With the exhibition schedule behind them, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have hit a snag on the way to the regular season.
The Riders enter the 2011 Canadian Football League campaign as the two-time defending West Division champions, but a chink in their armour was discovered during the club's 1-1 preseason (a 23-22 home win over Edmonton and a 34-6 road loss at B.C.). The Riders are having a heckuva time attacking opposing quarterbacks and an even worse time kicking field goals.
Some of this was brought on unexpectedly. Rider coach Greg Marshall was clearly disappointed with the lack of pressure generated by his front four in both games, but the club is missing star defensive end Brent Hawkins off the edge. The former Jacksonville Jaguar popped a shoulder in training camp and has been placed on the nine-game injured list to open the season. So far he has not been replaced but we'll find out soon if one of Montez Murphy, Tearrius George or newcomer R.J. Roberts will fit the bill.
Speaking of the nine-game injured list, that's where seven year veteran kicker Luca Congi currently resides. The Waterloo, Ont. product had his 2010 season cut short by a crippling double ligament injury and although his goal was to be ready for Week 1 this year, that clearly isn't going to happen.
Unfortunately for the Riders, Congi hasn't been replaced either. Rookie Canadian draft pick Christopher Milo of Laval was a combined 0/3 on field goals in exhibition games while veteran Eddie Johnson was 1/2. It has the Riders scratching their heads entering the new season, and questioning their comfort level at that position.
"That didn't create a good night's sleep the past two nights," reported Rider GM Brendan Taman. "I just left Greg Marshall's office and he's still rolling his head around on that. We're not sure what we're going to do there."
Taman was asked by reporters if they're happy with their current kicking situation.
"Would you be?" Taman huffed. "They weren't very good the other night."
So now the club looks towards the regular season opener Sunday, July 3 when the Edmonton Eskimos come to town. On the weekend the Riders trimmed their roster by 25 players to get down to the league-imposed limit and no players were air-lifted in to plug the holes.
Marshall has maintained all along that the plan in the off-season was to go with Eddie Johnson to perform all kicking duties until the return of Congi. So far, Marshall has shown no willingness to hit the panic button and is content to take a wait-and-see approach.
However it's bad enough to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. If the Riders are forced to settle for missed field goal singles rather than three pointers against the Eskimos, then you can expect to see a change.
And pronto.
- Rod Pedersen is the voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM.
