Under normal circumstances, Week 1 is not a time for overreaction.
When your off-season lasted 600-plus days patience needs to be preached even more.
So it’s expected that after Saskatchewan’s season-opening win over the B.C. Lions that the team’s quarterback, Cody Fajardo, would be happy with the win, but understanding that improvements need to be made.
“I felt like I just got out of rhythm. You’ve got to find a way to get back in rhythm when the offence is sputtering,” Fajardo said,
“B.C. started blitzing our edges a little bit more than in the first half, so it makes it hard on a receiver because he’s got to come down and cap the edge. Some stuff that we just didn’t know they were going to do, based off no film, I think we’ll get it corrected.”
Fajardo went 12-of-12 for 95 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, but struggled in the second half as the Lions mounted a comeback that ultimately fell short. According the the face of the franchise, it could have been worse.
“I sailed one to Shaq [Evans] for an interception, which I just can’t do. I had a sprinkle of Jesus on one play when I threw it right to Gary Peters and he dropped it, so sprinkle of Jesus came early for me in Week 1.”
Now with a week of actual game play behind them, the Riders have to get set for a Saturday night date with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Fajardo feels his offence needs to be more aggressive if they are going to beat the defending East Division champs.
“We’ve got to stretch the field a little bit more. I think I only threw a couple balls down the field and I know that they were incomplete and one was a pick, so we’ve got to be able to stretch the field more moving forward.”
One of the things that likely won’t be repeated are the strange circumstances around this game and the emotion that came with it. The last time Fajardo and the Riders stepped on the Mosaic Stadium turf before last weekend was in the 2019 West Division Final. Fajardo felt the emotions getting the better of him pre-game.
“I started tearing up in the tunnel when I was running out to the game and (could) hear the crowd. It was one of those emotional roller coasters where you’re tearing up because you’re so excited, but then you’ve got to go play and guys are trying to take your head off. Just trying to manage the emotions, but a good first week win.”
The young Riders pivot admitted there were times the emotions may have got the best of him but he was able to get a handle on it.
“I went out there and I just had a conversation with myself and I said: ‘Why am I so nervous? This is football and I’ve been playing this since I was six years old.’ I didn’t want to make it any bigger than what it was,” Fajardo said.
“I felt like there was so much anticipation and anxiousness. I felt like it was the Grey Cup, I went out there and I had a conversation with myself and said: ‘Just go out there and play football and whatever happens, happens.’”
The Riders are at home for their first four games of the 2021 season and don’t hit the road until a September 11 matchup with Winnipeg for the annual Banjo Bowl.
