Week 4 Game Day Match-up: Saskatchewan Roughriders
There are few things in nature more dangerous than a wounded animal. Once the survival instinct kicks in, predictability and reservations go right out the window, and they're willing to do anything it takes to live another day.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders head into Percival Molson Stadium this Sunday with a shocking 0-3 record, wounded in more ways than one. The players have all felt the criticism from pundits, they've heard it from the fans, and they've even taken shots from their own coaches and front office with line-up shuffles and the release of key veterans this past week.
The hot seat hasn't been reserved for players only, however. New head coach Greg Marshall and GM Brendan Taman have been squarely in the line of fire during the Riders' losing streak, Marshall for dismantling and failing to reconstruct one of the CFL's best defensive units and Taman for standing pat in the face of glaring personnel needs, particularly in the area of pass rush.
This past week, Marshall and Taman decided to waive a proven veteran and fan-favourite, CB Tad Kornegay, in their efforts to right the Riders' ship. As expected, the move sent shock waves through Saskatchewan's locker room as well as fan forum boards.
The move to release Kornegay, though, goes much deeper than emotions for the Riders. Ostensibly, it re-shuffles and remodels the team's weakest link, its secondary, heading into a vital match-up against the Montreal Alouettes' league-leading passing attack.
THE BACK DOOR'S OPEN
Currently, Saskatchewan has surrendered the most net yards passing this season (955), the most yards passing per game on average (318.3), the highest percentage of passes completed (67.3%), the most passing TDs (10), the second-highest average yards gained per pass (8.9), and the most first downs passing (47).
A good bit of the damage done through the air against the Roughriders' defence has been by receivers catching balls underneath the coverage of Saskatchewan's cornerbacks, hence Kornegay's release and subsequent replacement by Tristan Jackson.
In week 1 alone, The Eskimos' Jason Barnes and Adarius Bowman combined to scorch the Riders' secondary with 12 passes for 207 yards and three majors between the two players. Those yards, by the way, were gained in Kornegay's absence with Jackson filling in at CB.
The return of CFL all-star James Patrick at safety should bolster the Riders' efforts in the secondary this week, however. Patrick has a nose for the ball and patrols the middle of the field much more like a playmaker instead of like the heat-seeking missile rookie Craig Butler emulated.
By himself, though, Patrick can't patrol sideline to sideline on every down, and it remains to be seen whether the Riders' porous secondary has patched its holes sufficiently to contain the Als' air assault with its personnel moves.
HANDS-OFF POLICY
One of the major contributing factors to the Riders' futility in pass coverage has been the failure of their front seven to mount any kind of pass rush. Through three weeks of play, the Riders' are dead last in the CFL with only three QB sacks.
With rush ends Stevie Baggs and John Chick plying their trades elsewhere now and replacement Brent Hawkins on the 9-game injured list, Saskatchewan has really struggled to lay their hands on opposing quarterbacks. And this lack of ability to apply pressure has left the Riders' back end exposed. Consequently, yards and points have piled up.
Stats or not, Luc Mullinder, Dario Romero, and Remond Willis are dangerous athletes along the Riders' d-line, and they are supported by one of the game's most-active middle linebackers in Barrin Simpson.
Considering that the Als will be forced to start untested rookie Jeraill McCuller at left tackle with Josh Bourke sitting out due to a knee sprain, it's going to be a test for Montreal's offensive line to keep a clean pocket for Anthony Calvillo. For the Als to be successful pushing the ball downfield in the passing game, the Als' o-line has to lock down Romero and company and keep their hands off A.C.
MAKE IT OR BREAK IT MATCH-UP
The match-up I'll be keeping a sharp eye on from get to go this Sunday night is how aggressively the Alouettes' receivers attack Saskatchewan's reformed secondary.
After watching rangy receivers like Barnes and Bowman operate against the Roughriders' secondary with Tristan Jackson in the lineup, I'm very interested in keeping my eye on how the Alouettes utilize their set of big, talented receivers in this Sunday's rematch with Saskatchewan.
In week 2, Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green, and Brian Bratton all had success torching the Roughriders' D. Richardson caught nine passes for 114 yards and while Green and Bratton combined to snag another balls for 154 yards and three TDs. Much of that work was done over the Riders' back end for long gains.
The Alouettes' receiving corps sports excellent hands and perfect size to box out defenders, and all of the players are more than capable of using their speed to break away from coverage. Drag routes across the front of the Riders' secondary, quick slants, and hitch passes should all be effective this week against Jackson, Tamon George, Lance Frazier, and Nick Graham.
With Richardson drawing back into the Als' starting lineup this Sunday, I'm very eager to see if he can find the same kind of space in the seams and behind coverage as he found in week 2. I'm also curious to know if Green and Bratton can exploit Jackson and the rest of the Riders' secondary like the Esks' receivers did in week 1.
UP NEXT
Check back Monday for my breakdown of what went down on the field against the Riders this week, including, as always, my five plays that swung the game.
