Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a mix of sun and cloud during the day with a high of 23 C. The evening is to be clear with a low of 9 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Argonauts open their regular-season schedules with a rematch of last season’s Eastern Final. Toronto won that contest 25-21 and, a week later, claimed the Grey Cup title … Saskatchewan has won the teams’ past three regular-season meetings. The Roughriders swept the two-game series in 2017, winning 38-27 at home on July 29 and 27-24 in Toronto on Oct. 7 … This is the first of five straight games against East Division opponents for the Roughriders, who were 6-2-0 against the East in the 2017 regular season … Saskatchewan has lost three regular-season openers in a row, currently the longest such streak in the CFL.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge have been competing for the No. 1 job since training camp began — and head coach-GM Chris Jones has yet to name one of them the starter. Collaros took most of the snaps with the starting offence during practice this week and appears at the top of the depth chart, meaning he could be the man. Bridge came off the bench effectively in 2017, so he could take on the role of reliever again … Tailback Jerome Messam didn’t play in either of Saskatchewan’s pre-season games, so he should be well-rested entering this game. He’ll be backed up by international Tre Mason, who fills that role in the absence of Marcus Thigpen … The Roughriders’ receiving corps has two new starters in wideout Josh Stanford and slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert. That duo will join internationals Duron Carter, Caleb Holley and Naaman Roosevelt in the starting lineup … Three returning starters — right tackle Thaddeus Coleman, centre Dan Clark and left guard Brendon LaBatte — are to anchor the offensive line in the opener. CFL rookies Jarvis Harrison (right guard) and Terran Vaughn (left tackle) are to start their first games in the league … The Roughriders have high hopes for their defensive line, which features two newcomers in end Charleston Hughes and tackle Zack Evans. Those two join end Willie Jefferson and tackle Makana Henry in the starting lineup, but expect to see players like Tobi Antigha, Chad Geter, Jordan Reaves, Eddie Steele and Eric Striker in the rotation … Hughes, by the way, needs one sack for 100 in his CFL career … Sam Hurl is to start at middle linebacker in the Roughriders’ base defence, with Sam Eguavoen (weak side) and Derrick Moncrief (strong side) flanking him. Adrian Clarke, Cameron Judge and Micah Teitz likely will get playing time at linebacker as well … Four starters from 2017 return to the secondary: Halfbacks Crezdon Butler and Ed Gainey, cornerback Jovon Johnson and safety Mike Edem. CFL rookie Nick Marshall is expected to start at boundary corner, but Carter likely will get reps at that spot as well … Brett Lauther will handle the Roughriders’ kicking duties in the absence of injured veteran Tyler Crapigna. This will be Lauther’s first CFL game since Oct. 14, 2013, when he kicked for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ironically, that game was against the Argos … Punter Josh Bartel, long-snapper Jorgen Hus and returner Christion Jones are the Roughriders’ other specialists.
