The Saskatchewan Roughriders are to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats today in a battle of CFL teams who have yet to earn a victory this season.
To set up the contest (8 p.m., CKRM, TSN), here’s one man’s list of five things that bear watching:
1. Primarily the secondary: Saskatchewan’s defence has endured its share of busted coverages through the first two regular-season games. In the 43-40, double-overtime loss to Winnipeg last week at Mosaic Stadium, Blue Bombers receivers were consistently running free through the secondary on their way to (or in) the end zone. The Roughriders’ defensive backs met as a group the day after that loss and went over their mistakes in hopes of keeping them from happening again. That should mean improved communication with each other and with the sideline as well as an enhanced focus on technique this week. Head coach-GM Chris Jones said the defence’s lack of consistency in games this season is the result of mental fatigue more than physical exhaustion, so that unit has to improve its focus from start to finish.
2. Tyler Crapigna: The Roughriders’ kicker got a vote of confidence from his teammates and Jones during the week, days after a 33-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright in the second overtime period against Winnipeg. That miss allowed the Bombers’ Justin Medlock to kick the game-winning three-pointer. Crapigna also missed a 45-yard field goal on the final play of Saskatchewan’s 17-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on June 22. But the Roughriders’ third-year kicker deserves the support. Counting converts, he was 8-for-9 on his placements against Winnipeg; had he missed any of his first eight attempts, the game wouldn’t have made it to double overtime. That said, Crapigna knows he has to deliver for the Roughriders, who could turn the kicking duties over to Quinn van Gylswyk.
3. Antwane Grant: With Caleb Holley sidelined with a shoulder injury, Grant gets his first opportunity to appear in a regular-season game. The 24-year-old receiver was one of the top performers at the Roughriders’ mini-camp in Florida in April, a showing that earned him a spot at training camp in Saskatoon. There, he held his own against veteran DBs to win a spot on the practice roster. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is a smooth route-runner, has strong hands and is physical — traits that led Jones to say Grant was reminiscent of “a young Nik Lewis.” In the pre-season, Grant had three catches for 63 yards against Winnipeg on June 10 and two receptions for 27 yards against the B.C. Lions on June 16.
4. Tobi Antigha: The 24-year-old defensive end has appeared in a regular-season game already — he had one defensive tackle and one special-teams stop in Montreal — but he was scratched for the game against Winnipeg. Antigha returns to the lineup today to take the place of veteran Jonathan Newsome, who was released Tuesday. Antigha is another of Jones’ projects; the 6-foot-2, 240-pound pass-rusher was a receiver in college before moving to defensive end for Jones during a workout in Florida. Then, during Saskatchewan’s mini-camp, Antigha proved to be a handful for the offensive linemen who were in attendance. He’s quick off the edge and has the athleticism to drop into coverage, which is vital in Jones’ defence.
5. Special teams: The Roughriders have been solid on cover teams so far this season — they were second in opponents’ punt-return average (5.8 yards) and third in opponents’ kickoff-return average (25.1 yards) entering Week 3 — but they’ll be challenged today by Hamilton’s Brandon Banks. Saskatchewan ranked third in both punt-return average (9.4 yards) and kickoff-return average (26.9 yards) entering the week, but a fumble by Greg Morris on a kickoff return against the Bombers gave the visitors a first down at the Roughriders’ nine-yard line. That’s no doubt why special-teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson asked Morris to spend extra time after practice Thursday shagging balls shot out of the JUGS machine.
