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The Saskatchewan Roughriders could have their hands full with Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum.
The 24-year-old pivot will start his fourth CFL game on Sunday against the Riders at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
Crum, who made his debut in Week 4 after starter Jeremiah Masoli suffered a ruptured Achilles, holds a 2-1 record as a starter.
While Crum has thrown for 822 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions, he has proven to be dangerous as a runner. He has rushed for 346 yards and three touchdowns thus far.
“You have to defend the whole field and you have to defend every second,” Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said. “He’s a guy that can make you look awfully silly. He has done a lot of nice things for them. (He) willed their team to victory in that first game.
“He’s dangerous and he definitely has me up at night a little bit thinking of ways we can hopefully slow him down.”
The man in charge of coming up with the vacuum-tight defence to deal with Crum is defensive co-ordinator Jason Shivers.
“He’s a new quarterback but he’s a seasoned quarterback too. He played a lot in university. I like what he’s put on tape so far, so (I’m) definitely not underestimating my opponent,” Shivers said.
“We’re going to come in and try to play our style of football, which is keep the quarterback in the pocket (and) play tight coverage and if we get the opportunity to, we will blitz.”
Crum has had success against some tough CFL defences, with his two wins coming over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders.
“He is fresh out (of college) so no one really had a book out on him to study him and what he can do. I think he makes good decisions when he pulls down the ball,” Shivers said. “He’s being coached well and he’s not trying to force turnovers.
“That’s where he’s been able to hurt defences and that’s one extra element we have to try to contain.”
Riders defensive back Nic Marshall will look to continue his hot start to the season against the young pivot. Marshall was tied for fourth in the CFL with three interceptions after Week 8.
But he knows that just because there’s a new quarterback to face, he can’t focus too much on going for the pick.
“You have to be careful because you can’t go out there being greedy,” Marshall said. “You have to attack every game like you do practice.”
Notes: Slotback Brayden Lenius (foot) will be put onto the six-game injured list, according to Dickenson. The 26-year-old receiver made his season debut last Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts; he had suffered a lacerated kidney in the pre-season … Roughriders left tackle Brandon Council (knee) will also miss this week’s game.
