October 12, 2017

The Redblacks get a rematch with the Roughriders

Ottawa Redblacks (6-9-1)
at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-6-0)
Friday, 8 p.m., Mosaic Stadium
TSN, CKRM

 

THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a sunny day with a high of 6 C and a low of -4 C in the evening.

THE LOWDOWN: The Redblacks and Roughriders meet for the second time in three weeks. Saskatchewan won the teams’ first meeting, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to post an 18-17 victory in Ottawa on Sept. 29 … The Roughriders are coming off a 27-24 win over the host Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. That gave Saskatchewan a 5-1-0 record against teams from the East Division this season … Ottawa beat the B.C. Lions 30-25 on Saturday, giving the Redblacks a 2-6-1 slate against the West this season. Amazingly, that’s the best record for East teams against the West in 2017 … A Saskatchewan win and a B.C. loss in Winnipeg on Saturday will clinch at least a crossover playoff berth for the Roughriders.

THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterback Kevin Glenn gets the start despite being replaced by Brandon Bridge midway through the second quarter in Toronto. Glenn completed just three of eight pass attempts for 29 yards against the Argos and was pulled after only four possessions. He now has gone three straight games without a touchdown pass … Bridge was 20-for-28 passing for 292 yards with two touchdown passes in 2 ½ quarters of action in Toronto. He now has nine touchdowns and one interception this season … Former NFL first-round draft pick Trent Richardson again will split time at tailback with Kienan LaFrance. Richardson had five carries for 20 yards against the Argos, but LaFrance (six rushes for 38 yards, with three carries for 10-plus yards) was deployed on the final drive to grind down the clock … The starting receiving corps remains intact from the game in Toronto, with internationals Duron Carter, Bakari Grant, Caleb Holley and Naaman Roosevelt joining national Rob Bagg … Coming onto the 46-man roster as a backup receiver is veteran Chad Owens, who has been on the injured list since training camp. He takes the roster spot of fourth-string quarterback Marquise Williams, who’s on the six-game injured list … The Roughriders’ offensive line is the same as it was in Toronto, with Brendon LaBatte at centre, Derek Dennis and Peter Dyakowski at guard, and Bruce Campbell and Thaddeus Coleman at tackle. It’s the ninth straight game the Roughriders have used that alignment on the O-line. Rookie Dariusz Bladek took a number of snaps in Toronto in place of Dyakowski and could get some reps again Friday … Defensive end A.C. Leonard, who missed the contest in Toronto due to injury, returns to the lineup. He rejoins a D-line rotation that features Tobi Antigha, Rakim Cox, Makana Henry, Willie Jefferson, Ese Mrabure and Eddie Steele … For the second straight week, there’s a change in the Roughriders’ linebacking corps. Jeff Knox Jr., starts on the weak side in place of Sam Eguavoen, who was put on the six-game injured list Tuesday. Derrick Moncrief starts his second straight game at strong-side linebacker for Otha Foster III, whose back injury has landed him on the six-game list … Middle linebacker Henoc Muamba is eager for another crack at Ottawa tailback William Powell, who rushed for 187 yards in the teams’ previous meeting … In the secondary, Chris Lyles replaces the injured Kacy Rodgers II at cornerback. Lyles played halfback in Saskatchewan’s first six regular-season games before suffering a knee injury. Rodgers has been placed on the one-game injured list with a leg injury … Mike Edem, who spent the past three games on the injured list, has been activated and takes over for Jeff Hecht at safety. Edem takes the roster spot of receiver Brett Blaszko, who moves to the practice roster. Hecht, meanwhile, is listed as a backup linebacker … The rest of the secondary remains the same, with Jovon Johnson on the other corner and Crezdon Butler and Ed Gainey at the halfback spots … Punter Josh Bartel, who kicked the tiebreaking single for the Roughriders in Ottawa, has averaged 47.3 yards over the past two games. Kicker Tyler Crapigna, long-snapper Jorgen Hus and returner Christion Jones join Bartel as the Roughriders’ specialists.

For the full depth chart click here

For game notes click here