Riders keep busy during playoff bye week

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were back on the practice field Friday, even though their next opponent remains a mystery.

The Roughriders will host either the Calgary Stampeders or Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL West Division final on Nov. 17. Saskatchewan’s opponent in that game will be determined on Sunday, when Calgary plays host to Winnipeg in the West semifinal.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the team plans to get together to watch the two division semifinals.

“We invited all the players in, we’re going to bring in some pizza and some drinks and make it a fun little deal,” Dickenson said after practice Friday. “We’re going to have an afternoon of good fellowship and watching the East and the West semifinals.”

While the team has the chance to enjoy a week without having to play a game, the players and coaches have still kept busy.

Dickenson said he and the coaching staff have been busy essentially preparing for whatever team the Roughriders will meet.

“We’re grinding it out right now. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Dickenson said. “We’ve basically spent a day on each (remaining) team.

“We look at a little bit of Montreal (Alouettes) early, a little bit of Hamilton (Tiger-Cats) coming out of the East. We just played Edmonton (Eskimos) so we haven’t looked at them because we have all the film done and then we look hard at Winnipeg and Calgary. The next few days, we’ll focus on (them).”

The team is also focused on the health of quarterback Cody Fajardo, who is nursing an oblique injury.

Fajardo was at practice on Friday but did not throw the ball. Dickenson said he would need to see Fajardo throw the ball by Thursday.

A couple other players have kept busy in one way or the other.

Offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley wrote the script for a recent hype video put out by the team.

It takes grit.
It requires passion.
It demands honour.

This is what it takes to be a Roughrider.#BEL13VE pic.twitter.com/KCAabwoPMP

— #BEL13VE (@sskroughriders) November 5, 2019

Shepley did a double major in English and creative writing while at the University of British Columbia.

“It’s something that I’m passionate about. It’s a facet of film that I’m really inspired by and depending on how long I play football, it could be a career path for me,” Shepley said.

Shepley said he got the inspiration for the piece from the very things that inspire him on the field.

“I just took it upon myself to think of all the things that make the 2019 Riders who they are,” Shepley said.

“That kind of inspired me being in the gym every day and I just went through my day-to-day and what it takes for me and I know pretty much everybody on the team goes through the same thing I do, different times and different places. (I was) just drawing from my own experiences and what I see other guys doing.”

Running back William Powell knows the importance of getting the break before a division final. He was a member of the Ottawa Redblacks when they hosted the 2018 East final, winning 46-27 over Hamilton.

“I think the team that has the week off has the upper hand so we’ve got to go out, prepare well and take care of business,” Powell said.

Powell said he and a few other teammates have been focusing on getting their bodies healthy for the final push of the season.

“(You) just try to get your body right and take this week as an advantage. You’ve got to utilize it,” Powell said.

While Dickenson said it doesn’t matter what team the Roughriders face, he is personally cheering for his brother Dave.

“I’m pulling for the team in red (Calgary) because of my brother,” Dickenson said. “We play whoever we’ve got. We’re preparing for both teams. We’ve done advanced scouting on both teams and we’ll have a good game plan ready for either one.”

Notes: Wide receiver Shaq Evans (toe) didn’t participate in drills Friday … Linebacker Derrick Moncrief was back at practice after missing the Roughriders’ game Nov. 2 against Edmonton due to multiple injuries … The Roughriders signed quarterback Justice Hansen to the practice roster … Centre Dan Clark was nominated for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award. The award recognizes a Canadian CFL player who demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: Strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.