I was not surprised the Saskatchewan Roughriders had trouble dealing with the Edmonton Elks running game. At the Aug. 3 game, which the Elks won 42-31, I was startled that it was Elk running back Javon Leake that ran wild. I thought it would be Elk quarterback Tre Ford that caused grief.
The Riders had no good explanation for the Elks being able to run the ball for 276 yards with Leake getting 169 of those yards. Coach Corey Mace said that while Leake is a talented running back, that did not look like his team on the field. He spoke of tackling not being good.
I asked Mace if the defence had a touch of hesitation in facing Ford and were not as aggressive as they would like to be. He said he did not know and could not answer until watching the film in totality. It had appeared to me that their justifiable concern over Ford had left the defence not getting off on the snap of the ball. If the defensive line has any hesitation it is vulnerable.
Rolan Milligan had another interception. He went high into the air to intercept a deep ball that was coming towards a pair of Elks receivers. He said he had a clear shot at it and did not even feel safety Nelson Lokombo near him.
On dealing with Ford he said the defence emphasized scramble rules in clinging with receivers when Ford began to scramble. They succeeded in staying with receivers on scrambles.
On Leake’s first long touchdown Milligan blitzed from the outside. It was the side Leake broke to after crossing the line of scrimmage. Milligan could not say if the blitz created an opening for Leake.
Hesitation is not always bad. Mario Alford had trouble handling the opening kickoff and started his return a touch late. The delay gave the chance for a seam to open up in the middle and Alford slashed through for a touchdown.
He said it felt great and was way overdue.
What the Riders could not do was leverage Alford on other kickoffs. The Elks kicked away from Alford on the next five kickoffs.
The Riders tried having Alford and the other returner stand together and then part just before the kickoff. It did not matter as the Elks just kicked to the side away from Alford. Mace said even if they switched away from the Elks overload the Elks would kick away from Alford. He said he would do the same if he was deafening against Rio.
I asked Alford if they could have run a reverse with him on a kick return. I was caught off guard by his answer. He said no because the Riders have never had a reverse in their scheme.
Beyond Alford the remaining bright spot for the Riders was rookie receiver Ajou Ajou catching three catches for 60 yards including a touchdown and missing by an inch a second touchdown. He had thoughts on what he might have done on the out of bounds play.
He said maybe he should have tried a Michael Jackson lean or he would have to go up top soda pop.
Early in the game he had dropped a well thrown ball. He said he has to look the ball right in and spend more time in practice catching the ball.
As to the impact of consecutive losses Shea Patterson said the mood in the locker room is a lot different from last year. It will be tough going East again on a short week. Patterson is definitely a guy who needs less hesitation. Under pressure he broke free several times but showed too much reluctance to run. It is time for him to take off when there is open space in front of him.
Bill Selnes, who’s based in Melfort, has written about the Saskatchewan Roughriders since the late 1970s. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Football Reporters of Canada wing on Nov. 24, 2013.
