Across the CFL: Slumping Roughriders look to regain early kind, salvage season

In the midst of a difficult 12 months for every kind of causes, there could possibly be mild on the finish of the tunnel for what many really feel is the CFL’s flagship franchise. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have performed under expectations and lacked self-discipline this 12 months, taking an unimpressive 6-7 document into Friday’s house recreation towards the Edmonton Elks. 

But whereas this definitely wasn’t the drawn-up plan for a 12 months wherein they host the Grey Cup, the Roughriders’ state of affairs is actually not all that unhealthy if they’ll discover the shape they displayed in beginning the season 4-1. 

A win towards the lowly Elks on Friday will get rid of Edmonton from playoff rivalry and put Saskatchewan in agency management to nail down the league’s ultimate post-season spot – almost definitely a crossover berth for ending forward of the third-place crew within the East. 

That would ship the Roughriders to the East playoffs – almost definitely with sudden dying video games in Montreal and Toronto. 

While no crossover crew (all from the West) has ever superior to the Grey Cup in 12 tries since 1997, the East groups have been considerably weaker than the West all season. Saskatchewan’s probabilities to play within the Grey Cup by itself area absolutely are higher going out East than if it needed to survive video games in Winnipeg, Calgary or B.C. 

“It’s still been fun. The guys in the locker room still enjoy coming to work. We’ve got good camaraderie,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson instructed reporters this week. “We’ve got a ping-pong table in there, you can’t them to leave after practice. They want to hang out and be together. Even though it hasn’t gone our way in a lot of ways this season, it’s still been an enjoyable year and still been fun working with them. They come to work every day and work hard. That’s all you can ask so I’m very proud of them.”  

The newest little bit of adversity got here final week when a nasty abdomen bug rolled via the Roughriders locker room previous to the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg. 

Dickenson mentioned 15 gamers received sick, together with seven or eight coaches – together with himself. Several gamers not anticipated to decorate drove in with crew president Craig Reynolds from Regina. The offensive line was a large number, with a number of of the large males hooked as much as IVs previous to the sport. 

Not surprisingly, the Blue Bombers thumped the Roughriders 54-20, sweeping the annual Labour Day home-and-home collection.  

“The message I had for the team today honestly was that was as proud as I’ve been of a team in a long time. They gutted it out,” Dickenson mentioned after the sport in Winnipeg. “Win lose or draw, not one of them stopped playing hard, not one of them complained. They were getting hooked up to IVs and dropping like flies but they just kept showing up. I was super proud of them.” 

Already this 12 months, the Roughriders handled a CFL document four-game suspension to defensive lineman Garrett Marino for a unclean hit and terrible phrases to Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Marino delivered one other unhealthy hit to Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros upon his return, leading to his launch. 

Marino hasn’t been the one participant to misbehave. Star receiver Duke Williams drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to the Labour Day recreation for his actions on the sidelines when he wasn’t even dressed for the sport. 

Health, too, has been a difficulty for a lot of the season. Williams is out with an ankle harm and quarterback Cody Fajardo has been sporting a brace on his left knee many of the 12 months. Fajardo, who was benched in a single recreation earlier this season however appears to have improved the previous few weeks, is hopeful he can ditch it after subsequent week’s bye week. 

“It’s getting down to the nitty-gritty,” Fajardo mentioned. “We’re going to have to win some football games here to put ourselves in position just to punch our ticket to the playoffs. Whatever that situation may be in the West or in the East, we just want to give ourselves a chance because we know we’ve got a really good locker room and a really good team. All we’ve got to do is give ourselves a chance and it’s three games after that.” 

There was excellent news this week as Fajardo rushed out of shape upon getting information that his spouse, Laura, was near delivering the couple’s first baby. Son Luca was born early Wednesday morning. 

“Laura was a complete rock star through it all,” Fajardo mentioned. “She’s tough as nails. Lot of inspiration, lot of drive for me just watching her go through that and being a part of that.” 

What we appreciated in Week 14 

• The play of Collaros (we’ve mentioned that a couple of occasions this 12 months). He’s on his strategy to successful the CFL’s most excellent participant award for the second 12 months in a row. 

• Argos receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr.’s homecoming. The Ottawa native had eight catches for 161 yards and one landing in a 24-19 win over the Redblacks. 

What we didn’t like in Week 14 

• The Elks’ play at house. They’ve tied the 1988 Ottawa Rough Riders for the longest house dropping streak in CFL historical past after they dropped their 14^th in a row at Commonwealth Stadium – 56-28 towards Calgary. 

• The Redblacks’ play at house, which truly is likely to be worse than Edmonton’s. The Redblacks have misplaced 20 of their previous 21 at TD Place following their setback towards the Argos. So a lot for the momentum of a two-game win streak on the street. 

Week 15 picks 

Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-7), Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT 

The Roughriders have misplaced 4 in a row at house. That pattern has to cease in the event that they need to be thought-about an actual playoff contender. PICK: Saskatchewan 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-7.5) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT 

Ticats quarterback Dane Evans (shoulder) returns after lacking the previous two video games. Winnipeg beat the Ticats in extra time in final 12 months’s Grey Cup in Hamilton. Since then, it’s been all downhill for the Tiger-Cats. PICK: Winnipeg 

B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders (-6), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT 

Vernon Adams Jr. makes his first begin for the Lions, B.C.’s fourth beginning quarterback in as many weeks with star Nathan Rourke harm. This is a battle for second within the West. PICK: Calgary 

2022 document: 30-25 

(Odds from FanDuel as of Thursday night time) 

Power rankings 

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-1, Last week: 1): Destined for home-field benefit within the West playoffs as they eye a three-peat. 

2. Calgary Stampeders (8-4, Last week: 2): In the driving force’s seat to get second within the West with the Lions slipping due to quarterback points. 

3. Toronto Argonauts (7-5, Last week: 4): Toronto is in good place to complete first within the East for the second 12 months in a row. 

4. B.C. Lions (8-3, Last week: 3): The Lions really want Adams Jr. to play nicely after Antonio Pipkin couldn’t get it achieved final week in Montreal. 

5. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7, Last week: 5): A win towards Edmonton would assist get the Roughriders again on monitor after a tricky stretch. 

6. Montreal Alouettes (5-7, Last week: 7): Big win over the Lions at house has the Alouettes feeling good in a bye week. Still could make a run for first within the East. 

7. Ottawa Redblacks (3-9, Last week: 6): Comeback bid fell brief towards the Argos – a giant blow to Ottawa’s playoff hopes. 

8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-9, Last week: 8): The league’s most disappointing crew this season wants to drag off an upset towards Winnipeg to get again within the playoff race. 

9. Edmonton Elks (3-10, Last week: 9): The Elks are in a large rebuilding venture. We’ll see if a 12 months of getting a revolving-door roster pays off subsequent season for GM/coach Chris Jones.