SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ pre-season opener was a Tre’mendous experience.
Take it from defensive end Tre’ Crawford, who registered one of the Roughriders’ five sacks in Monday’s 25-12 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s the best feeling ever, because that’s what we work for in the off-season — to get sacks and help our team win,” Crawford said after Wednesday’s chilly Coors Light Training Camp workout at Griffiths Stadium.
“I just did my job on that play, so I was really excited.”
The Roughriders’ five sacks on Monday equalled their output over two pre-season games in 2023.
Last season, Crawford had three sacks in nine games as a second-year CFLer with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
He signed with Saskatchewan on Dec. 26 — nearly one month after the appointment of Corey Mace as Head Coach and Defensive Co-ordinator.
“I just knew about Coach Mace’s resume and the guys who he coached and the coaches who were coming in,” Crawford said.
“Coach is a great guy. He actually cares about his players. With the defence I knew we were going to be running, it made me excited to be a part of the team.”
The excitement reached yet another level when Crawford had his first opportunity to play in that defensive scheme.
“I love it,” the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder said with a smile. “I feel like I’m a guy you can move around all over the field — over the guards and outside … and I can cover.
“I feel like this is the perfect defence for me.”
There is spirited competition across the defensive line as the Roughriders prepare for Saturday’s pre-season finale against the host Edmonton Elks.
“We’ve got a lot of great guys and we’ve got a lot of guys who can get after it,” Crawford said. “We’ll just see where it leads us into the season.
“I feel like competition breeds currency, so the more competition you have, it just makes you a better player. I feed off competition.”
QB COMPETITION
Quarterbacking-wise, this much is certain: Trevor Harris is No. 1 on the depth chart.
After that, well, stay tuned for Saturday’s game, which may very well decide the No. 2 position.
Mason Fine, Shea Patterson and Antonio Pipkin are vying to be next in line, behind Harris.
Jack Coan, the only newcomer in the quarterbacking quintet, has also made a strong bid to remain in Riderville.
“It’s a heavy competition,” Mace said. “Those guys know that and they’re battling their tails off.
“Organizationally, it’s a good problem to have.”
Harris started Monday’s game and went 7-for-9 for 123 yards before being succeeded by Fine.
Fine was in the game for two possessions, the second of which ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Frankie Hickson.
Pipkin, Patterson and Coan received the rest of the playing time against Winnipeg.
“It’s a great (quarterbacks) room,” Patterson said. “We just have a bunch of great guys.”
Patterson went 3-for-3 for 52 yards and one TD — a 38-yard scoring connection with rookie Ajou Ajou — but Monday’s game was meaningful for reasons that transcended stats.
“There’s nothing like playing at Mosaic,” said Patterson, who was the University of Michigan Wolverines’ starting quarterback in 2018 and 2019.
“The Big House in Michigan was awesome, with 115,000 fans and being sold out every weekend. I feel like I’m built for this and made for this.
“Playing at Mosaic and hearing those fans after being in the States for six months, I couldn’t wait to get back up here and play at that stadium and in front of those fans.”
Patterson has thrown a touchdown pass in both his pre-season games at Mosaic Stadium.
On May 27 of last year, he connected with Keith Corbin III for a 22-yard major in a 30-27 victory over the B.C. Lions.
The Lions led 27-17 before Fine threw back-to-back fourth-quarter TD passes to Mitch Picton.
LEGENDARY LINEAGE
Joe Robustelli, No. 79, made his training-camp debut with the Roughriders on Wednesday.
“It’s crazy,” Mace marvelled. “He got here last night and they were throwing him in there. He did a good job, too, despite having to pick up the playbook kind of late.”
The 26-year-old receiver is the grandson of New York Giants legend Andy Robustelli, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Andy Robustelli joined the Giants in 1951, when their Head Coach was Steve Owen. “Stout Steve” subsequently served as the Roughriders’ field boss (1961 and 1962), earning CFL coach-of-the-year honours in the latter season.
Owen was posthumously enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
On Wednesday, the Roughriders announced the signing of defensive back Nicario Harper, who played collegiately at Jacksonville State, Louisville and Illinois. As well, the Roughriders released linebacker K.D. Davis.
