The Bell system has received a ringing endorsement.
Complimentary comments from Head Coach Corey Mace extended to Defensive Co-ordinator Joshua Bell following the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 28-26 CFL victory over the Edmonton Elks in Saturday’s West Division showdown at Commonwealth Stadium.
Saskatchewan evened the score after losing 36-34 to Edmonton on July 23 at Mosaic Stadium — where the Elks’ Cody Fajardo passed for 510 yards and four touchdowns to open a home-and-home set.
“It’s always good when you play an opponent another time,” Mace said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “You have an idea of how they attacked you and you’ve maybe seen how they’re potentially going to attack you.
“Then it’s a matter of allowing Bell to put together a really good plan of how he’s going to execute and call the game. This is the time as coaches to play chess. I have no idea how to play that game, but Bell plays it every day. That’s a good thing for us.”
Especially on Saturday, when 224 yards were pared from Edmonton’s July 23 passing total. The Elks were also limited to two touchdowns — half as many as Saskatchewan — in the rematch.
“It was good to get another win because of how long it takes after a loss to feel that,” said Bell, recalling the nine-day gap between games versus Edmonton. “That is the worst feeling in the world — to have a long week after a loss.
“It was most definitely good (to win). We felt like we were going to win the game emphatically. We had to fight and scratch and claw all the way to the end.”
The end of the day for the Elks’ offence was soon followed by the home side’s punt from its end zone with 2½ minutes left in the game.
Trailing by two, Edmonton began what proved to be its final possession needing to travel 83 yards for a touchdown. The home side went in reverse from there.
Edmonton was flagged for holding on first down. Ten yards were marched off.
On first-and-20, Roughriders middle linebacker Jameer Thurman wrapped up a scrambling Fajardo after a two-yard gain.
Bell then dialled up a pass rush that resulted in heavy pressure exerted by defensive end Desmond Evans and a sack by linebacker Josh Woods.
Backed up to their six-yard line, the Elks had no choice but to punt on third-and-31.
Saskatchewan’s offence proceeded to extinguish the final 2½ minutes, recording three first downs before quarterback Trevor Harris executed three kneel-downs.
The Roughriders then improved their record to 5-2. Edmonton is 6-2 after facing a Saskatchewan side that demonstrated the mettle that is reflective of a defending Grey Cup champion.
“Individually, guys have their purpose and what they’re intentional about,” Bell said. “I think that’s one reason why we could go out there and do certain things. Other than that, it’s our unified purpose.
“We have somewhere that we want to go. We have somewhere that we expect to be. So when we go to work and we go hunt, we’re doing what we’ve got to do, regardless.
“I don’t think we need too much gunpowder on our food (during the week). Our guys come to work. They’re just blue-collar guys who go to work every single day. That’s probably what we’re the most proud of as coaches.”
The Roughriders’ 3-0 road record is also a source of pride. Most recently, Saskatchewan prevailed in front of the Elks’ largest home crowd (31,757) since Saskatchewan’s previous visit (30,053 on Sept. 27 of last year).
“We travel,” Bell said. “That’s the thing. When we go into somebody else’s stadium, they’re going to have better numbers because we’re coming. The Riders are really ballooning their numbers.
“Whenever we go on the road, it’s tough to see or tell who’s cheering for who. Even on the road, we hear eruptions like it’s a home crowd. We have to realize that, ‘Oh, those are our fans in the other team’s stadium, being louder than (fans of) that team.’
“They kind of power us up on the road. When our fans get loud, I know the (opposing) offence has to deal with it, but defensively we get a rush out of having our fans in the stands. It often seems like it’s a home game, even when we’re on the road.”
A home game looms for the Roughriders, who are to play host to the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday night. Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.
NO-FLINCH ZONE
“Don’t flinch” is a pet saying for Harris, who appreciates the unruffled approach that helped the Roughriders win in Edmonton on Saturday.
The visiting team shook off injuries — sustained before and during the game — and the ebbs and flows of a down-to-the-wire game between two top-tier teams.
“There’s no flinching here,” Harris said on Tuesday, “and that’s kind of our M.O. as a team.
“I think (a game such as Saturday’s) cements and proves our culture. We come out and practise against our defence every week. I’ve done that for the last three years against Corey Mace-led defences and Josh Bell-led defences. We know we’re getting a great competition level.
“We try to treat practice just like we would a game. If you do that, you go into a game and it’s no different. You go out there and do what you’re supposed to do.
“We have a great system, great leadership, and guys I truly do believe in out there. I think that we’ll always be in a good place when we have the leadership that we have right now.”
INJURY UPDATE
Five Canadian starters — receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, offensive lineman Zack Fry, cornerback Tevaughn Campbell and fullback Albert Awachie — did not practise on Tuesday.
Schaffer-Baker (knee), Campbell (forearm) and Awachie (ankle) were both hurt during the game in Edmonton.
Emilus (foot) and Fry (knee) are on the one-game injured list. Emilus was close to being able to play last Saturday, but was kept out of the lineup as an extra precaution.
Offensive lineman Darius Bell (ankle) and defensive back Nelson Lokombo (ankle) were full participants in Tuesday’s workout. Defensive tackle Ali Saad (calf) was a limited participant.
