VANCOUVER — Welcome to Shea Day, Part 2.
Shea Patterson is to make his second start at quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders when they oppose the B.C. Lions on Saturday (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
In his first front-line appearance as a CFLer, he piloted the Roughriders to a 30-23 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on July 4 at Mosaic Stadium.
“It was just one game, but I got the live, real feel of what it’s like being out there as a starter,” Patterson said.
“But the approach is still the same and my goal is still the same — to come out 1-and-0 this week.”
At 4-0 overall, the Roughriders enter a much-anticipated West Division showdown as the league’s lone undefeated team. Saskatchewan and B.C. (4-1) are both on four-game winning streaks.
With a first-place battle looming, Patterson was asked whether Roughriders versus Lions is a statement game.
“From the outside looking in, probably,” he replied. “But, like I said, the approach isn’t going to change.
“Everybody in the room — the coaches and the players — is working hard. Nobody expects more from us than ourselves.
“We put in the work. Regardless of who we’re playing and regardless of the situation, we’re going to come in ready to play.”
Patterson took over behind centre after Trevor Harris suffered a knee injury shortly before halftime on June 23 against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Last week, Patterson completed 15 of 23 passes for 192 yards, with one touchdown and without an interception. He also ran for a nine-yard score.
“The time for him to settle into the game, I would anticipate it’s going to be a lot faster now that he’s had a full game under his belt and a whole week to prepare again (as the starter),” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “He looked good all week (in practice).
“I thought he did a good job moving the football (against Toronto). Offence is a team sport, so everybody around him stood up as well to make the plays when we really needed them.”
QB MATCHUP
Patterson and his opposite number — Lions starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. — were teammates with the Montreal Alouettes for part of the 2021 season.
“I have a lot of respect for him and the path that he took and where he is now,” Patterson said. “He’s a tremendous player, a tremendous athlete, and I look forward to competing with him.”
Over the first five games of this season, Adams Jr. has passed for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is on pace for 6,307 yards and 40 TDs over a full 18-game schedule.
“He’s a creative, dynamic player” Roughriders Linebackers Coach and Run Game Co-ordinator J.C. Sherritt said.
“They have a good running back and good receivers. It’s arguably the most talent we’ve seen this year on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Lions’ William Stanback leads the league in rushing yards (311). He has also caught 14 passes for 165 yards.
B.C.’s Alexander Hollins has 33 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns. He is on pace for 118 catches, 2,063 yards and 14 TDs.
“We’ve got to try to make them as one-dimensional as possible,” Mace said. “It actually starts with stopping the run.
“I know everybody wants to talk about V.A. through the air, but if they can attack with the run and pass game, it’s going to make it difficult.
“The Number 1 thing is that we’ve got to stop the run. And then with V.A., it’s about disrupting timing and the operation time and what they’re trying to get done with their concepts.
“We’ve got to take advantage of the ball when it’s in the air if (the quarterback) rushes one. We’ve been able to do that the last few weeks.
“It’s not going to be an easy task and the guys understand that, but I think they love that challenge.”
PICKS FOR SIX
Saskatchewan has registered an interception-return TD in back-to-back games for the seventh time in franchise history.
Jameer Thurman scored on a 28-yarder against Hamilton on June 23. Marcus Sayles took off on a 54-yard pick-six last week against Toronto.
The first six occurrences are as follows:
1984: Fran McDermott, 67 yards at Hamilton, July 8; Terry Irvin, 18 yards versus Montreal Concordes, July 15.
1994: Dan Rashovich, 58 yards versus Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Sept. 4; Bobby Jurasin, 32 yards at Winnipeg, Sept. 11.
1996: Tommie Smith and Bryce Bevill, 54 yards versus Montreal Alouettes, Aug. 23 (Smith returned an interception 52 yards before fumbling at the two-yard line; Bevill recovered the fumble in the end zone); Smith, 36 yards versus Winnipeg, Sept. 1.
1997: Lamar McGriggs and Dale Joseph, 95 yards vs. Edmonton, July 4 (McGriggs returned an interception 20 yards before lateralling to Joseph, who sprinted the remaining 75); K.D. Williams, 30 yards versus Toronto, July 12.
2011: Chris McKenzie, 42 yards at Winnipeg, Sept. 11; McKenzie, 34 yards versus Toronto, Sept. 17.
2018: Nic Marshall, 66 yards versus Toronto, June 15; Duron Carter, 28 yards at Ottawa REDBLACKS, June 21.
REPELLING THE RUN
The Roughriders have allowed just 46 rushing yards per game — the best average in the league.
Moreover, Saskatchewan has yet to permit an opponent to reach triple digits in yards along the ground in one game.
What does it come down to?
“Speed and pursuit, really, at the end of the day,” Sherritt said.
“Schematically as coaches, we could act like we’re drawing up unbelievable things, but those guys (on defence) are running to and pursuing the football at a very high level and they’re doing it together. When you do that, it’s fun to play defence.”
