The Saskatchewan Roughriders keep throwing block parties.
They have blocked three field-goal attempts over the past three games.
An equal number of three-point tries was blocked by representatives of all CFL teams over the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons — a considerable period in which 162 games were played.
Most recently, the Roughriders batted down two placement kicks on Thursday against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. The prevention of six points was crucial in a game that resulted in a 22-22 tie.
“That is, I think, insanely huge to be able to impact a game like that,” said 6-foot-2, 320-pound defensive tackle Miles Brown, who blocked a 22-yard attempt by Ottawa’s Lewis Ward.
“Usually, if you get a tackle for a loss or a sack, it saves a possession, but we’re directly taking points off the board.
“If we can continue to do that, which I hope we will, that’s going to help us throughout the rest of the season and playoffs and hopefully once we get to the Grey Cup.”
Earlier in the game, defensive tackle Caleb Sanders — a 6-foot-1, 287-pounder — had repelled a 38-yard try by Ward.
“It’s not very often that you block a kick, let alone two kicks, in a game,” Brown marvelled. “Of course, we’re excited about that.
“We’re excited about the push we got in the middle and we look forward to continuing to do it, for sure.”
The Roughriders started a trend on July 25, when 6-foot-6 defensive tackle Anthony Lanier II interrupted the path of a 48-yard field-goal attempt by the Montreal Alouettes’ Jose Maltos at Percival Molson Stadium.
“Lanier got the first one,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “You would assume it would be the Lanier types — someone who is 6-5, 6-6 with long range. Then you’ve got Caleb and Miles blocking kicks and they’re 5-6 on a good day … joking!
“It’s the technique that they use to accomplish what they’re being coached. Obviously, we love it, so if we can continue to put it on tape, it’s great.
“The main thing is the mentality of these guys understanding that, if you look across the league, a lot of teams use field-goal defend as a play off: ‘Ahh, let me just engage. Of course, the kicker’s going to make it.’
“Not with us. You’re going to have to earn your cheque on that play.”
Sanders and Brown certainly earned their pay at Ottawa’s TD Place.
“To me, it’s laughable,” Brown said. “It’s pretty funny. I’m 6-1, 6-2. I don’t have very long arms. So for me to get my hands on a kick, that feels really good.
“To see Caleb get one earlier in the game, it was amazing for both of us. We use our strengths very well — our speed and our power off the ball.”
Could other factors be influencing the equation? Such as, say, a 40-inch vertical leap?
“Who?! Not me,” Brown said. “I’m just real strong.
“Hopefully I’ll get enough knock-backs and these little arms can be in the way, just enough.”
Little arms have not stood in the way of big plays, thanks in large part to the philosophies and tutelage of Special Teams Co-ordinator Kent Maugeri and Defensive Line Coach Phillip Daniels.
“That’s just a credit to Kent and Coach Phil and, obviously, the players taking heed of the techniques,” Mace said.
“There are certain techniques that they’re being taught as to how to get these things accomplished.”
The key, according to Brown, is the “get-off” — anticipation of when the ball will be snapped and the force of the push that is instantly applied.
“We work on giving that guard the business the best we can,” Brown said. “We get off the ball really hard as a group.
“On our D-line, we take pride in that. We work on get-offs every day so when there’s an opportunity to affect the game in any manner, you do it.”
Before Thursday, the Roughriders had not enjoyed such a game since Aug. 25, 2017, when they blocked two kicks — a punt and a convert attempt — in Edmonton.
Willie Jefferson blocked the punt, scooped up the loose ball, and scored a 22-yard TD. Later, Duron Carter fielded the football on an errant convert attempt and sprinted 113 yards for two points in a 54-31 Roughriders win at Commonwealth Stadium.
Saskatchewan next blocked a kick on Sept. 2, 2018, when Zack Evans stuffed a 51-yard field-goal attempt by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Justin Medlock at Mosaic Stadium.
Eighty-six games elapsed before the Roughriders next blocked a field-goal attempt.
Now they have three blocks in just three games.
“That’s insane,” Brown said. “We must be pretty good, huh?”
