Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive linemen are ticked off ... at themselves
They don't like being pushed around. They don't like getting criticized. And they really don't like losing.
'Sometimes I think that was one of the best things that could have happened to us, especially as an offensive line,' said centre Logan Ferland, the longest-tenured player on Saskatchewan's offensive line, looking back to an embarrassing CFL loss that snapped the team's four-game, season-opening winning streak.
'You know, realizing where you are and not getting too confident or complacent. That's exactly what that game did, it made us realize where we are and that we have to keep pushing every day.'
There are 13 O-linemen listed on the Roughriders roster, counting the six who will dress for Saturday's game in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions. There are seven more divided between injury lists and the practice roster, looking to step in if the starters continue to falter.
Considering all the changes, following a challenging season in which the Roughriders deployed 16 offensive linemen through five positions, an occasional poor performance should be acceptable. Not to this group.
'I don't think we ever expect there to be ups and downs because of that,' said Ferland. 'We want everyone to be able to plug and play regardless of who goes in there and be able to play to the same standard we always play to.'
That didn't happen Saturday afternoon, in a game rescheduled from Friday night at Mosaic Stadium because of poor air quality, when the Roughriders came back from a bye week to surrender three quarterback sacks and gain only 16 rushing yards in a 24-10 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
The Roughriders were particularly sluggish to throughout the first half, as noted postgame by head coach Corey Mace when he admitted his team's offensive and defensive lines lost their early physical battles. Mace's criticism was evidently justified.
'One hundred per cent,' said Ferland. 'You can see it right off the hop. It was like we weren't there. We weren't who we normally were and that really woke us up.'
In their first practice following the loss, Mace used one of his team's rare full-pads day to re-spark his squad. Judging by the popping sounds and the tenacity of the workout, the message was sent and well-received.
'That (loss) deflated, I want to say, our ego,' said Mace. 'That was a tough one for everybody to swallow. But it's early in the year and you kind of want to get that out of they way.
'Certainly how they practised today, I think they understood what we need to do.'
In addition to dropping them into second place in the West with a 4-1 record — Calgary improved to 4-1 and temporarily earned the first-place tiebreaker — the drubbing knocked the Roughriders out of the league lead for points scored, most rushing yards per game and fewest sacks allowed. Those are numbers the ever-changing offensive line had been especially proud of, so falling from such lofty perches is an affront to Ferland and his cohorts.
'Absolutely,' said Ferland. 'We got no stats, right? So we take great pride in that and obviously we need to get a lot better.'
Ferland and right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick have started all five games, with Jacob Brammer, Trevon Tate and Zack Fry rotating through the guard positions while Payton Collins and Daniel Johnson, who won't play this week due to a shoulder injury, have played left tackle. Ferland prefers guard, but he shifted to centre when projected starter Sean McEwen joined the large contingent on Saskatchewan's injury lists.
With a large, noisy crowd expected for Saturday's game inside domed B.C. Place Stadium, it adds another challenge to Saskatchewan's oft-changing offensive line, who may have to rely on silent counts for snapping the ball.
The Lions will also be looking to avenge a 37-18 loss at Mosaic Stadium on June 28. And B.C. (3-3) is on a two-game winning streak, coming off a 21-20, last-play road victory against the Montreal Alouettes and a 32-14 thumping of the hometown Edmonton Elks on Saturday. The road to happiness goes through Vancouver.
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The Big Question: What happened to the Saskatchewan Roughriders?
Davis: Roughriders surprising no-shows for first-place showdown against Stampeders
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