Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Derrick Moncrief (centre) knows his team's run defence will be tested by Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

By CJME News

Riders’ run defence could be tested by Redblacks’ Crum

Sep 19, 2023 | 5:08 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will look to keep Dustin Crum from beating them with his legs.

The Green and White will take on the mobile Ottawa Redblacks quarterback and his teammates on Friday. Kickoff for the game at TD Place is set for 5 p.m.

When the clubs met on Aug. 6, Saskatchewan’s defence was able to contain Crum by recording six sacks and holding the rookie quarterback to just 174 yards in the air and 21 yards on the ground. The Roughriders posted a 26-24 win at Mosaic Stadium.

But Riders linebacker Derrick Moncrief knows things could be different this time out.

“It’s a new game. He is way more comfortable now and he has played a few more games. He is at home so he is going to be really comfortable,” Moncrief said. “We just have to come out and play physical, muddy up the looks and get the ball back for the offence.”

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Crum’s 567 yards rushing is the most on the ground by a quarterback this CFL season and his eight rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in the league.

But Saskatchewan’s defence has been gashed along the ground over the past two weeks, giving up 528 yards.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers rolled up 263 rushing yards in a 51-6 victory over Saskatchewan in the Banjo Bowl before the Edmonton Elks amassed 265 yards on the ground in their 36-27 win over the Riders last Friday.

The Ottawa rushing attack has been good in 2023, with the third-most yardage in the league entering the week (1,707).

“It’s a copycat league. If one team sees another team have success in a certain area, then a lot of times the next team will try to come and see if they can have the same success in the same area,” said defensive tackle Micah Johnson.

“It’s one of those things where you have to come out and get it corrected and put it on tape that you’ve corrected it or every team for the next few games you’ll continue to face and see the same things.

“That’s kind of what we feel like we’ve run into with the run game. It’s some adjustments that we have to make.”

If the Redblacks see a road to success for beating the Riders, it could be by using their mobile quarterback.

In the Roughriders’ loss to the Elks, Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford was able to escape pressure consistently to find passing lanes while also adding 75 yards and a rushing touchdown in the win.

Moncrief said the two pivots are different runners.

“(Crum) is more of a straight-line runner, Ford is a little bit more shifty,” Moncrief said. “I’m just looking forward to that challenge.”

Notes: Defensive end Pete Robertson (back) was a new addition to Saskatchewan’s injury report after practising Monday. Riders head coach Craig Dickenson expects Robertson to play in Friday’s game … Defensive end Anthony Lanier II (hip), linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed (quads), defensive lineman Miles Brown (groin), defensive back Deontai Williams (hamstring), running back Jamal Morrow (knee), defensive end Nic Dheilly (foot), defensive back Nelson Lokombo (knee) and linebacker TJ Brunson (ankle) also didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice.