When players and coaches took the turf at Mosaic Stadium for the Saskatchewan Roughriders first practice of the week, there was some noticeable finger-pointing towards the uprights at either end of the field and some were looking at the hash marks in the end zones.
The subject of many conversations was the game changes announced by the CFL. Riders' head coach Corey Mace hasn’t completely absorbed the ramifications of the changes.
“I know many people went into those decisions and I'm sure they consulted some people who have been around the game for a long time, doing their analysis of everything they expect from it can only be good for the league.”
The second-year bench boss admitted to being unsure how the changes would alter strategy.
“For us as coaches trying to adapt and conquer for whatever that looks like, it is still going to be the same team, still going to be CFL ball, and it should be an exciting product. I'm curious to see, like everybody else, but I'm for it, no doubt.”
Quarterback Trevor Harris has heard backlash from some fans about the moves, but hopes the initial shock will subside.
“I think maybe a bit of an overreaction by some people. I mean it's still three downs, there are still 12 people on the field, the field is 65 yards wide, the end zone is still bigger than 10 yards, it will be 15. It's still Canadian football.”
Kicker Brett Lauther, the first vice president of the Canadian Football League Players’ Association, believes some players feel let down by the league's failure to consult them before announcing the changes.
“They made the decision to make the changes they wanted. For us, especially as a vice president, we're worried about player safety and growing revenue, if this does that, there's not much we can really complain about.”
Harris, a veteran of 13 CFL seasons, isn’t concerned by the lack of consultation.
“We're employees, I wouldn't tell an employer how to run their business and what to do. I'm grateful to be in this league and have an opportunity to play in front of these fans and this country. Whatever the rules, we should adjust to them and try to bend them to our advantage. I know there's probably some people upset, but we have people at the top making decisions and we have to trust that they know what they're doing.”
One of the more notable changes will be moving the goalposts to the back of the end zone for the 2027 season. Harris, who has thrown a touchdown pass through the uprights this season, had mixed feelings about the move.
“I neither hate it nor love it. I have seen people run into it, which is pretty wild. You talk about it when you're backed up and can't really work the field because it's in the way. Some teams use the field goal post as a weapon or deterrent. Some defensive backs try to hide behind it. The little things like that, that you'll miss, but it's going to be a good thing for the league.”
Stadium modifications and their effects on amateur football have been the subject of discussion since the CFL announced the changes. Mace, however, is confident that a working solution can be found.
“I grew up in BC, where we played American football, then in the community you play Canadian football. The fields are always crazy, whatever it is. I'm not sure what that will look like, but knowing our commissioner and how much grassroots football is important to him, I'm sure there will be some kind of plan for that. Specifically in this province, I don't care if you do it in a parking lot; kids love football here.”
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are back in action on Saturday when the team travels to Edmonton to take on the Elks. You can hear the game on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network, starting with Countdown to Kickoff at 2 p.m. with kickoff from Commonwealth Stadium at 5 p.m.
