Edmonton on the other hand, will look foremost to stop the run. Fred Reid is one of the rising stars in the game and if they stop him, it will put pressure on the inexperienced Stefan Lefors. On offense, Edmonton should try to establish the run, but if all else fails, they should make sure Ricky Ray is protected then air the ball out.
Stefan Lefors may have success in the league, but it will likely take him a while. He is competing against one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and an improved Eskimos defense.
If Lefors plays solidly, the Bombers could pose a challenge to the Eskimos, but if not it could be a long day.
My Pick: Edmonton
Friday July 3
Game One: Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. BC Lions
Returning to the stage of the Western Semi-final, the Riders will look to avenge last season's loss at home.
The game will have plenty of hype going into it, as former Rider Anton Mackenzie will return to Saskatchewan and former Lion Jason Clermont will face his former team for the first time.
It is always a bitter battle when the Lions come into Regina, and with the question marks surrounding both teams, it should be interesting to see how the game plays out.
For Saskatchewan, getting Buck Pierce off his game will be key. BC doesn’t have a proven running game, so if Pierce is put off his game, the Lions will be in trouble.
On offense, Saskatchewan should look to get the ball to their playmakers. If Darian Durant can get the ball out to playmakers Weston Dressler and Andy Fantuz, it could be a long day for the Riders.
For the Lions, pressure will be the key. Darian Durant could be thrown out of his game—and into bad reads and turnovers—if the Lions put consistent pressure him.
On offense, if the Lions can develop a running game, it would shift the momentum in their favour. And of course, if all else fails, Buck Pierce just needs to get the ball out to Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon.
Both teams have a lot of question marks heading into the season, and this game could go a long way to determine the answers. Saskatchewan does have the home field advantage, though it hasn’t always been an advantage in this series.
My Pick: Saskatchewan
My Record: 0-0
If you missed any of my season previews, they can be found here. Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts
4 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete