Every practice is a "blessing" at this time of year
11/05/2024 06:13 PM
Beginning with training camp and continuing throughout the 2024 regular season, all nine CFL teams lived by a schedule that could be plotted several weeks, or even months, in advance.
It is a different story come playoff time.
Each practice, each meeting, must be earned.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders secured another week of preparation by defeating the B.C. Lions 28-19 in the CFL Western Semi-Final at Mosaic Stadium.
Next on the agenda is Saturday's Western Final against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
"It’s a blessing," quarterback Trevor Harris said after Tuesday's practice. "That's really what it comes down to.
"It's a blessing to be in the second bonus week of football. The only thing better than that is getting to the third bonus week of football.
"I'm just taking it as a blessing that I get to go in there today and watch film and get ready for this game and spend another week with these guys before we head home.
"I'm just excited that we get this week. We're going to go out there and tee it up and do everything we can to get the next week."
Although much of the buildup surrounds the game, the finer details are the focus in the bonus period, as it were.
"I just can't wait to get out there with my brothers this weekend, but first things first," Harris said.
"Let's have a great meeting after this. Let's have an outstanding Day 2 tomorrow. Let's keep stacking the days and getting better and better, because we're going to need a great effort to beat Winnipeg."
RAISING EXPECTATIONS
The Roughriders' presence in the Western Final could be considered a surprise after back-to-back non-playoff seasons.
Internally, the conversation is not along those lines.
"We talked about it this morning in team meetings: 'Everybody raise your hand if you thought we were going to be here at this point,' " running back A.J. Ouellette said on Tuesday.
"Everybody in the room, except the new guys, raised their hand. Even some of the new guys raised their hand, so they knew we were going to be here.
"The hard work and how we came together as brothers paid off."
STELLAR START FOR SAM
Samuel Emilus enjoyed an impressive CFL playoff debut, catching nine passes for 106 yards against B.C. on Saturday.
He was one reception shy of the Roughriders' post-season record, which was set by Don Narcisse in Edmonton on Nov. 15, 1992.
A productive outing was hardly unexpected, considering that Emilus has enjoyed back-to-back seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards. But he did cite something distinctive about playoff football.
"The intensity is different," he noted. "Every play counts. Every mistake is magnified, so we've got to limit our mistakes.
"For our first time, I think the team did well. For me, personally, I think I did well, but there's still a long way to go."
INJURY UPDATE
The Roughriders emerged from the Western Semi-Final with injuries to five players who suited up against B.C.
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker is nursing a sore neck. Defensive end Bryan Cox Jr., defensive back Jaxon Ford, cover linebacker C.J. Reavis and left tackle Trevor Reid have knee injuries.
None of the aforementioned players practised on Tuesday.
Asked specifically about Reid, Head Coach Corey Mace said: "I think Trevor is going to try to push through a little bit."
Defensive tackle Miles Brown was nicked in the Western Semi-Final but, as Mace put it, "Miles was out there working today, so I don't see anything there (that is of significant concern)."
The Roughriders' official injury listed, issued Tuesday, was longer than usual —18 names.
That is primarily because every injured player is accounted for at this time of year. During the regular season, players who are on the six-game injured list do not appear on the report.
