Roughriders’ Obsidian uniforms bring “icy” vibe to the heart of summer

It is often outside the purview of a professional football coach to strenuously hype an upcoming game.

After all, gridiron strategists are principally concerned with X’s and O’s, lineup-related matters and, well, pretty much everything other than promotion, for which the marketing and communications departments are chiefly responsible.

That being established, Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace is unhesitatingly touting Friday’s CFL West Division clash with the visiting Calgary Stampeders — a game for which the home team will don its phenomenally popular Obsidian Green alternate uniforms.

“It should be madness,” Mace said. “I know the Obsidian jerseys brought a lot of flavour and a lot of excitement for us last year.

“For the first time unveiling them this year, on a Friday night versus a good team, this is exactly what you envision when you’re a part of this organization.

“We’re looking forward to the crowd being out there and being as loud as ever and making it impossible for the opposing team. That would be ideal.”

Ideally, the Roughriders wanted to be 4-0 at this juncture of the season. Mission accomplished.

If anyone wants to arbitrarily assign style points on account of the alternate jerseys, that’s fine, too.

“When you bring that Obsidian, it’s like a different energy,” defensive tackle Micah Johnson said. “The whole week, it’s kind of different. Everybody can’t wait to put ’em on. We hope the fans like it as much as we do.”

What makes the energy different leading up to an Obsidian game?

“As football players and athletes in general, everything is kind of routine,” Johnson replied. “It’s almost the same thing over and over again.

“When you get these sweet new uniforms, everybody wants some pictures in them. Everybody wants to make a big play in the uniform so you can get a good picture.”

C.J. Reavis was among the first Roughriders players to be pictured in Obsidian. He was part of the official unveiling at the Rider Store on May 30, 2024.

“I love the Obsidian uniforms,” Reavis said earlier this week. “I can’t wait. They’re so swaggy.”

Offensive lineman Daniel Johnson was also with the Roughriders last year but did not have an opportunity to wear Obsidian because he spent the season on the practice roster.

“I always thought those jerseys were sick,” said Johnson, who is to start at left tackle against the 3-1 Stampeders on Friday. “I couldn’t wait last year to wear them.

“Even the helmets and everything about it, it’s all fly. Everything looks fly. Look good, play good, feel good.”

Fly, for the uninitiated, is a trendy term for “stylish, attractive or fashionable” — or so says no less of an authority than AI.

Running back Ka’Deem Carey offers another description.

“They look so icy,” he said with a smile in advance of his first game in Obsidian. “I cannot wait to put them on.

“You look good, you play good. You’ve got the fans out there yelling, so it’s going to be a good movie.”

Instead of once again consulting AI, an inquisitive (see also: antiquated) reporter asked Carey to define “icy” as it relates to game garb.

“The combinations that tie into the uniform are just going to make it look spectacular,” he said. “All of us are going out there with that midnight green. That uniform is going to have a certain swagger and a certain vibe out there.”

The benefits of the Obsidian jerseys don’t end there.

“I love them,” 6-foot-4, 315-pound right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick said. “They make me look skinny.”

FINE LINE

The Roughriders’ offensive line, under position coach Edwin Harrison, continues to excel despite an inundation of injuries.

The performance is reflected by the numbers.

Saskatchewan leads the CFL in offensive points (29.3 per game) and rushing yards (138.5 per game).

As well, the Roughriders have allowed just five sacks even though Hardrick is the only offensive lineman to have started at his primary position in each of the four games.

The scenario is reminiscent of last year, when Saskatchewan earned a home playoff game and advanced to the Western Final despite starting 12 different offensive linemen and dressing 13 over the course of the season.

“I only go off of reality,” Mace said, “and the reality is that here it has been a shuffle at that position. But in saying so, I believe that guys going into the off-season also understood that.

“They look at things. They train their eyes. They train their technique from different spots. It’s not like they’re in a meeting and they’re just learning, ‘What’s my job here?’ They’re learning what everyone is doing.

“Ed does an outstanding job of that and those guys do an outstanding job of keeping it together and having their own personal meetings and stuff so that we can plug and play if something does happen.”

And, yes, stuff keeps happening.

A rookie has been the starting left tackle in each of the first four games. Payton Collins suited up in impressive fashion for the season opener, only to be sidelined by a knee injury in the third quarter.

Daniel Johnson has been the front-line left tackle for the past three games, excelling in the same fashion as did Collins.

Zack Fry is ticketed to start at left guard on Friday in place of Trevon Tate (shoulder), who is on the six-game injured list.

Logan Ferland — the West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2024 — has started at centre in each of the first four games.

Ferland was expected to play his accustomed position of left guard before free-agent addition Sean McEwen, a perennial All-CFL centre, suffered a season-ending knee injury early in Coors Light Training Camp.

Fry was the starting right guard in the season opener because Jacob Brammer was sidelined by a back injury. Brammer is to make his fourth consecutive start on Friday, when the opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“Brammer has played tackle for us,” Mace noted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if (Hardrick) could do whatever the heck he wants.

“I’m really, really proud of the unit. They embody the mentality of what we want as a total for our team.”

KA’DEEM’S ON OUR TEAM

Carey is poised to make his sixth appearance at Mosaic Stadium — but his first as a member of the home side.

As a visitor with the Stampeders (2019 to 2023) and Toronto Argonauts (2024), Carey rushed for 403 yards (80.6 per game) and five touchdowns in five games. He also caught 12 passes for 142 yards.

Signed by the Roughriders on June 9, Carey debuted with the Green and White five days later in a 28-23 victory over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His first home game with his new team is on Friday.

“This is going to be really cool — almost a dream come true,” the two-time 1,000-yard rusher said.

With Calgary, Carey twice rushed for 100-plus yards in a game at Mosaic Stadium. Included was a 22-carry, 117-yard performance in the 2021 Western Semi-Final, won 33-30 in overtime by Saskatchewan.

“I had two touchdowns, my kids were sitting over there, and we took a loss,” Carey said, pointing to the east-side stands.

“Hopefully the same thing is going to happen (to the Stampeders), with me wearing green.”

Carey has been activated as a complement to A.J. Ouellette, whose 347 rushing yards lead the CFL.

“You replace one all-star with another, right?” Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said of Friday’s tailback tandem.

“The best insurance policy in the league is Ka’Deem Carey. That’s not a bold statement to say.”

Carey’s presence is especially crucial in the absence of national running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who is on the six-game injury list with a thigh issue.