REGINA — To hear Saskatchewan Roughriders' special teams ace Nick Wiebe talk about it, to a certain extent, the West Final against the B.C. Lions on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium is just another game.
Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth — the contest will decide who represents the West Division in the Grey Cup in Winnipeg, and with the kind of season the Green and White have had, getting to the championship game is about as make-or-break as they come.
But when it comes to practice and preparation, well, it might as well be a Week 5 game or a Week 15 game — and that’s all by design, as this time of year is all about final refinement for the challenges to come. Still, there’s that feeling in the air. And when you’re heading into your first CFL playoff game like Wiebe is, it’s hard not to look forward to what’s ahead.
“It's pretty exciting, I'm not going to lie to you,” Wiebe said. “I don't know if it's really set in that it's my first one yet, it's just another week for us. Prep has been the same, everything's been the same, so I don't know if it's really even registered for me yet. It'll be cool to run out here and see the packed crowd, but for us it's another game, going 1-0.”
There’s little question Wiebe and his special teams crew will be a key factor in the contest. As is so often the case in major games, a kick-off or punt return on either side could make a massive difference in the outcome. Wiebe — the Riders' Most Outstanding Special Teams Player — plans to make sure things turn out well on their side of things.
“I think we've been doing it all year as a unit,” Wiebe said. “We pride ourselves on our special teams play here and I think we have a pretty solid unit running down on kickoff, all four really. We're prepping, and we've seen these guys three times already, so it should be a good match-up. We know what we're about.”
Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace has been impressed with what he’s seen from his special teams crew all season, even those players whose sole duty is to get to the ball carrier or block downfield.
“We got so many guys, truthfully, that might be playing offence or defence on other teams, but they take such pride in what they do and their role for our team,” Mace said. “We don't take it lightly. We champion that kind of play, specifically in these types of games, cold weather games, field position, potentially creating explosive plays, turnovers and in rough conditions. A lot of those come on special teams and happen in big games. So those guys have been dialed all year and I’m looking forward to seeing them go out and play.”
The key to special teams success on Saturday will undoubtedly be the key to success all season — bringing physical play and the big hits each and every time they’re on the field, as Wiebe elaborates.
“We talk about it all the time in the meeting room,” Wiebe said. “We all want to be junkyard dogs out there. That's what we emphasize in our meeting room. So I think physicality, running and hitting, I think is the biggest thing for us, and we have a bunch of hardcore guys who know how to do that.”
Mace is of the same opinion.
“I'll tell you what, I probably could have never played special teams, I don't know if I'm tough enough,” said the former NFL defensive tackle. “You got to be a different breed to play on special teams and we got a great locker room full of guys who can play a physical brand of football. It’s not just physicality, but being smart and understanding your job assignment like anything else.”
One thing that’s for certain on Saturday is fans can expect to see an absolute battle between two teams that can give each other fits on both sides of the ball.
“We're looking forward to the challenge and it should be a good fight,” Wiebe said. “I think it's going to be a hell of a game.”
Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates have all the pre-game news and views at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder with the game call on the Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network at 5:30 p.m.
