Riders, Argos set to clash in early season CFL showdown at Mosaic Stadium

Riders head coach Corey Mace is familiar with the play of Kelly, as he was the defensive co-ordinator in Toronto from 2022-23.

“The career up here that Chad has had, and spending time with him as well, I know his makeup. He has had some really good games in moving the ball down the field,” Mace said.

“There will be some opportunities. Any time the ball is in the air, it’s not exclusive to the offence. It’s just about being in the right position and capitalizing on our opportunities defensively.”

The Riders’ defence was among the best in the CFL last season when it came to picking off opposing quarterbacks. They had 24 interceptions, and only the Hamilton Tiger-Cats had more, with 27.

So far, however, the Riders’ secondary is still looking for its first interception of the season. Kelly has thrown for seven touchdowns so far but has also thrown five interceptions.

“We don’t want to give up any explosives. They have a really high-explosive offence, and with Kelly, he’s going to be able to give them a chance to go get the ball,” defensive back Marcus Sayles said.

“If we don’t give up any deep balls and kind of contain him and take away his first reads, we feel like we can fluster him and he can throw us a couple balls too.”

Saskatchewan will once again have a change in it’s secondary for this game. After losing halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. in week two, his replacement, Juju Hughes, suffered a serious injury in the team’s 40-37 win over the Calgary Stampeders.

This week, Jonathan Edouard will start at that position. Edouard was signed on June 17 after he was cut by the Argos just before training camp. He had been in Toronto since 2022.

“A privilege and an honour. Coach (Josh) Bell and coach Mace are guys I am familiar with. To be able to play under their system again is an honour and privilege,” Edouard said.

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris will look to lead the team’s offence to a win for a third week in a row. (Image Credit: Saskatchewan Roughriders)

The Argos underwent a coaching change this past offseason, as Ryan Dinwiddie left to join the Ottawa Redblacks. Mike Miller, the team’s quarterbacks coach since 2022, was named the Argos’ bench boss.

“Mike is an outstanding human being. I know he is going to love on his guys hard, but behind the smile, he has his standards he wants to see,” Mace said.

“I think a lot of people had a lot of questions and weren’t sure. Knowing the kind of man he is and how important that game has been to him and his life and this opportunity for him, you knew he was going to make the most of it.”

The game will feature two of the top offences in the league, albeit it’s still early in the CFL season. Toronto and Saskatchewan rank first and second in both points per game (TOR 37.0, SSK 35.5) and offensive yards per game (TOR 501.0, SSK 471.5).

Saskatchewan will be without two parts of their offence in the contest. Starting running back A.J. Ouellette (ankle) won’t play this week. Quali Conley will make his CFL debut in the game in his place.

Wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby is also missing the game due to a shoulder injury. D’Sean Mimbs, who is from the Queen City and attended the University of Regina, will start in his first CFL game. He is the son of former CFL running back Robert Mimbs.

“It means everything. Me and my dad have been talking about all the work I have put in and to finally get the chance, I’m excited. I’m a little bit nervous, but I am excited to go out there and play,” Mimbs said.

But while the game does feature two great offences, quarterback Trevor Harris isn’t focused on what the stats say.

“I don’t get hung up on numbers,” Harris said on Thursday.

“It’s not something I concern myself with. I just know we’re playing against a unique defence and really cool defence with good players and good personnel. It will be fun for us to go out there tomorrow and see how we stack up against one of the better teams in the league.”

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by Britton Gray

Riders, Argos set to clash in early season CFL showdown at Mosaic Stadium

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