Saskatchewan Roughriders look to bounce back from 0-2 start

The Saskatchewan Roughriders may have moved on from their loss to the Eskimos, that doesn't mean their fans have to.

Much of the talk on coffee row and social media is still very much on how they lost to Edmonton last week.

You can fault the Riders for blowing a 13-0 lead. You can also give them credit for erasing a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.

You can wonder how they could possibly allow the Eskimos to march the ball with less than 20 seconds remaining and kick a 51-yard field goal to force overtime.

But most of the chatter is on the Riders' ineptitude at moving the ball just a few inches.

Friday's game ended with Riders' quarterback Darian Durant coming up short on third and short when a chip shot field goal would do.

Durant blames his lack of play-time under centre Dan Clark.

"We just have to make sure that we get plenty of repetition at a full speed level. It won't be that hard to fix but we need to do it right away." said Durant on Tuesday after day one of a new practice week.

You can't fault Chris Jones for being aggressive, but he is a coach set in his ways.

He has said he doesn't care if everyone knows, the Riders will quarterback sneak on third and short.

But after Tuesday's rain soaked workout, he wasn't about to go into a full analysis of their short game woes. He's already moved on from the latest loss and his focus is squarely on Saturday's game against B.C.

Comings and goings

One player paid the price for the Edmonton loss. That was quarterback Bryant Moniz who was released after fumbling for the second straight game.

Since then another quarterback has been brought in, Jake Waters, in a deal with Hamilton.

On Tuesday the teamadded national wide receiver Archelaus Jack, and international running back Lache Seastrunk.

Jones makes no apologies for the player carousel.

"I think anytime you get settled in too quickly we got to make sure in the guys that we have and personnel is something you can never be satisfied with."

Since Edmonton, the Riders also traded for Eskimos' international defensive lineman Cedric McKinley. He's a player who, Jones said, "knows our system and gives us a big push up the middle."

McKinley will replace Jonathan Williams who the Riders lost last week to an undisclosed injury. Jones said Tuesday "If it's not a season ending injury it's certainly a big portion of it."