Willie Jefferson. (Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Twitter)

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Riders will look to slow down Bombers’ D, Willie Jefferson in Banjo Bowl

Sep 10, 2021 | 3:36 PM

For the second week in a row, a tall challenge awaits the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence.

The group will need to find a way to slow down a potent Winnipeg Blue Bombers pass rush led by 6-foot-7 defensive end Willie Jefferson.

“If I had the answers (to stop them), maybe we would be in a little better shape right now,” Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said.

“I don’t think you can stop them completely but I do believe you can slow the defensive line down by changing up cadence — which is not easy to do in a noisy environment — and just running some plays that maybe force them to move side to side.”

With Jefferson — the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player in 2019 — lining up in blue and gold, centre Dan Clark knows Jefferson bring a unique challenge to the group.

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“He’s super-long and he can cover multiple gaps very quickly,” Clark said. “That defensive front plays extremely well together and they capitalize on things they feel they can pick apart.”

Jefferson and the Bombers were able to bring pressure on Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo during the Labour Day Classic — a 23-8 Saskatchewan loss — and force the pivot into three interceptions while also getting a trio of sacks.

Riders offensive tackle Cam Jefferson will once again draw the assignment to try and block Willie Jefferson in the Banjo Bowl on Saturday. Kickoff for the game in Winnipeg is set for 2 p.m.

In the Labour Day Classic, Jefferson had one sack.

“He has a lot of movement and athleticism that you have to be careful for,” Cam Jefferson said. “So don’t beat yourself and remember not to freak out if you see him roll off the ball before the snap count or you see him thinking about how he’s going to work a move on you.

“Just make sure that you play under yourself and just play under your limits and not do too much and just play your job.”

Across from Willie Jefferson on the Winnipeg line is another feared CFL defender in Jackson Jeffcoat, who also had a sack in the first meeting of the season between the teams.

“They have their own skill set and they have their own thing that they like to go to — things that they know that they are good at,” Cam Jefferson said. “They’re very advantageous and make sure if the lineman gives them an opportunity, they’re going to take advantage of it.”

Fajardo said he tries to not overthink things when it comes to his pre-snap reads — something the Bombers got him to do during the loss.

“If they do hit you early a couple times, you start thinking about them a little more,” Fajardo said. “If you get hit a few times, maybe you’re like, ‘How can I help my offensive line out? Can I get the ball out of my hands a little bit quicker?’ But once you get into that mindset, it’s really hard to play the quarterback position, especially in the CFL.

“I found myself thinking too much about so many things pre-snap and not just letting the game come to me.”

As the Riders head out on the road for the first time in 2021, Fajardo is ready for the challenge that awaits them.

“We know it’s going to be a great atmosphere, it’s going to be a hostile atmosphere but I think the guys are excited to hopefully wash the bad taste out of our mouth,” he said.

Ahead of the game, defensive backs Ed Gainey (foot) and Loucheiz Purifoy (neck) were limited in Thursday’s practice. Slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert didn’t participate at all due to a non-football-related issue.

95 per cent of team vaccinated: Dickenson

Dickenson said Thursday he believes that 95 per cent of the Riders have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We’re in really good shape,” Dickenson said. “It’s down to literally three guys that aren’t. We will address it as it comes.”

With possible restrictions on the way for air travel in the country, there are concerns about unvaccinated players being able to travel later in the season.

While Dickenson said the coaches believe they will always be able to dress the players they want, he admits if players can’t travel later in the season, it may affect how many reps they get in practice.

“Right now, guys that have been playing and that we plan on playing most of the games the rest of the season are all vaccinated,” he said, “so we feel we will be all right.”