EDMONTON — Technically, the first game is one-18th of a team’s regular-season schedule.
But it sure doesn’t feel that way as the Saskatchewan Roughriders prepare for Sunday’s 2023 kickoff against the host Edmonton Elks (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
“You only get one opener — and that’s the facts,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
“It’s kind of like opening Christmas presents in some way. You don’t know quite what you’ve got until you play a real game.
“I think that’s the neat thing about openers. They give you a chance to gauge what you have on your team and then get a feel for what the league’s going to look like.
“So there’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of excitement leading up to the opening game.”
A lot of curiosity, too.
“You want to see,” Dickenson continued. “I’m sure we’ll be out there (on Sunday) and say, ‘Let’s see what we’ve got.’
“Let’s let ’em run and let ’em play and let’s see if we’re as good as we think we are.”
How often does a team’s performance during the regular season correlate with what the coaches had expected, deep down, coming out of camp?
“Most of the time, it’s pretty close,” Dickenson replied. “We’ve had a month together in training camp. We’ve seen them work. We’ve seen the way they prepare.
“I’m really happy with the group we have and I’m very positive. I think we’ve got a good group.
“I won’t be surprised if we come out and play very well (on Sunday).”
That assessment is based on the camaraderie and commitment that the players have demonstrated from the outset.
“There’s just the general roll-up-the-sleeves, go-to-work attitude with the group,” he said. “It’s a group that likes to work and understands what it takes to win in pro football.
“Now we’ve just got to stay healthy. It’s a long season — a marathon — but I think we’ve got the right pieces in the locker room.”
And there is the variable. As much as players and coaches can immerse themselves in X’s and O’s and foster a close-knit environment, there is also an element of luck and the reality that some factors are uncontrollable.
“You’ve got to keep working all year,” Dickenson said. “The roster isn’t just something that you fold up and put in the drawer. You’ve got to keep working all year to try to upgrade and make sure you’ve got depth where you need it.”
That is where Jeremy O’Day (General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations) and Kyle Carson (Assistant GM) figure into the equation. Although much of their off-season is spent on recruiting, negotiating and draft preparations, the work never stops.
“Jeremy and Kyle do a good job of that and will continue to sit down and evaluate the roster each and every week, because you’ve got to always stay on top of it,” Dickenson said. “You never know when you’re going to have an injury here or there and you want to be prepared.”
The Roughriders begin the season with four players on the six-game injured list: Receivers Brayden Lenius (lower back) and Kian Schaffer-Baker (hip), offensive lineman Philip Blake (chest) and defensive back Godfrey Onyeka (chest).
Despite the absence of Lenius, the Roughriders will stick with their initial blueprint of starting two Canadian receivers. Samuel Emilus, Mitch Picton and Juwan Brescacin are all expected to receive significant playing time.
Blake’s absence creates an opening on the offensive line, which will be anchored by centre Peter Godber. Evan Johnson and Logan Ferland return as the starting guards. Left tackle Brandon Council and right tackle Eric Lofton are both first-year Roughriders.
Four players are on the one-game inured list: Quarterback Jake Dolegala, receiver Tevin Jones, linebacker Derrick Moncrief and punter Kaare Vedvik.
With Vedvik sidelined due to a hip injury, fellow Global punter Adam Korsak is to make his CFL debut on Sunday.
Moncrief — a 2022 West Division All-Star — is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, so his spot at strong-side linebacker will be filled by C.J. Reavis.
Mason Fine has earned the No. 2 quarterback spot, behind Trevor Harris. A third quarterback (Shea Patterson) will dress on Sunday and, if the pre-season is any indication, be used in short-yardage situations.
EXTRA POINTS: Saskatchewan has won each of its last four games at Commonwealth Stadium … Sunday’s game will be the 227th between the Roughriders and Edmonton, dating back to 1938. Saskatchewan has a 100-124-2 record versus Edmonton … The Elks have 14 first-year players, the most in the league. The Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa REDBLACKS have the fewest newcomers (six). The totals include the teams’ active rosters and injured lists.
