(File photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Riders’ O-line looking to play up to their high standards in third Calgary game

Oct 21, 2021 | 3:43 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive linemen aren’t happy with how the second game of the CFL season against the Calgary Stampeders went.

“Besides whupping me, I don’t know what else to tell you. That’s a good front and they are moving all over the grooves they’ve got,” centre Dan Clark said when asked about how the Stampeders found success against Saskatchewan in their 22-19 victory on Oct. 9.

“They are definitely beating our one-on-one matchups that we’ve got to win and that starts on Saturday in their place.

“It’s pro football. Ain’t everybody going to win every matchup and it’s something that you’ve got to have that mentality of what are you going to do for those other 62 out of the 65 plays that everybody doesn’t see and want to talk about.”

Kickoff for the Roughriders’ third straight game against the Stamps is set for Saturday, 7:45 p.m., at McMahon Stadium.

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While Calgary only recorded two sacks of quarterback Cody Fajardo — both by defensive tackle Mike Rose — the Riders’ pivot was facing pressure throughout the game and was forced to roll away from it multiple times.

“(The offensive linemen) don’t feel like they’ve played their best game. (It was) probably one of our worst games up front and I think they’d readily admit to that,” Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said. “They know they need to play better and they’ve had a good week of practice so far.”

Offensive line coach Stephen Sorrells said both the play of the line and his coaching weren’t up to what their standard is.

“Sometimes you’ve got to go back to the little things and that’s what our focus is — doing all the little things very well and try to narrow our focus,” Sorrells said. “I’ve got to coach better and we’ve got to play better.

“We’ve just got to make more plays than they do.”

One of the things Calgary has been able to do is use its “twist plays,” where the defensive linemen switch gaps and their responsibilities on the defensive line.

“I’d expect them to do more of the same there and getting us on different levels on the offence. Making it hard on the offensive line to get consistency,” guard Evan Johnson said.

In order to give Fajardo more time to take advantage of his new weapons — wide receiver Shaq Evans could return and newly signed slotback Duke Williams could make his debut — Johnson and the offensive line will have to stop Rose, who has three sacks in his last two games.

Johnson admitted part of the reason Rose was able to get a pair of sacks against the Riders was due to their own mistakes.

“Not getting to the spot that we needed to be in to intercept him from getting to the quarterback and running a lot of twist games, you start to expect twist games as well,” Johnson said.

“I know there was one play on me where I was expecting him to go on a twist outside and so I stepped that way and he was able to beat me to the inside gap. He’s shifty and he’s quick and that really helps him make plays.”

Due to injuries and players electing not to play this season, the Riders have seen numerous combinations along the offensive line this year. The Riders have given up 21 sacks this season, fifth-most in the CFL.

“We want to chase perfection. We’re never going to catch it but if we chase it, we’re going to catch excellence,” Sorrells said.

And while the line has dealt with some struggles and successes throughout the season, Clark said the group remains focused on one thing.

“That’s to win a Grey Cup and help this team hoist a Grey Cup in 2021,” Clark said. “That’s where our mindset needs to be and that it needs to happen quicker and faster than we want to.”

Notes: Defensive end A.C. Leonard (knee) left Wednesday’s practice early. Dickenson said the Riders don’t know how serious it is as Leonard was still undergoing tests by the team’s medical staff … Defensive back Blace Brown (shoulder) is now not expected to play this weekend … Defensive back Ed Gainey missed Wednesday’s practice due to a dentist appointment and is expected back Thursday.