By Canadian Press

Riders coach Dickenson vows better offensive execution against Bombers

Jun 15, 2023 | 12:57 PM

REGINA — Some questionable play-calling at the end of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ season-opening win at Edmonton put the game — and their starting quarterback — in jeopardy.

Roughriders coach Craig Dickenson said he expects his team to execute better when it hosts Winnipeg on Friday night. The Bombers have won the last seven head-to-head meetings between the two teams.

It’s unclear whether quarterback Trevor Harris will start for Saskatchewan (1-0). He suffered a hip pointer late in the Riders’ 17-13 road win over the Elks.

While Harris was atop Saskatchewan’s depth chart, he was listed as a game-time decision. 

Harris was hurt with Saskatchewan holding its four-point lead over Edmonton and the ball at the Elks’ 24-yard line with 10 seconds to play.  Harris lined up in shotgun formation and rolled out to his right before throwing a pass downfield.

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But he was hit hard after delivering the pass and was writhing in pain on the field. After initially struggling to get up, Harris managed to get to his feet before hobbling to the sidelines. 

Harris finished 20-of-33 passing for 179 yards with a touchdowns and two interception in his Riders’ debut. While rolling Harris out of the pocket exposed the quarterback to the hard hit, Dickenson felt it was the right call.

“I try to win games and put guys in good situations, and we just didn’t execute very well,” Dickenson said Tuesday. “In hindsight, I wish (Harris) had have thrown it sooner because we weren’t going to kill all the clock.

“We’ll execute it better and next time the quarterback won’t take the hit.”

Harris missed Tuesday’s practice with the injury, but Dickenson said Wednesday that a veteran like him doesn’t need a full week of activity to be ready for game day.

“He needs the timing with his guys, but I don’t think he needs the reps,” Dickenson said. “We’ve got to just get him to the game.”

Dickenson said backup Mason Fine got some reps in practice and is ready if he has to go under centre for a non-critical matchup early in the season.

“It’s Week 2. Long season,” Dickenson said. “We’re going to play our best group though, and we hope (Harris) is part of it.”

If Fine ends up getting the start, he knows he’ll be up against tough competition. Winnipeg set a franchise record with 15 wins last season and fell just short of a third Grey Cup title after a tough 24-23 loss to Toronto in the championship game in Regina.

“Winnipeg has a great defence. Great culture. Great team overall,” Fine said. “They have a lot of strengths and not many weaknesses.”

Like the Riders, Winnipeg (1-0) had to overcome its own hiccups to post an opening-day win.

Winnipeg beat visiting Hamilton 42-31, but what looked like a romp turned into a much closer game when the Tiger-Cats outscored the Bombers 14-3 in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we played a pretty good football game, minus three plays that they maximized their return on,” Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said.

O’Shea also didn’t read too much into Harris’s middling statistics in Saskatchewan’s opener.

“Whatever those stats show .. you’ve got to look at the career,” O’Shea said of the two-time Grey Cup champion. “He’s efficient with the ball. he’s won a lot of football games and he understands exactly what CFL defensive co-ordinators are trying to do to their offence.”  

The Bombers have no question mark under centre, with two-time defending CFL outstanding player Zach Collaros ready to take the snaps. He threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns without an interception against Hamilton.

The Riders will be without receiver Derel Walker (knee) after the two-time CFL all-star  was placed on the six-game injured list. Defensive back Nic Marshall (shoulder) will also miss the game.

Tevin Jones replaces Walker, while Deontai Williams takes Marshall’s spot at cornerback.

Blue Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat is listed as doubtful for Friday’s game. Rookie lineman Celestin Haba has been added to the starting lineup.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2023.

The Canadian Press