Audrey Miller Jr. is having a hard time coming to grips with how the season ended for Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The annoyance with how “the job didn’t get finished” and they didn’t repeat as Grey Cup champions. The frustration with the way the Riders allowed too many big plays down the stretch drive of the season, including in a 33-26 loss to the B.C. Lions in the Western Semi-Final. The blood-boiling infuriation with the defence making repeated mistakes in the second half of the campaign.
“A lack of execution, a lack of domination,” he said when asked what happened. “That’s what I live by. That’s what I want to go by.
“As far as dominating, I’ll make sure that – no matter what – the domination’s going to happen.”
If Miller sounds like someone ready and willing to lead the charge for the Riders, it’s because that’s how he acted and performed for the team late in the season.
The Riders signed Miller in August 2024, and he emerged as an impactful player on special teams while largely biding his time on defence. That changed when he assumed the starting role at weakside linebacker for the Labour Day Classic following an ankle injury sustained by Josh Woods.
That game saw Miller record three tackles, including two on the defensive side of the ball, to go along with a sack and a pass knockdown. He never looked back, including back-to-back nine-tackle games in the late home-and-home set against the Montreal Alouettes.
Miller finished the season with 46 tackles – 30 of which came on defence – three sacks, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, two pass knockdowns, and an interception.
But there wasn’t an ounce of satisfaction or complacency shown by Miller as the Riders packed up their gear earlier than desired.
“I’m going to take that same (hard-working) mindset to the offseason, the same thing as just being consistent,” the 27-year-old said. “My work in the offseason, I don’t think nobody trains like me. Therefore, I’m going to make sure I still bring that same mindset each and every year.”
Whether he brings that mindset as a member of the Riders next season remains to be seen.
Miller is a pending free agent, one of almost three dozen Riders from the active roster on expiring contracts. The way he finished the season, finding a way to re-sign him feels like it should be a priority to the Riders.
One thing’s for certain: Miller wants to stay in Saskatchewan. He feels a debt of gratitude after the Riders first brought him into the fold less than a month after the Edmonton Elks handed him his walking papers.
“(I want to) keep good relationships with the organization here because they’re the ones that gave me the opportunity,” Miller said. “They’re the ones who gave me the chance to be in the CFL. Without this organization, I wouldn’t even be here this long.
“That’s how it’ll go as far as free agency. I love this organization. I love my teammates. The chemistry that we have, I don’t want to ever break that.”
Provided he’s back in green and white, Miller’s primary objective is to get a different result to end the season than the one that happened last Saturday.
He desires to win the last game of 2027, especially since it – the Grey Cup – will be held in Regina. The thought of victory sure beats the current irritating alternate reality.
“I don’t like losing. I don’t think nobody likes losing,” Miller said. “Everyone here is packing their bags. Nobody likes that. I’m going to make sure that s— never happens again.”
