Roughriders’ D-line looking to get after Argos’ Kelly

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be looking to put pressure on the Toronto Argonauts.

Saskatchewan will take on the CFL’s last undefeated team on Saturday in Halifax as part of Touchdown Atlantic. Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m.

Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly, who is among the early frontrunners for the league’s most outstanding player award, has been a big part in how Toronto has been able to get off to a fast start. He has thrown for 1,408 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 105 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

The Riders’ defenders had four sacks in a 19-9 loss to the B.C. Lions last week and know they will need to keep up that same pressure in Halifax.

“It’s important. It’s important just within this game in general because there are some good quarterbacks in this league who can make some great throws,” said Roughriders defensive end Pete Robertson, who had a sack last week.

“(Kelly) is a guy that can make some good throws. We’ve just got to get to him – get him off those throwing spots and get him to move around a little bit like we did this past week and try to hold him to the shorter yards.”

The Riders’ defence could also be getting a big part of their system back, with defensive end Anthony Lanier II possibly returning from injury.

Lanier has missed the past two games with a foot injury but was practising with the team on Wednesday.

“It feels great being back with the guys and missing them. (I was) missing running around and having fun with them,” Lanier II said.

Lanier II was tied for sixth in the CFL in sacks last season with eight. He only has one this season.

The Riders’ pass rush struggled in his absence, recording only six sacks in its previous five games. But Lanier II believes everyone has been meshing together, which led to the success last week.

“They are staying on the same path and we have been executing like Coach has been telling us so everything is starting to happen how we are seeing it in the film room and we are seeing it in the game,” Lanier II said.

Robertson doesn’t believe anything physical led to the change in how the Riders were able to get to the quarterback in Vancouver.

“Guys had to mentally get prepared. We lacked a little bit of that the past couple of weeks,” Robertson said. “It wasn’t nothing new. We were just back to our old self and it felt good.”

Robertson believes that performance, and a good week of practice, can help the Roughriders carry some momentum into another road game.

“Every day you come out to practise and get better,” Robertson said. “It’s something we definitely use for motivation to keep going.”

Notes: Slotback Jake Wieneke (knee), slotback Brayden Lenius (back) and centre Peter Godber (hand) each logged another day of practice, increasing the likelihood they will return to the lineup this week … Offensive tackle Colin Kelly (foot) did not practise on Wednesday.