Every Monday afternoon on the SportsCage, join Barney Shynkaruk and members from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ coaching staff with a breakdown of game match-ups and the very latest from inside the Riders’ locker room.
For the first time in 2025, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are coming off back-to-back losses. Saturday’s 27-25 setback in Edmonton was particularly tough given that the Riders had a chance to tie the game on the final play with the two-point convert. However, apparent confusion in the end zone caused the pass from Trevor Harris to fall incomplete.
Receivers coach Marquay McDaniel was on the SportsCage’s Coaches show and wouldn’t point a finger at Ajou Ajou.
“I think he wants that one back. Let's say that. That wasn't the route.”
All season long, the Green and White have been plagued by slow starts, prompting head coach Corey Mace to discuss them after Saturday’s loss.
“I don’t know that we are good enough to give up a 10-point lead every game.”
The Riders have scored the second-fewest offensive first-quarter points this season, 54 in 14 games. McDaniel knows why they are faltering early.
“Attention to details. Offence is a little different than defence. One guy messes up on offence and it can change the whole play. When you look at the film, it's frustrating because stuff is open, but it's one guy every play or we put together nice drives and turnovers.”
The second-year coach in Riderville, McDaniel, believes the mistakes are correctable.
“It's stuff we can definitely fix, not taking anything away from the defences, but we just have to be locked in on the details, and everybody's got to try to win their job in every play.”
Assisting in executing the details in the health of McDaniel’s receiving core, as Samuel Emilus returned from his second extended stay on the injured list of the season against Edmonton, and Kian Schaffer-Baker is close to making his return from a leg injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the first week of the season. McDaniel does caution that getting up to full speed will take some time.
“I would say at least two to three games to really get your legs under you. You can get your wind back quick, right? But as much as you run or train in a pool or at practice, game speed is different.”
McDaniel has been impressed with Emilus and Shaffer-Baker's remaining engaged while being out.
“The guys have been in meetings. They're expected to know the offence when they come back. So, they've been locked in. In the meetings, guys like to get those reps under their belt. They know what's going on, and it's not brand new to them.”
The Riders return to action Friday night in Ottawa when they take on the Redblacks. You can hear the game on the 620 CKRM Cooperators Rider Broadcast Network, starting with the Countdown to kickoff at 2 p.m.
