With LaBatte questionable, Riders’ O-line prepared for challenge

Saskatchewan Roughriders centre Dan Clark could be without his left-hand man Thursday.

Brendon LaBatte, a six-time CFL all-star at left guard, hasn’t practised all week due to a groin injury and is questionable for the Roughriders’ regular-season opener Thursday against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Philip Blake, who has played 60 games in the CFL between the Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes, is expected to step into LaBatte’s starting role.

After practice Tuesday, Clark praised the laundry list of items LaBatte brings to the group.

“It’s that veteran (presence), it’s seeing things happen before they happen, it’s that mentality (and) it’s the toughness,” Clark said. “(LaBatte’s ability) is one of those things that you look up to, especially being a friend.”

While Clark will be down a friend on the line, Takoby Cofield will be down a mentor.

Cofield played to the left of LaBatte for most of the 2018 season, handling tackle duties. Having a veteran beside him proved to be a great resource during Cofield’s first season in the CFL.

“It was a huge help (having LaBatte there),” Cofield said. “Me and him started to gel and work together and that helped my confidence in learning (the Canadian game) and not having to rely on him so much for everything all the time.”

Cofield said the group is always focused on improving and getting better even when it’s missing someone of LaBatte’s calibre.

“I feel like we’ve hit the ground running and I’ve felt like we’ve (improved) even this year already, so I feel like this year we’re more equipped (to deal with injuries) because we know the standard and we’re just going to keep pushing it higher and higher,” Cofield said.

Clark has seen that improvement in Cofield as well.

“He’s seeing things a lot faster, being able to help me with certain calls and certain things that are happening, but it’s also his buy-in (into the system),” Clark said. “His buy-in is 100 per cent no matter what we are doing. It’s something that you can never take for granted.”

Some of the younger players have also shown their will to compete, giving a sense of confidence to the line heading into the new season.

“You try to have as many guys as you can to be able to step in no matter the situation,” said Clark, whose group also includes veterans Dariusz Bladek and Thaddeus Coleman at right guard and right tackle, respectively.

“The only two new guys that we have are Rene (Brassea) and (Dakoda) Shepley, so they are doing a great job of stepping in and doing anything that we ask.”

Head coach Craig Dickenson came into the season feeling confident in the offensive line, but he knows things could be a challenge this week.

“As long as LaBatte’s healthy, we feel great about our depth. If he’s not, we still feel good about our depth, it’s just now getting a little tighter,” Dickenson said on Monday.

This isn’t the first time the Roughriders have found themselves using their depth early in the 2019 season. Clark was forced to miss a majority of training camp after a car crash in May. While Clark was recovering, LaBatte took reps at centre.

“He’s a little bit more interchangeable than me. I don’t know if I could go back and play guard,” Clark joked.

The Roughriders will be hoping to get off to a fast start this season on the road, something that has proven to be tough for them.

The team hasn’t won its first road game in five seasons. Saskatchewan’s previous victory in the opener was in the 2013 season, when it beat the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium.

“The key for us is starting fast,” Clark said. “Over the last two years, we’ve finished really strong, but if we start fast and we can get the train rolling right away, it’s one of those things that will continue on so it’s not so much of a grind near the end (of the season).”

The game will have an earlier start time because Game 6 of the NBA Finals is also to be broadcast on TSN. Kickoff for the CFL game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone’s pre-game show will begin at 3 p.m.