The Riders will look to snap a three-game dropping skid on Friday in B.C.
Amid a three-game dropping skid, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are altering their strategy.
The Riders have opted to carry shorter practices this week to include extra movie work, permitting gamers to work on the psychological facet of the sport whereas getting a little bit of a break bodily.
“We really feel like our legs are just a little drained proper now,” stated Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson. “The thought was to only get on the market, much less on-field time and extra time within the conferences.
“At this stage of the yr, the psychological facet is much more (necessary). You’ve performed sufficient bodily stuff at this level, you’ve nonetheless obtained to remain sharp, however I feel the psychological facet actually kicks in.”
Now as Saskatchewan will get set for a Week 17 street recreation towards the B.C Lions (10-4) on Friday night time in Vancouver (8:30 p.m., TSN), the change in strategy is welcomed by the gamers.
“We talked concerning the definition of madness, so yeah, switching it up just a little bit I feel would possibly assist,” stated quarterback Jake Dolegala.
“We’ve been going laborious,” stated linebacker Derrick Moncrief. “Simply extra above the shoulders (now).
“Ensuring guys know the place they’re at and understanding their duty so we will go on the market and play quick.”
Regardless of the three-game tailspin, the Riders nonetheless sit in a playoff place within the CFL’s West Division, as they’re nonetheless 4 factors up on Calgary and Edmonton for third spot.
However with simply 4 video games to go, there’s a way of urgency to get again on observe.
“We’ve obtained a protracted approach to go and a short while to get there with these video games that we’ve obtained left,” stated Moncrief. “We all know each recreation is high-stakes soccer proper now, so we’ve obtained to come back out and simply put together through the days previous to the sport and then you definitely get to gameday, that’s the simple half.”
The Riders are additionally hoping expertise comes into play this week.
That recreation, together with a subsequent win towards Winnipeg within the Labour Day Basic confirmed the Inexperienced and White that they will play profitable soccer, one thing that’s been lacking the final three weeks.
“We will beat actually good groups on this league,” stated Dolegala. “Once we play as a unit, once we play collectively, we’re powerful to beat.”
“Hopefully the fellows will perceive once we play our greatest, we will beat anyone,” added Dickenson. “And I feel that recreation was actually indicative of what we will do once we’re at our greatest.
“So, we’ll use that as motivation for positive.”
Harm report
The Riders had been additionally with out two beginning offensive linemen on Day 1 of observe as centre Peter Godber (knee) and left guard Philip Blake (calf) each didn’t take part. Evan Johnson obtained reps at centre whereas Logan Bandy noticed time at guard.
Dickenson stated he was involved with each accidents, nevertheless he added that he nonetheless expects each to play this Friday.
On the defensive facet, the Riders had been nonetheless with out defensive linemen Anthony Lanier II (hip) however security Jayden Dalke (knee) obtained a full observe in after lacking the final three video games.
Defensive again Deontai Williams (hamstring) practiced in restricted trend, whereas fellow DB Godfrey Onyeka (pectoral) was a full participant for the primary time this season. Defensive again Trumaine Washinton (finger) additionally didn’t observe.
