School’s in session: Riders’ tests help players to always be prepared

School is in session for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

With the team dealing with the injury bug, a number of new faces have needed to step up for the CFL club.

Without star players such as Sam Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Rolan Milligan and Tevaughn Campbell in the lineup, Saskatchewan still defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 42-20.

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They did so with a number of players who weren’t in the Week 1 starting lineup becoming key contributors, including Dylan Djete, who scored a touchdown, and defensive back Jonathan Edouard, who had an interception.

To ensure every player is ready to contribute when their number is called, the Riders’ coaching staff gives players tests on not only their own positions but others as well.

“Position groups and coaches give out written tests and I’ll ask them questions in team meetings and in a full-team atmosphere. A little bit of pressure there but just keep everyone accountable to what we are doing. Not looking to really embarrass anybody but it just helps us maintain our standard,” head coach Corey Mace said.

Djete has had to make sure he is on his toes when at the facility.

“Especially with Trevor (Harris), it will be spontaneous. I could go to the bathroom and it’s like, ‘What do you have on this, this and this,’ so I have to (answer quickly). That’s how it is in a game. We’re going to go fire and say a play and I need to be quick knowing what I have to do and what he has to do,” Djete said.

“It’s always spontaneous. We just walk around and (ask), ‘What do you have on this?'”

It’s not just rookies who need to be able to pass the tests. Veterans such as defensive back Marcus Sayles also have to answer the questions posed to them.

“We came out here and everyone switched spots — defensive backs were playing on the D-line and everybody switched spots around. It’s just a test to see how much you know. Do I know if I am at corner what my (defensive end) is going to do — do I know if he is going to loop inside or is going to be contained? Little things like that because if you know the whole defence, you’re more locked in than you should be,” Sayles said.

“It’s just a little test and a little bit of fun but at the same time, make sure you’re locked in.”

With how physical and long a CFL season can be, Mace knows injuries are inevitable.

“We would be doing the team a disservice as coaches and players to not have everyone prepared. It’s just what we have been doing and knowing it is half the battle but going to execute it, that’s also a physical component,” Mace said. “We have to give credit to our scouting department in bringing in really good players.”

The Riders don’t appear set to have many roster changes this week for Saturday’s showdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The only new addition to the injury report was running back Quali Conley (hamstring), who was added Thursday. He is questionable.

Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.