Following their loss to Hamilton last week, the Riders will have to step it up as they prepare to take on the B.C. Lions. That’s according to former Rider Wes Cates, who said the Riders played it a little too safe in their game against the Tiger-Cats on Aug. 15, falling 26-19. “I feel like the Riders against Hamilton really just played it a little too vanilla on defense,” Cates told CTV News’ Lee Jones during this week’s X’s and O’s segment. “I think because of some of the issues with the secondary, they kind of figured they would not put any defense or DBs in any binds and really just sit back and kind of a shell coverage and let the linebackers maybe try to sneak into some of those underneath passing zones and maybe turn them over.” Cates said going forward, the defensive backs will need to stick to their assignments without any extra help. “Just play the game and call it as you would like to call it. I think they kind of got away from that as head coaches and coordinators with just the limits they’ve had at the injuries at the skill position, so we’ll see if they kind of smarten up from that,” he said. When it comes to the offense, Cates said quarterback Trevor Harris seemed to play the game a little too safe as well. “I think they kept it a little too vanilla on offense as well, and I think Hamilton came in saying we doubt they’re going to lean heavily on the run. They’re probably going to look for Trevor Harris to kind of win this with his arm, so he just kind of sat back,” he said. “Made him have to dink and dunk, and then when he really did try to throw it to the second, third level, he missed a couple shots, and he had a couple of picks.” Looking ahead to Sunday’s game, Jones said the Riders will need to account for Nathan Rourke’s mobility and speed. “Nathan Rourke’s going to get his own. He’s going to get some yards running the ball too. Just got to make sure he doesn’t damage you too much,” he said. Cates offered some advice to the team as well ahead of the matchup. “Stick to the run or be a little heavier on the run, and then maybe try to set up some short passes that are designed to try to get to second and third level with the screen game,” he said. The Riders will take on the Lions at B.C. Place in Vancouver on Sunday at 5 p.m. CST.
