REGINA – The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive line has become a rather cohesive group over the last few years.
The more a group of players plays together, the more familiar they become with one another and how each other perform. That becomes especially important when you’re talking about the O-line and their all-important duties.
Through the first seven games of the CFL campaign, the results of fostering that cohesion can be seen on the field.
The Riders have the third best ranking in the league in net offence at 2,856 yards. The passing game has recorded 2,254 yards, fourth best in the CFL. That success is in no small part to the offensive line protecting Trevor Harris and giving him time to work, with Saskatchewan having given up only 11 sacks this season, second lowest in the league.
The reason for their success comes from what they do on and off the field, says right guard Jacob Brammer, and especially how close they’ve become as a team.
“I feel like we've just tried to get better and better,” Brammer told the Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas after a recent practice. “I mean we hang out a lot outside of football, so that plays a lot into our relationship and how we play on the field.”
Brammer is a third-year veteran and in his second season as a full-time starter, having played 17 regular season games and also suiting up in two playoff contests, including the Grey Cup, in 2025.
His progression has helped anchor the right side of the line next to fellow stalwart Jermarcus Hardick.
“Really just hard work and coming in every day with our coaching staff,” Brammer said. “Being up here in the offseason and then just also just talking with the guys and everything, creating a good game plan each and every week.”
Having developed an off-field bond with his teammates only helps in that direction.
“It's been awesome,” Brammer said of the connection with his teammates. “My first year here I lived in the dorms and we'd all kind of get together as rookies and then I moved out of the dorms, kind of moved in with (centre Logan) Ferland for a little bit. That kind of grew into everyone coming over there and now it's just carried on. Each and every group that comes in we all just gather up and really make sure we have that brotherhood outside of football.”
As for what’s coming up against the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium, it’ll mark the second game with Quali Conley starting at running back. Brammer indicates there are very few changes they’ve implemented since starter A.J. Ouellette went to the six-game injured list, in no small part due to the work Ouellette has done to get his backup up to speed.
“It’s not that much different,” Brammer said. “A.J. does a good job with them as well, just kind of getting them up to speed on the things that he would do whenever he was playing and things like that. We just have full faith in everyone, our coaching staff has done a great job with just the next-man-up mentality.”
While the Redblacks come into the game with an 0-7 record and plenty of lineup turmoil, they’re also facing a Roughriders team ravaged by injuries to key starters. Anything can happen in the CFL.
“We know their record just doesn't replicate who they are as a team. We know they have guys at every level – their front seven, the back end, offensively and everything,” Brammer said. “They have guys that can go win games. We're not taking them lightly at all. We know they're a good team. Some things just haven't gone their way this season.”
The two teams also have a bit of familiarity with each other through former teammates, with quarterback Jake Maier, linebackers A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis and injured kicker Brett Lauther having all played with Saskatchewan last season.
While Brammer doesn’t expect the knowledge of one another to affect gameplay, it does add an interesting dynamic.
“We know some of the guys that played over there, but they know exactly from practice and stuff like that how we play,” he said. “So just a chess game at the end of the day.”
The Rider Broadcast Network will have all the action on Friday beginning at 4 p.m., with Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder bringing you the game at kickoff at 7 p.m.
