Riders’ Mace looks to see less penalties against Ti-Cats

Corey Mace expects more discipline from his team this week.

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Edmonton Elks 29-21 in Week 1, the team committed six penalties for 84 yards according to the CFL website.

The CFL also fined four members of the Riders following the game – tackle Trevor Reid for delivering a tourist hit on Edmonton defensive lineman Noah Curtis, guard Logan Ferland for striking Edmonton defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr., defensive back C.J. Reavis for violating the CFL Code of Conduct, and defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. for delivering a high hit on Edmonton receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr.

Edmonton defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche was also fined for a headbutt on Riders’ centre Peter Godber.

“It’s B.S. — we have talked about it constantly and talked about it heavily,” the Riders’ head coach said. “There’s consequences to that but it’s got to stop. We got lucky to win a game with things like that happening and the situations that they did. We don’t want to make the game harder than it is.”

Mace said he spoke to Ferland about the apparent punch he threw and pointed out this isn’t normally an issue for the 27-year-old.

“He’s only taken a couple of penalties in his entire career,” Mace said. “For something like that to go down, he kind of lost focus there. We have a nice conversation about it.

“There were consequences for that and he stood on the table for it … he will hold everyone else to the same standard.”

Mace said everyone he has spoken with about penalties has been professional about it, but he knows all that matters is how they perform on the field on Sunday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

“The real answer is what do we look like going into the next game – are we making those same mistakes,” Mace said. “If we are, the consequences aren’t hard enough.”

Changes possibly coming to defensive backfield

The Riders could be making some key changes to how they line up on the defensive side of the ball.

Nelson Lokombo, who played field-side cornerback in Week 1, has been taking snaps at the safety spot. Jayden Dalke, who was the starter there against Edmonton, has been playing with the second-team defence.

“(Lokombo) looks real good back there,” Mace said. “We want to take a look at what that looks like. He’s had the first two days to run at it and he looks pretty good.”

Defensive back Marcus Sayles, who signed with the Riders last week, could move into that cornerback spot vacated by Lokombo.

“We’re giving him a lot of reps. A lot on his plate coming in late and trying to learn everything we do on the back end,” Mace said. “Kind of a crash course but he’s a vet.”

Right tackle Jermacus Hardrick (ankle) did not participate in Thursday’s practice. Linebacker Jameer Thurman (chest) was limited. Mace said both are expected to play on Sunday.