Riders prepare for final pre-season test

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ final pre-season game will be a tuneup before the regular season for some, but a proving ground for others.

The Roughriders are to meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday with some players entrenched in starting roles and some still doing battle.

“If a guy has a big-time game, you certainly take notice, and if a guy really falls off, you will (notice),” Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said following Wednesday’s walkthrough.

“There’s some real good battles going on right now. Backup tailback’s one of them, that third defensive end is another one and (at defensive back), we need to find two real good ones. Guys that really play well are going to rise and guys that struggle will drop.”

Quarterback Zach Collaros doesn’t need to prove himself to coaches — he was named the starter before training camp — but not all fans are throwing their trust behind the eighth-year CFLer.

He drew the ire of some in Rider Nation last season after throwing only nine touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 14 games during an injury-riddled campaign.

This will be the first game action of the 2019 season for the quarterback. He travelled with the team to Calgary but didn’t play in Saskatchewan’s 37-1 pre-season loss to the Stampeders on Friday.

“It’s good to be down on the field and start seeing that game speed again but there’s nothing like experiencing being in the pocket and all those things,” said Collaros. “(Thursday) will be good for all of us to get back out there, get going again and obviously you get more comfortable as the season goes.”

Collaros dealt with concussion issues last season. Despite the concerns over his health, he’s excited for that first hit.

“I want to get hit like the first play of every game, then you’re really locked in,” said Collaros. “Once you do get hit a couple times, I feel like that’s when things start to slow down.”

But Dickenson would prefer that his quarterback didn’t take any hits.

“I don’t want to see any of our guys take a hit, but if he does, I want to see him pop up and be OK,” said Dickenson.

While the starters could see as much as three quarters of work, there will be some time for players not currently on the final roster to make one final push.

Rookie Blace Brown is trying to earn a spot in the defensive backfield during his first CFL training camp. The product of Canton, Ga., didn’t know much about the CFL other than the fact it was a league in Canada.

“It was a big learning curve. I’m probably going to be learning all year but the older guys are really helping out so I’m adapting pretty quick,” said Brown. “The atmosphere, the downs, the way you have to play the receivers here is all totally different.”

The 23-year-old feels that even though he might not earn a starting role right away, he feels he still can contribute to the Riders.

“Special teams is going to be my way to earn my way on this team, (earn) respect on this team,” said Brown.

While Brown is one of the rookies trying to find their way for the first time in the CFL, there are a few veteran players trying to prove they still deserve a spot.

Linebacker Brandyn Bartlett is entering his third season with the team but has battled injuries throughout his time with the team.

“I went into this off-season like it’s make or break,” said Bartlett. “So I feel like I definitely need to get after it (Thursday).”

Bartlett has an aggressive mindset in place for the final pre-season game.

“Just come out and fly around, be physical. The work’s in, there’s not much pressure because I know I put the work in so we’ve just got to go put it out there,” Bartlett said.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The 980 CJME/650 CKOM Green Zone pre-game show begins at 5 p.m.