Riders’ Lauther looking to kick ‘terrible’ start to CFL season

Brett Lauther knows he hasn’t had the season he expects of himself — and he knows that in pro sports, it could mean changes could come.

“It’s been a terrible season for me. If they bring another guy in or if they release me or make those decisions, cross that road when it happens,” Lauther said. “It is pro sports and at this point, I am not doing my job good enough.”

Lauther has only hit on 71.4 per cent of his field goal kicks so far this season — the lowest mark of his career when he starts a majority of the games. That mark is the lowest of all kickers in the CFL this season.

“If they bring someone in, I will be the best teammate I can be. I’m not going to change anything or change who I am as a person on or off the field and just keep working hard.”

Lauther is in his sixth season as a Roughrider and has a 81.5 career make percentage. 

He had one of his worst games as a pro last week in a 27-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes when he missed four of seven attempts – one of which was returned for a 128-yard Montreal touchdown while another was a game-tying miss on the final play of the game.

The 33-year-old product of Truro, N.S., said there’s been a lot of support from his teammates ahead of Thursday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts. Kickoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m. Sask. time.

“One of the things that almost, in a weird way, sucks the most is just everyone has been so supportive and had my back,” Lauther said. “We preach family from the beginning and I never want to go out there and do that for the guys. It happened and I can’t change it. At this point just trying to move on and get ready for the game Thursday. All those guys — the coaches, the players and organization — have been good in a sense for that but for me, it’s been about trying to get back to work and lock back in for Thursday night.”

Special teams co-ordinator Kent Maugeri said kicking is a lot like golf — one small change can cause the entire thing to be off.

“If his steps are off a little bit, his swings are going to be off a little bit,” Maugeri said. “Just like a quarterback is going to work on his footwork and drops, we’re going to work our footwork and take off … It’s nothing unusual, it’s just a drill we did during training camp and it’s good every once in a while to do those things.”

Maugeri said elite players are always going to try to improve.

“If you play long enough, you’re going to have a day like this — the key is to not have two of them,” Maugeri said. “He owns it and he is going to just outwork it. It’s just like getting in a hitting slump — you have to kick.”

In previous seasons, the Riders have had other kickers on the roster including last season with Ryan Meskell playing a game last season.
Maugeri said it doesn’t matter how many kickers are on the roster — they focus on themselves.

“You’re trying to get better at something every single day. Some competition brings out the best in you, with the rosters the way they are here, it’s hard to have multiple punters and multiple kickers,” Maugeri said. “I don’t think that would help but I don’t know — you just never know.”

“I trust (Lauther) and truthfully, I hope it comes down to his foot this week because I know he is a mentally tough kid and has confidence and he’s going to come through for us.”

Notes: The Riders signed offensive tackle Trevon Tate to a contract. He was practicing with the starters and could be in Saskatchewan’s lineup this week. Tate spent 2021-23 with the Argos and joined the Calgary Stampeders this season. He was released by the Stamps on Aug. 13 … Slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker (shoulder) returned to practice this week. He has missed four games. Safety Jaxon Ford (wrist) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee) were limited in practice. Neither has participated in practice this season … Running back AJ Ouellete (hip) was limited while slotback Mitch Picton (ankle) did not participate.