Riders to face Adams Jr., for first time since trade

Vernon Adams Jr., was once a promising young quarterback with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

On Saturday, the 26-year-old will lead the Montreal Alouettes into Mosaic Stadium on a three-game winning streak. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

In August 2017, the Roughriders traded defensive back Tevaughn Campbell and third-round picks in 2018 and 2019 to the Alouettes for Adams Jr., and a 2018 fifth-round draft pick.

Offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo said a lot of things pointed towards Adams being a starting quarterback in the CFL, with his leadership standing out.

Vernon Adams (middle) shadows Brandon Bridge (left) during practice at Leibel Field on Aug. 21, 2017. (Arielle Zerr)

That trait was mentioned to the Roughriders by Beau Baldwin, who coached Adams Jr., at Eastern Washington University.

“(Baldwin) said (Adams Jr.) was probably the best leader he ever had,” McAdoo said following Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “That’s big when you’re the quarterback because you’re the general of the offence.

“Getting guys to rally behind you and being that leader and making them believe in you, that’s big.”

Adams Jr., appeared in 11 games with the Roughriders in 2017, mostly as the short-yardage quarterback. He rushed for three touchdowns that season.

He was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats prior to the 2018 season for defensive end Charleston Hughes. Adams Jr., never played a game for the Tiger-Cats and was released in June 2018.

He then joined the Alouettes and came into 2019 as the backup to starter Antonio Pipkin. When Pipkin injured a leg in the Als’ first game of the season June 14 against the Edmonton Eskimos, Adams took over as the Als’ starter. He has them sitting at 6-4 and in second place in the East Division.

Adams Jr., has thrown for 2,121 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games. He also has rushed for 10 TDs.

McAdoo said the biggest thing that has helped Adams Jr., emerge as a CFL quarterback is getting more experience in the Canadian game.

“It’s a different game than down south. The coverages that you see are a little bit different,” McAdoo said. “It takes a maturation part of it, just guys understanding and getting out there and taking the reps to believe what they are seeing.”

The Roughriders’ defence is also aware of the game-breaking ability Adams Jr., has shown this season.

“The team goes where Vernon Adams goes,” linebacker Solomon Elimimian said. “He’s a player that at any given moment can hurt you with his feet or his arms. He can have a bad quarter and then just pick things up.”

The Alouettes haven’t lost a game since a 17-10 loss to the Roughriders on Aug. 9 in a game that was called early due to lightning. In that meeting, Adams Jr., was on the sidelines as he continued to recover from a concussion.

The game Saturday will mark the first time Adams Jr., starts a game against the Roughriders in his career.

Saskatchewan’s defence wants to get back on track after Saturday’s 35-10 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The last time a team scored more than 20 points against the Green and White was in its 38-25 win over the B.C. Lions on July 20.

The Roughriders’ defence will also need to handle Montreal running back William Stanback, who missed the teams’ previous meeting with a heel injury. Stanback has been enjoying a breakout season with the Alouettes thus far, running for 689 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.

“I think for us it’s all about team defence,” Elimimian said. “It’s not one man that has to stop one player.”

Notes: Head coach Craig Dickenson said newly acquired defensive end Chad Geter will play Saturday. Geter was signed Tuesday after being released by Montreal … Receiver Justin McInnis (shoulder) missed practice for a third straight day. Mitch Picton and Brayden Lenius would split time at the position if McInnis can’t play … The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway Saturday at 3 p.m.