History repeated for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
For the second straight season, the Roughriders will end with a seven-game losing skid and the green and white missing the postseason.
Saskatchewan will end the year 6-12 and fourth place in the Western Division of the Canadian Football League(CFL) Playoffs.
After Saturday’s 29-26 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium to conclude the regular season, Linebacker Larry Dean described repetitive result for the Roughriders as “dèjà vu.”
“We just came up short.”
On Sunday, the team held their final meetings. Players collected their belongings and left for the off-season, anticipating changes on the horizon in the organization.
Some players had already departed with arrangements made before Saskatchewan’s playoff hopes were shattered on Saturday.
Running back Jamal Morrow attributed the Roughriders’ problems this year was their inability to play consistently throughout four quarters.
“That’s what happens when you’re not able to finish games.”
The former Washington State Cougar noted Saskatchewan struggled with their execution.
“Football is such a game of inches.” He added, “If you do little things right that makes a big difference.”
Defensive end Anthony Lanier II agreed with the team’s lack of execution.
“You get the call, you got to go out there and play, it’s mono a mono, you got to line up and you got to see what happens when they snap it up.”
Morrow is frustrated that the Roughrider’s fate repeated in 2023.
“We thought we learned from last year and thought we would be able to make a difference, unfortunately, you know, the same thing happened.”
Despite the same result, guard Logan Ferland felt this year’s squad was cohesive.
“You look in the character we had in the room, no internal issues I think in the locker room, I think that shows the character in the locker room we have, the type of players we have.”
Lanier II thought the team came together and developed a strong bond.
“Holding each more accountable and started embracing more as a family as went along during the season, so when things got tough it made us closer.”
Quarterback Trevor Harris was one of the players whose season ended well before the regular-season finale on Saturday.
The 37-year-old 2023 campaign ended on July 15 against the Calgary Stampeders when he suffered a knee injury.
He said being out with his first significant in-season injury was mentally challenging.
“The race against the clock trying to get back.”
Watching on the sidelines was difficult for Harris.
“My personality is a little bit more alpha.”
The quarterback felt it was tough balancing taking charge and not stepping on the feet of the other quarterbacks, including Jake Dolegala and Mason Fine.
Harris said he could have practiced if the Roughriders made the playoffs.
Other players out of the lineup included wide receiver Jake Wieneke.
The former last appearance for the former South Dakota Jackrabbit on the Roughriders roster was against the Montreal Alouettes on August 11.
With the return of Kian Schaffer-Baker and the emergence of Jerreth Sterns to the team’s receiving group, Wieneke found himself out of the lineup.
He couldn’t pinpoint where things went wrong but is looking to rebound in 2024.
“For myself, I want to come in and get better every single day, I think I did that this year, and going into the off-season I want to do the same thing, every single day get better, and next season I’m better than I am right now.”
After starting the season as Saskatchewan’s left guard, Evan Johnson transitioned into the team’s sixth offensive lineman when Philip Blake returned from injury. Johnson said it was tough to be out with his competitive spirit.
“I’m a football player, I want to be out there, I want to be playing, I want to be starting, I want to be contributing, I want to help the team whenever I can.”
The former Huskie supported the coach’s decision with his demotion from a starting position.
“Anything that helps the team where it needs to go, obviously is coaches job to decide that.”
With the Roughriders missing the CFL playoffs for the second straight playoffs, adjustments feels inevitable in some form within the organization.
The feeling of change is tough for Morrow.
“When things don’t end like you want it, it hurts.”
