Riders hope consistency can lead to improved pass protection

Head coach Craig Dickenson doesn’t believe just one thing is to blame for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ pass protection.

The Riders have given up a CFL-high 29 sacks over their first eight games of the 2022 regular season.

“It’s shared between quarterback, O-line and running backs and we need to do a better job of getting into plays where we don’t necessarily have to throw it,” Dickenson said Thursday.

The Riders will look to keep the pressure off quarterback Cody Fajardo while earning a much-needed win Saturday against the Edmonton Elks.

Kickoff for the game is set for 8 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 6 p.m.

While Dickenson says there are multiple guilty parties when it comes to the Riders’ pass protection, the magnifying glass has been on the offensive line.

During the bye week, the Riders chose to stand pat and maintain confidence in the group they have.

“The guys who we have are the guys who we’ve got and we feel good about the crew that we’ve got and that includes the two that we have on the (practice roster),” Dickenson said.

“I think one of the big things in O-line play is continuity and we haven’t had continuity since Dan (Clark) went down. I think when we can get some continuity and guys can play together for more than one or two weeks, I think we will play better.”

Clark, the group’s centre, suffered a leg injury June 18 and hasn’t played since. Logan Bandy has played centre in five games and Logan Ferland has played in that spot in one contest.

The Riders could see another change to the group Saturday with tackle Na’Ty Rodgers questionable due to a knee injury. Dickenson said either Andrew Lauderdale or Jamal Campbell would start in his place if he is unable to play.

While there have been criticisms from the fans, tackle Terran Vaughn said the linemen don’t pay attention to the outside noise.

“Everybody has an opinion,” Vaughn said. “I really don’t worry about it because at the end of the day, we have to do what we do.

“Whatever everybody says really doesn’t dictate what happens on the field and what everybody says, they really don’t know what’s going on in the building. It really doesn’t bother me and I really don’t look for it.”

Vaughn, who missed all of 2021 with a shoulder injury, has missed three games this season as well.

“I’m just trying to get into a rhythm and find that rhythm and get into that groove I had a couple years ago,” Vaughn said. “I’m getting close to it, but I’m feeling like I’m about to find that level.”

The game Saturday in Edmonton is also an important one for the Riders as they try to keep pace in a tough West Division. They’re 4-4 so far and sit 10 points back of the first-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-0) entering the week.

“We’ve had a rough patch but we’re a tough group of guys,” Vaughn said. “All these games we’ve lost, we could have won all of these games.

“We know what we have to do to win those games, we just need to get back to doing what we are doing.”