Riders looking to stop high-powered Stampeders offense to earn Western Final berth
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defense is gearing up to face off against Bo Levi Mitchell and the high calibre Calgary Stampeders offense in the Western Semi-Final on Sunday.
The two teams met three times in a span of four weeks this season, with the Calgary Stampeders coming out on top two out of three games.
Defensive lineman Micah Johnson knows that the Rider defense will be ready for Sunday.
“I think we do a lot of different things well, we pass rush well and I know we can stop the run so we just have to understand the game at hand,” Johnson said. “We need to understand the type of team we going against and type of run we are going against.”
One of the keys to stopping this offense will be stopping the run game.
Ka’Deem Carey rushed for 869 yards this season with seven touchdowns, including 249 yards against the Riders.
Linebacker Micah Teitz knows Carey well and said the team needs to close in on the running back quickly.
“Everybody has to tackle this week, everyone has to be on the ball it’s pretty hard to miss if you have seven-eight guys on the ball,” Teitz said.
In the first two games against the Riders, Carey averaged more than five yards a carry but in the Rider win, he only averaged 4.1.
“We have to do our best to take their weapons away and put them into situations they don’t want to [be in],” Teitz said.
The Rider have relied heavily on their defense this season but the unit has been highly successful with two players leading the league in sacks.
"I think the numbers speak for themselves, I think the stats speak for themselves, I feel like we’re the most complete defence in the league,” Johnson said.
Head coach Craig Dickenson knows the Stampeder offense will revolve around the run.
“Knowing my brother Dave, he will try and use them heavily and basically have the offense go through him in this game,” Dickenson said. “They do a good job of making plays on first down, [we have to] hold them to short yardage, then try and get Calgary into a second and long game.”
If the Riders can limit the Stampeder offense the west final could very well be a reality.
The Riders host the Western Semi-Final, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.