‘Uncalled for:’ Riders defence reacts to hit on Collaros

Members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defence are giving their thoughts on the hit that sent quarterback Zach Collaros to the six-game injured list.

“I just think it was uncalled for,” defensive back Ed Gainey said Monday when asked about the hit Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence put on Collaros during Hamilton’s 23-17 victory over Saskatchewan on Thursday.

On the third play from scrimmage, Collaros was sliding when Lawrence went for a hit and caught part of Collaros’ head. Collaros left the game and Lawrence was given a 25-yard penalty for the hit. He was not ejected from the game and finished with six tackles, a sack and an interception.

On Monday, Lawrence was suspended for two games by the CFL for the play.

Ed Gainey file photo courtesy of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella)

“There was a big thing about (the safety of) quarterbacks last year and (Collaros) was one of the guys who was a catalyst for the whole controversy,” Gainey said. “(Lawrence) is suspended and that’s good. (League personnel) are showing some sort of disciplinary action about the whole situation.”

After head injuries to Collaros and former Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge, the CFL added an additional on-field official during the playoffs to watch for high hits on quarterbacks.

Gainey said defensive players in the league have to be aware of players, especially ones with a history of concussions, and know to pull up from the hit.

“I would protect the quarterback in that situation and I’m sure that any respectable defensive player would do the same,” Gainey said. “At the end of the day, when a person doesn’t follow that (headshot) rule, it’s up to the offensive guys, or whoever is out on the field, to stand up for the (injured) player.”

Safety Mike Edem agreed that defensive players need to be aware of the situation and take player safety into account.

“The mindset should never have been anything else but if he slides, pull up,” Edem said. “It’s football and at the end of the day we have to hold each other accountable when it comes to player safety.”

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the two-game suspension for Lawrence seemed fair.

“The reality is, in games it is a lot of action in a violent setting and it’s very difficult to judge (Lawrence’s) intent,” Dickenson said. “I’m not going to judge his intent. I felt like the hit was violent and against the rules.”

While members of the defence offered their thoughts on the hit, their mindset has now shifted to Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks.

“Everybody in this locker room wants to win,” Edem said. “We are 0-and-1 right now and we cannot end up 0-and-2. I think we want to win for each other.”

The Redblacks started their season on a winning note, defeating the defending Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders 32-28 on Saturday. The Redblacks went through a lot of changes in the off-season with the departures of William Powell to the Roughriders and both Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson to the Edmonton Eskimos.

“(Ottawa) does the little things right,” Dickenson said. “Year in, year out you can argue they are one of the premier teams in this league. They seem to be at the top every year.”

Redblacks quarterback Dominique Davis had an interesting stat line for a game-winning pivot, throwing for 276 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions but ran the ball in for three touchdowns.

“Anytime you have a mobile quarterback you have to be ready plus he can throw the ball so we just have to be very disciplined, have good eyes and do our job,” linebacker Derrick Moncrief said.

Gainey, who has 18 career interceptions, is going to be looking for opportunities to get the ball away from the Redblacks’ offence.

“(Davis) obviously trusts his arm and puts (footballs) out there so I’m definitely looking to get my hands on some (interceptions),” Gainey said.

Kickoff for the road game is at 5:30 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 3 p.m.