Don’t try to tell Trevor Harris that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are trending the wrong way when it comes to finishing offensive drives.
“I don’t think we have like a red-zone issue at this point,” the veteran quarterback told reporters Tuesday. “We get down there quite a bit.
“In a game where possessions are at a premium, we’ve got to capitalize for sure. To say that we don’t focus on it would be a lie. But to say we’re sitting here going like, ‘What are we doing? We’re terrible.’ No, it’s not that.”
The Riders rank tied for third in the CFL with 53 opportunities in the red zone. They’ve cashed in 37 of those chances from inside opponents’ 20-yard line, also tied for third. Their 128 total plays are most in the league.
So, Harris is right. The Riders have gotten to that area of the field a lot and have done a good job putting six points on the board.
That’s what makes the last two games stick out like a sore thumb.
The Riders failed to score a touchdown in the Labour Day rematch in Winnipeg, a 19-6 loss. They were 0-for-1 in the red zone. In their last game, a 31-24 defeat against the B.C. Lions, the Riders were 2-for-5 in that section of the field. The Lions, meanwhile, were 4-for-5.
Harris stated the obvious, that the red-zone disparity was the “difference in the game” in Vancouver. That’s as far as he’d go in his analysis, though.
“Pretty skewed because we didn't get one in the end zone in Winnipeg,” Harris said. “So, two last week. I thought we moved the ball excellent. It’s about us just capitalizing on those opportunities. We have the personnel. We’ve got the scheme. We’ve got the people to do it.
“If we win that game or if we hit one more explosive (play) down the field and we win the game 34-31, we’re like, ‘Wow, what a great offensive performance.’ It’s a very, very fine line.
“We’ve got to make sure that we are pressing on the pedal but not saying like we’ve got to overhaul. There’s no panic here.”
The Riders head into their 15th game of the season having lost their last two contests and four of the last six.
They’re still looking to clinch a playoff berth, something they can do with a win over the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. A loss, however, moves the Stamps, currently the last-place team in the West Division, into a tie with the Riders – albeit with an extra game played.
The Riders are also mathematically in contention for the West Division crown, even though it’s a long shot, and are trying to secure a home playoff game.
This stretch will prove who the Riders are – offensively and otherwise.
“We put ourselves in this position to accomplish what we want to accomplish and, to me, it’s on us,” Harris said. “How are we going to respond to this little mini adversity that we have? I know who we are, who the guys in this locker room are.
“We know our backs are against the wall to some degree and it’s on us to come out and come out swinging. That’s exactly this team is going to be. With four games left, if you’re not coming out swinging, then who are you? Do you even want to contend? Do you want to win a championship? Do you want to be the teams that are there in the end?
“I know what this team’s made of. We’re going to come out with a great ferocity and intensity, regardless of where we’re at in the standings.”
