CFL.ca Photo/Matt Smith
REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Chris Jones was frank about his team’s inability to move the football in a 15-9 loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday afternoon.
“They lined up and whipped our butt,” Jones candidly told Riderville.com. “When you run the football and can’t get a yard, that’s a little bit of you can’t block them and they’re a little bit better than you.”
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The Riders managed just 120 net yards through the first three quarters of play, surrendered five punishing sacks on quarterbacks Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge and struggled to establish the run.
“We’ve got to emphasize (the run) more, players gotta know that it’s important to put us in second-and-medium,” said Jones. “You’ve got to put a hat on and the running backs can’t always be looking to bounce (outside) — you have to go north-south and put yourself in (a) second-and-manageable.”
The ball really only got going for the Riders offensively once Bridge — who finished the day 6-for-7 for 91 yards and a touchdown — entered the game in the fourth quarter.
“I thought Brandon did pretty good,” reflected Jones, who also stated that Glenn will get the start next week in Ottawa. “He did a real nice job coming in and driving us for a touchdown.”
Much of Saskatchewan’s offensive woes, according to its head coach, stemmed from an inability to protect Glenn and later Bridge in the pocket.
“KG is a 38-year-old guy — when you can protect and run the football, he’ll stand there and cut you up,” explained Jones. “When there’s pressure consistently up in his face…(and) you can’t put him in a second-and-manageable because you can’t get two yards on a 1st-and-10 run…”
The Riders head coach pointed to the standard of play set by the Stampeders as an example for his team to follow going forward.
“They do things right, don’t take penalties, protect their quarterback, run the football effectively and make enough plays to win the game,” said Jones, whose Saskatchewan team will face the Stamps one more time this season — Oct. 20 — in Calgary. “They’re very well-coached.”
The Riders will now head to the nation’s capital for a Friday Night Football date with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
“We’re 6-6 and fighting for our life,” summarized Jones. “We’ve got to get well, get them on film, and (then) go execute at a high level.”
Kick-off for Saskatchewan’s Week-15 visit to Ottawa is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET.
