Roughriders offensive line wants to run it back in 2025

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Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025, they should be well protected.

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With some key figures under contract along the offensive line for the CFL club next season, the unit will look to build on what was a strong season in the trenches last year as the team fell just one win short of a Grey Cup appearance.

“Definitely the silver lining in all of this is what we have to look forward to,” said guard Logan Ferland, who was named the West Division’s top lineman. “Hopefully we can keep as many guys as possible in this room.

“We’re building something special here. Regardless of what happened this year, it’s clear and evident that we are building something special.”

While the Roughriders dealt with an uncommon amount of injuries along the offensive line in 2024, the group was among the CFL’s best after back-to-back seasons of finishing near the bottom of the league when it came to sacks allowed.

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And while that statistic doesn’t tell the whole story, it’s a big indicator as the Riders gave up just 35 sacks in 2024 compared to 54 in 2023 and 77 in 2022.

“It was a challenge but we always felt like we had good enough players that we were going to still be able to win the able to win the football games and we didn’t feel like there was going to be much drop off when we made those changes,” said general manager Jeremy O’Day, whose team had a 9-8-1 record after back-to-back 6-12 seasons. “We still felt like we were in good shape but yeah, we had our we had our share of injuries up front and it’s not a position where you really want to move guys around much, but we had to move them quite a bit.”

“We had a room full of guys who really cared, and it showed in the chemistry with all the different lineups,” echoed centre Peter Godber. “It’s been super exciting to watch the young talented guys on the line.”

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Godber was among the players who were injured for part of last season, as 12 different players started a game along the line last season with three more seeing action at the position at some point, including backup Braydon Noll along with defensive lineman Micah Johnson and Miles Brown

Ferland — who played guard, centre and right tackle — and left tackle Trevor Reid were the only two players to start every regular season game for the club last season.

The Riders also deployed Godber (12 starts), Philip Blake (two), Zack Fry (six), Ryan Sceviour (six), Noah Zerr (four), Trevon Tate (eight), Nick Jones (five), Jacob Brammer (five), Brandon Council (one), and Jermarcus Hardrick (five), who was a key free agent signing last off-season.

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“Dealing with all of the injuries has been a rough one for me; first injury of my 13-year career,” said Hardrick, who suffered a season-ending quad injury in Week 6.

While the 34-year-old veteran was forced to watch from the sideline, he continued to provide leadership in the locker room while watching the team take a step toward becoming contenders.

“I think we moved in the right direction,” said Hardrick, a two-time Grey Cup champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. “Obviously wanted to win the Grey Cup but definitely not a bad season at all.

“I learned a lot more about the offence being outside the offence; just getting a chance to watch the guys operate in it.”

Hardrick, Ferland, Fry, Reid, Brammer, Jones and Noll are all under contract for next season while the club also re-signed 2024 draft pick Daniel Johnson, who spent the year on the practice roster.

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Meanwhile, Godber, Tate, Zerr, Sceviour and Blake are all free agents and after seeing the culture turnaround on and off the field last year, many of those players want to return next year.

“I would 100 per cent love to be back here,” said Godber, 30. “You love the coaching staff, the guys on the team and the community.

“You want to win for this fan base so bad because they care so much. No matter where you go; if you’re at a grocery store or at a dog park or going to school, you see how much everyone cares here.”

While O’Day won’t be able to re-sign them all, having more than enough quality players who want to build on the foundation put down last season is a good problem to have.

“It’s definitely something that we’re excited about to see those guys grow together for them to have a full year in the system,” said O’Day. “We’re excited about that group going forward.

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“I think we’re in good position going into the off-season.”

tshire@postmedia.com

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