Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mays knows how much he will play as a starter in his team's regular-season finale against the BC Lions on Saturday, although he declined to share those details publicly.
“We have a plan and just like last week, we determined what we want to do and we're sticking to it. This week we have a different plan and we'll stick to it.” Mace told media in Regina.
“After last week, the guys were a little frustrated. We didn't get the job done and, frankly, whoever was there wore the same jersey – it's the same expectations and we didn't live up to it. For us this week, it's a narrow focus again. We have a really good team coming into the building and we have an opportunity to fix some things that we need to get better at and go out there and try to get a win.”
The Roughriders left most of their starters out of the lineup last week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. AJ Ouellette, Samuel Amilus, KeeSean Johnson, Donte Meyers and Jermarcus Hardrick did not dress, while Trevor Harris, Kian Shaffer-Baker and Logan Ferland were relegated to supporting roles.
The results were not very good. Saskatchewan managed just 169 yards on target, with their only touchdown coming after the Blue Bombers committed a turnover and a 42-yard penalty in back-to-back games. The Roughriders kept nearly their entire defense intact—Micah Johnson was the only healthy player—and the squad held the contest to within a 17-16 loss.
The Lions could still finish second or even fourth in the West Division. If the Calgary Stampeders beat the Edmonton Elks on Friday, the Lions will need to beat Saskatchewan to secure second place and host the Western semi-finals. So, it makes sense that the Roughriders will likely play this weekend against a BC team that is at full strength as they look to win a home playoff game.
The Roughriders have a bye next week as they look to face the winner of the Western semi-final. With so many players out last week and another break approaching, Mays had to calculate how many reps his veterans would get in practice this week.
“You can't simulate live performances, so I think it's really important for our guys to be able to go out and do that,” Mays said. “At the same time, you have to make sure you're looking at the future but also trying to keep the balance of having the right guys in the lineup so you can still win the game.”
When asked if he had a checklist of things to accomplish this week, Mays said he did, although it was terribly short.
“It's just one box: it says 'victory,'” Mace said. “I don't care who does it, everyone works hard and the best way to put a smile on everyone's face and kind of solidify their work is to do it in a winning way. We do celebrate the little things, but at the end of the day it's a results-driven business.”
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-5) will host the BC Lions (10-7) on Saturday, October 25, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm ET. Lions beat Edmonton Elks and can finish second in the West Division by beating Saskatchewan, while Roughriders lose sloppy game in Winnipeg.
The weather forecast for Regina calls for a high of 19 degrees with sunny skies. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in to 730 CKNW in Vancouver and 620 CKRM in Regina.
