Invariably forthright, Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace delivered some messages that resonated throughout the long weekend.
On Monday — shortly before on-field preparations began for Thursday’s CFL road game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS — Mace announced that quarterback Trevor Harris had received medical clearance to resume practising.
That information was provided to the media two days after a 42-31 home-field loss to the Edmonton Elks. After that result left Saskatchewan with a 5-3 record and in a tie for first place in the West Division, Mace put the onus on himself and said he had to do a better job of preparing the players.
“That’s just who he is as a person and a coach,” quarterback Shea Patterson, who has made five consecutive starts since Harris suffered a knee injury, said on Monday at Mosaic Stadium.
“I don’t think there’s anybody since Coach (Jim) Harbaugh (with the University of Michigan Wolverines), with walking into the building every single day and hearing him on game day, where you want to win for somebody. I just want to win for him.
“I don’t think he had us not prepared. He prepares us every single day.”
Now the Roughriders are preparing for Ottawa, on a short week, while taking the first steps toward incorporating Harris back into the on-field routine.
Although he was listed as a full participant in Monday’s walk-through, the Roughriders have yet to decide whether he will be activated from the six-game injured list with one game to go.
“He’s still on the six-game for now, but I’m not going to eliminate anything (as a possibility),” Mace said.
“He has been cleared to practise so, technically, is there is a chance he could be pulled (off the six-game list)? Yes, there is a chance.”
Harris has been in all the quarterbacks’ meetings while on the injured list, working closely with Patterson, Jack Coan and Eric Barriere.
After Saturday’s game, there was little time for a respite before all the players were back in the facility to get ready for the REDBLACKS within a tightened time frame.
“This is what we get paid to do,” said Patterson, who established CFL personal bests of 306 passing yards and two touchdown tosses on Saturday.
“Whether you’re coming off a short week or going into a bye and then playing again, it’s our job to perform.
“A lot of people in the front office, all the coaches, they work very hard. For the fans, it means so much to them. So it’s our job to get ready for the next one, no matter what.”
The fact that “the next one” is fast approaching might be for the best, despite the challenges a short week presents.
“Anytime we lose, we strive more to win than anything,” Patterson said. “Coach Mace has done an unbelievable job of instilling that in us. Every time we go out, we expect to win.
“Being able to turn around and sort of get that sour taste out of our mouth and just get right back to work is probably the only cure for that.”
The Roughriders would welcome a cure to the injury bug, which has been especially hungry over this season’s first eight games.
Entering the game against Edmonton, 11 Roughriders players were on the six-game injured list. As well, running back A.J. Ouellette (hip) and offensive tackle Jacob Brammer (hamstring) were on the one-game list.
Then came Saturday, when linebackers Jameer Thurman (elbow) and Melique Straker (hamstring), left guard Ryan Sceviour (elbow), defensive end Malik Carney (knee) and receiver KeeSean Johnson (head) sustained injuries that kept them off the practice field on Monday.
Although Harris did resume workouts, Ouellette and Brammer did not practise.
“I mean, that’s football,” Mace said — not dismissively, but realistically.
“You hate to see it but, when it happens, you just hope it is not season-ending for the player. They put in so much work during the off-season and during camp.
“On the positive side with injuries, when the pendulum does swing and you get guys back, it’s encouraging to have players be able to contribute.
“It’s also extremely important in my mind for the guys who were put in position to play (due to injuries) having this experience, because you never know what’s going to happen in this game as it relates to injuries.
“We’ve just banked so many reps for so many guys over these last amount of weeks. With them having some pro experience in this league, you never know. They might be counted on in some big games later in the season.
“I always try to look at the glass as half-full.”
