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The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 8-1 and the top team in the CFL, so there aren’t many negatives in their play right now — but one key player is trying to kick his struggles.
Riders kicker Brett Lauther missed three of his five kicks in the team’s 29-9 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. That dropped Lauther’s field goal success rate to just 66.7 per cent. That’s the lowest in the league by a decent margin. The next lowest field goal percentage is 73.9, which Calgary Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes holds.
“It just hasn’t been up to the standard that we have and everyone else is playing at,” Lauther said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Just back to chopping wood and try to figure it out.”
Lauther admits he doesn’t know exactly what is leading to the struggles this season.
“If it was something I knew to fix, I would have fixed it a while ago,” Lauther said. “I don’t think it’s one thing right now, it’s just a tonne of different little things. It’s just not good enough.”
Lauther didn’t even take much joy in hitting a 59-yard field goal against the Ticats — his new career long.
“I would trade making that 59-yard kick to just be able to go out and be more consistent and do my job to the standard the rest of the team is doing right now,” Lauther said.
With the Riders at 8-1, Lauther said everyone in the locker room has been supportive of the eight-year CFL veteran.
“Everyone in the room has been unreal and you kind of dream about being on teams like this and how supportive and how good everyone is,” Lauther said. “I feel selfish taking time here to do interviews when we should be talking about all the successes of the team and the coaches and (President and CEO) Craig Reynolds and (General Manager Jeremy O’Day) to what Trevor (Harris) is doing and all the receivers.
“There are so many good stories and instead of selfishly taking up time to talk about how bad I am at kicking a football.”
But despite the struggles, head coach Corey Mace has faith in the kicker.
“He’s a pro. He hasn’t had the year he has wanted to have up to this point, but there’s still a lot of ball left. He has had a good couple of days since the game, getting out and swinging it,” Mace said. “Just narrowing in and focusing on the things he needs to get better at. That’s just part of being a pro.”
Returner Mario Alford (hip) was limited in practice as he gets closer to returning to game action. Defensive tackle Micah Johnson (load management) and Nelson Lokombo (hip) did not participate.
The Riders will take on the Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday. The Stamps are the only team to beat the Riders this season. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
