Davis: Grading the Saskatchewan Roughriders 1/3 through their CFL season
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'B,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'We're not what we quite want to be yet and I don't think anybody would have anything to say to argue that. I think we know the capability of where we want to go. And regardless of what game you pick, we're just not quite there yet.
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'But we're OK with that because we love the challenge of trying to find the solutions to the equations. So we're not afraid of the work. These guys are working their tails off, whether it's in the meeting room, the weight room or on the field. So that would be an honest answer'
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As they prepare for Friday's CFL game against the visiting Edmonton Elks, the Roughriders have a 5-1 record, tied atop the West with the Calgary Stampeders. Slated to play the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, Calgary also had a 5-1 record and a tiebreaking advantage over Saskatchewan because of a surprisingly easy, 24-10 victory over the hometown Roughriders in their first (of two) regular-season meetings.
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Mace's assessment was fair, but it would be tough to fit into the teacher's comments on a report card. Here's a quick, position-by-position grading of the Roughriders at the one-third mark:
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Quarterbacks: A-. While losing to Calgary, starter Trevor Harris had his worst game of the season and still passed for 425 yards. His ability to quickly find open receivers is legendary. Backup Jake Maier played one cautious game while Harris was injured and didn't give away the victory. Third-stringer Tommy Stevens is virtually unstoppable on short-yardage plays.
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Running backs: B. With a rebuilt physique allowing him to make seam-hitting second cuts, A.J. Ouellette was rambling for 90 yards per game, until he was held to nine yards on six carries by Calgary's stout defence. Backups Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Ka'Deem Carey were fine fill-ins, until getting hurt.
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Receivers: B. Playing without Kian Schaffer-Baker, Sam Emilus and Shawn Bane Jr., there have been some surprisingly strong games from Dohnte Meyers, Dhel Duncan-Busby, KeeSean Johnson and Joe Robustelli, all second-year players. Meyers was the latest, catching seven passes for 132 yards and two TDs in a 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions.
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