Roughriders’ revamped O-line continues to progress

Despite a constant rotation of starters and dealing with key injuries, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive line has been one of the CFL’s best this season.

The group used five different combinations during the team’s first six games. Offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte (leg), Philip Blake (leg) and Takoby Cofield (hamstring) are all sitting on the six-game injured list, while guard Dariusz Bladek returned from a knee injury on July 27 against the B.C. Lions.

Despite that, the group has flourished with players stepping up to fill in the voids. Saskatchewan currently leads the league in rushing touchdowns (14), is third in the league in rushing yardage (908) and is tied for second when it comes to sacks given up (10).

The O-line will try to continue its success against the Alouettes in Montreal on Friday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

“Our technique is not going to be perfect or anything like that; we’re not that kind of offensive line. We’re a nasty offensive line,” right tackle Thaddeus Coleman said. “No matter who we play against, we’re going to play a physical game no matter what.”

Running back William Powell has been the key contributor to the team’s rushing attack, scoring a league-leading seven touchdowns and rushing for 520 yards (third in the league) in his first season with the Roughriders. Running back Marcus Thigpen has also scored on the ground for the Green and White.

But another key cog to the rushing game has been quarterback Cody Fajardo. He currently sits second in the CFL with six rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 1. He also has rushed for 227 yards, which is good enough for seventh in the league.

“(Fajardo) likes to get out of the pocket so we have to adjust to his movements,” Coleman said. “We know if a (defender) starts running sideways, it’s probably because Cody took off. We want him to run when he needs to but when we give him time in the pocket, he’s going to sit there.”

One member of the offensive line wishes Fajardo would let him know before the QB takes off into the defence.

“I told him after the last game, ‘Man, if you start running, you tell me go or something so I can get blocking downfield for you,’ ” rookie guard Dakoda Shepley said. “(Fajardo has) made some big plays out of nothing but I like to be in front of him as much as I can.”

Shepley has been one of the players the team has called upon to step up and fill the holes the group has had due to injury. Shepley has started six of the team’s seven games so far.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the 24-year-old has got better every week.

“(Shepley) had a little bit of a tough game against Hamilton but that’s a good (defensive) front,” Dickenson said. “He’s enjoying the work and he’s putting in a lot of work off the field as well so I think  you’re going to see him improve each week as the year goes on.”

Shepley said improvement every week is the ultimate goal for him.

“I feel like I’ve done everything I can to make sure that happens and I feel like that’s showing up on film and in the games and in practice,” Shepley said.

The CJME pre-game show gets underway at 3 p.m.

Notes: Wide receiver Shaq Evans (ankle), defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy (ankle) and defensive end A.C. Leonard (shoulder) are all game-time decisions Friday. Evans suffered an injury in practice Monday, and Purifoy and Leonard got knicked up during practice Tuesday … Dickenson said defensive lineman Micah Johnson will not make the trip with the team to Montreal. He suffered an ankle sprain against the Tiger-Cats on Aug .1. The team is adding defensive lineman Jeremy Faulk to help address the number of injuries on the D-line.