Saskatchewan Roughriders' offensive line coach Edwin Harrison knows he has a dedicated group who are not fazed by Sean McEwen's injury.
"You talk about things that people don't see. This offensive line came up almost a week-and-a-half early on their own and stayed on their own in Regina," Harrison told the voice of the Riders, Dave Thomas. "They had their own offensive line mini-camp and started working before some of the rookies got in town."
McEwen took part but he won't be able to play for "a while" according to head coach Corey Mace after suffering an injury in training camp practice. Fellow Canadian Zack Fry has shifted from left guard to centre to fill in.
"At centre, you're making those calls, telling everyone where to go," Fry told Thomas. "It's more of a mental aspect before that snap of the ball, then nothing changes after, take that guy and try to push him as far as you can."
The 40-year-old Harrison preaches to his players about rolling with the punches which range from good to bad.
"One thing that we constantly say in our room is that it's just us. When people in the media are saying great things, it's just us," Harrison explained. "When they're not saying such great things in the media, it's just us. If we have that belief, that understanding to believe and continue to love each other in that room, we can be a pretty special group."
Harrison, who spent 2010 through 2015 playing for the Calgary Stampeders, loves to drill into his players the importance of studying as an offensive lineman.
"Honestly, it's a great deal," Harrison said. "It's a lot of walkthroughs, a lot of film study, a lot of on the dry erase board drawing up different fronts and stunts, looking at film. Communication between that lineman and the adjacent lineman, whoever they're playing next to, whether it be on the left or to the right of them."
Last year, the Riders' offensive line improved from previous seasons as the unit gave up 35 sacks. Compared to 2023, the team gave up 54 sacks and in 2022, gave up 77. This season is Harrison's second year with the Green and White. Previously, he was the Toronto Argonauts' running backs and quality control coach from 2022 through 2023. He has two Grey Cups on his resume, one as an offensive lineman with the Stamps in 2014 and one with the Argos in 2022 as a coach.
"A lot of times, playing the game and playing the position gives a unique perspective. I understand to a degree what those men are going through every day," Harrison said.
"Playing the offensive line position is somewhat of a thankless job. Most of the time, they only recognize your faults or your mistakes or your losses and they never acknowledge the wins or the successes. But I think a great deal of that makes you the man that you become, not only on the field, but off the field. That type of man becomes the best father and the best husband that he can possibly be."
The Saskatchewan Roughriders prepare for their first game of the pre-season on Saturday in Winnipeg. You can hear the game on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network starting at 11 a.m.
