Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — Brandon Bridge is set to take a handoff from Kevin Glenn if need be.
Glenn, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback, suffered an injury to his right (throwing) hand during the third quarter of Saturday’s 48-28 CFL loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bridge replaced Glenn and finished the game at Investors Group Field.
Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones said Monday that Glenn is day-to-day, questionable for Friday’s matchup in Hamilton.
Bridge vowed to be ready if he’s told this week that he’ll be starting.
“It’s two different mindsets when you start and when you come off the bench,” said Bridge, who was 4-for-8 passing for 67 yards with an interception and also rushed once for a 10-yard touchdown — a major he followed with a two-point convert toss to Caleb Holley.
“When you come off the bench, you don’t know when you’re going to go in. When you’re starting, obviously you know, ‘Hey, first play. I can think about it, execute it and set the tone.’
“It’s a different mindset, but the week of preparation still has to be the same: Prepare, watch film, get out there and get ready.”
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Jones will expect more out of Bridge if he starts in Hamilton than he showed in Winnipeg. On Saturday, Jones said the 25-year-old quarterback “played like a young kid” during his stint against the Bombers.
“He made some good throws,” Jones said. “We’ve got to catch the football when we throw it. Caleb had at least two drops when (Bridge) was in there.
“Then he’s got to do a little bit better job of going through his reads and, if he needs to run, use his legs and go run.”
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In Jones’ estimation, the Roughriders’ special-teams play Saturday was “sub-par.”
Saskatchewan gave up a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown, failed to retrieve both an onside kick and an onside punt, and managed just three yards on three punt returns.
The Bombers’ punt-return touchdown was the result of some trickery.
Josh Bartel punted the ball to the Roughriders’ left, but Winnipeg returner Kevin Fogg ran to the cover team’s right as if the ball was going in that direction.
That drew many of Saskatchewan’s special-teamers to that side of the field, which allowed Maurice Leggett to pick up the ball on the other side. He eluded one would-be tackler and went untouched the rest of the way.
“We weren’t prepared for it,” Bartel admitted. “We took the bait. It was a pretty good play. I was pretty close to stuffing it for them when I nearly kicked it out of bounds, but they got a lucky bounce and there you go.”
The Roughriders’ onside kick attempt occurred after a second-quarter touchdown cut Winnipeg’s lead to 15-13. The Bombers recovered the ball at the Saskatchewan 47-yard line and, three plays later, scored a major. The convert gave the home team a 22-13 lead.
“We had five-on-three numbers,” Jones said when asked why the Roughriders attempted the short kick at that juncture. “Quite honestly, we had the exact guy (Devon Bailey) with the ball that we wanted to have the football. We just didn’t secure it.”
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Roughriders cornerback Kacy Rodgers II was somewhat puzzled in the locker room after the game.
Late in the second quarter, Rodgers was penalized for accidental pass interference in the end zone after Bombers receiver Darvin Adams appeared to trip himself. Three plays later, Dan LeFevour scored on a one-yard run that, when converted, put Winnipeg ahead 29-20.
“I didn’t really touch him at all and he fell down,” Rodgers said. “In this league, the receiver is going to get that call every time. It’s unfortunate because we were both battling. For him to fall like that, untouched, what can you do? You just have to play the next play.”
Then, early in the third quarter, Rodgers was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a high tackle on Bombers receiver Clarence Denmark.
“That has kind of been my M.O. pretty much the whole season,” said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Rodgers. “I don’t know if it’s my size and (officials) don’t think a big, physical corner can make plays cleanly, but I’ve been getting ticky-tack calls and calls that shouldn’t have been made.
“I’ve just got to fight through it. I can only play the game how they call it. I guess I’ve got to continue to get better on my technique.”
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In the days leading up to the game, the Roughriders pumped crowd noise through the speakers at Mosaic Stadium to prepare for the loud crowd at Investors Group Field.
Winnipeg’s stadium was loud, all right, but the noise didn’t affect the Roughriders’ offence to any great degree. Saskatchewan didn’t take any time count or illegal procedure penalties.
“I don’t think it posed any problems for us,” tailback Kienan LaFrance said. “Anytime you’re at an away stadium, it’s tough getting into that groove sometimes. When things aren’t going your way, the crowd definitely has an impact on it.
“But we were prepared for (the noise) and I don’t think it was the cause (for the loss).”
