Roughriders prepared for either Stamps quarterback

It’s a familiar foe for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but an unfamiliar face could be behind centre for the Calgary Stampeders.

The Stamps have concerns over the health of quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell heading into Saturday’s CFL game at Mosaic Stadium, so Nick Arbuckle could make his first CFL start. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

Arbuckle came on in relief of Mitchell in Calgary’s 36-32 victory over the B.C. Lions on Saturday. Arbuckle helped complete the Stamps’ comeback by completing all nine of his passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a score.

Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said one of the biggest challenges Arbuckle poses to the Roughriders is trying to avoid the mindset that he’s just a backup.

“Every starter was a backup at some time, even the great ones. So maybe he’s the next great one for all we know,” Dickenson said Thursday after practice at Mosaic Stadium.

“It’s a system over there. We pretty much game plan for coaches and then try to make adjustments based on the players’ ability level and certainly Arbuckle is very similar to Bo Levi.”

The Roughriders know firsthand how effective a backup quarterback can be.

Current starter Cody Fajardo was thrust into the role after Zach Collaros was forced out of the June 13 game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a concussion. Collaros is at home in Ontario and is set to join the Roughriders after the July 13 bye week.

In Collaros’ absence, Fajardo has excelled by completing 51 of his 65 pass attempts for 790 yards and four touchdowns over his first two starts. He has also rushed for two other scores.

Safety Mike Edem said if a defence goes into a game thinking a backup can’t perform as well as a starter, it can get burned.

“The (offensive co-ordinator) calling the plays is still the same guy, the O-line is still the same O-line (and) the receivers have chemistry together because they’ve been in that offence for years,” Edem said. “You can’t think because one guy is out that things are going to change.”

Edem said Arbuckle offers a similar skill set to Mitchell with the only major difference between the two is that Mitchell has more experience in the league.

“Bo has seen it all, he has had game reps going through adversity and I think that’s going to be the difference,” Edem said. “They’re going to prepare Arbuckle enough that he’s going to be ready for whatever we throw at him and he’ll be ready to adjust.”

One person who knows what Arbuckle can bring to an offence is defensive lineman Micah Johnson. Johnson spent six seasons with the Stampeders before signing with the Roughriders this off-season.

“(Arbuckle’s) a very, very hard worker,” Johnson said. “As long as I’ve known him being his teammate, he was the first guy in (at practice). He was out on the field throwing at 5:30, 6 in the morning through rain, snow or sleet. You expect that from him. He’s always prepared as a starter.”

For Johnson, it doesn’t matter who’s behind centre for the Stampeders. Johnson is hungry for his first sack of the season.

“At this point I’ll sack anybody,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to get one on the board.”

The defence could get a boost from the addition of linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who has yet to play this season due to a calf injury. Dickenson said Elimimian has looked good in practice and there’s a “pretty good chance of him playing” Saturday.

Elimimian is a nine-year CFL veteran and he knows defenders always have to prepare as if they’re playing a starter.

“You have to be more concerned with backups than you have to be with starters,” Elimimian said. “At some point that backup becomes a starter.

“Whether it’s Mike Reilly or Bo Levi Mitchell or Cody Fajardo, they all had to start somewhere. (Arbuckle) is looking at (Saturday’s game) as his opportunity to shine and his coming-out party.”

Saturday’s game will be the first time this season that the Roughriders (1-2-0) will play a West Division opponent.

Notes

Dickenson said wide receiver K.D. Cannon likely will be out this week with a groin injury. Rookie receiver Justin McInnis would get his first CFL start if Cannon can’t go … Linebacker Sam Hurl (undisclosed) has been ruled out for the game … Cornerback Nick Marshall is dealing with an ankle issue and missed practice for the second straight day, while kicker Brett Lauther also missed practice due to a groin injury. The availability of both players for Saturday’s game remains in question.