game is on, Fajardo said he may make an appearance for some fair food – depending on how the game goes.

“I want to play well and we’ve got to win, but the last thing I want to do is go out there and have a loss. Hopefully I can have a celebratory corn dog and cherry Coke instead of a sad corn dog, because that doesn’t sound too refreshing to me,” Fajardo said.