Riders not taking Argos lightly with playoff spot in sight

Saskatchewan Roughriders fans could be cheering on the Green and White in the CFL playoffs for the third straight season if the team gets a win Saturday.

The Roughriders will clinch their third straight playoff berth with a win over the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Despite the fact the Roughriders are close to punching their ticket to the post-season, defensive back Ed Gainey said that’s not the biggest challenge they have on their minds right now.

“We might have just mentioned (making the playoffs) in the breakdown, but I’m pretty sure all the guys know what we have at stake in these last six games playing mainly against Western opponents,” Gainey said earlier this week.

“It’s going to come down to the wire. We’re just taking it a day at a time and a game at a time so we’re just getting ready for Toronto right now.”

The Roughriders (8-4), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-4) and Calgary Stampeders (9-4) are all vying for a home playoff game — and possibly first place in the division — with September coming to an end. The Edmonton Eskimos (6-7) also still have a chance at finding their way to a home playoff game as well.

The Roughriders are coming off their third bye week of the season. Having a week off has been a good omen for the Roughriders in 2019, as they’ve gone 2-0 following their previous bye weeks.

Despite the fact Toronto has had trouble finding wins, only notching two on the season, Gainey knows the Roughriders have a tough test ahead of them.

“We’re never going to take our opponent lightly. They have an explosive offence (and) they like to pass the ball a lot,” Gainey said. “Us on the back end are going to have our hands full this week.”

Toronto will turn to quarterback James Franklin, who will be making his first start since a 32-7 loss to the Roughriders on July 1. Franklin exited that game early after being sacked by defensive end Charleston Hughes, the CFL’s sack leader entering the week.

Franklin will have a dangerous weapon to throw the ball to in wide receiver Derel Walker. Since Week 10, Walker has caught 25 passes for 432 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s a playmaker,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said. “He’s a guy that, when the ball is up in the air and it’s 50/50, he’s going to come down with it. I’m familiar with him from when I was in Edmonton and he’s going to be a challenge.”

The Roughriders’ defence will have Hughes back to try and put some pressure on Franklin. Hughes missed the Roughriders’ 27-25 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 14 with an elbow injury.

Hughes and defensive tackle Micah Johnson — who has two sacks in his past two games — will be called upon to try and win the quarterback pressure battle. Teams who have had more sacks than their opponents in a game have gone 34-14 in 2019.

On offence, the Roughriders’ line will be getting back one of its key veterans. All-star guard Brendon LaBatte will make his season debut after undergoing surgery during training camp for a sports hernia injury he believes he suffered in 2017.

“Our belief in the meeting room is always next man up and getting LaBatte back out there is something that just adds to our group,” centre Dan Clark said. “It’s a good problem to have when you have to cycle guys through.”

With LaBatte starting at left guard, rookie Dakoda Shepley will start on the right side, but Dariusz Bladek is also expected to receive playing time.

With the extra help on offence, the group will try to limit turnovers this week against an Argonauts defence that has turned the corner when it comes to forcing mistakes from opposing offences.

The Argos have forced 12 turnovers over their past three games — that’s equal to the number they forced through their first nine games of the season.

“A lot of takeaways happen when you’re in second-and-long,” Dickenson said. “(We want to) make Toronto earn it if they’re going to score.”

Slotback Cory Watson is returning to the Saskatchewan lineup after suffering a knee injury in the team’s 40-18 win against the Ottawa Redblacks on Aug. 24. Watson’s return is the only change the Roughriders are making to their receiving group this week.

Slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert, who rejoined the team on Sept. 11 after chasing NFL opportunities, will sit this week. The team wants to give Williams-Lambert another week to re-learn the playbook.

The depth chart can be found here: