Mitchell Blair
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have not tasted the win column in 2015, but going into a rematch against the B.C Lions tonight at Mosaic Stadium, there is no anger amongst the squad.
“To be honest, we’re not angry at all,” running back Jerome Messam stated. “Everyone is calm and we are excited about the guys we have in here and we know what we’re capable of. We just have to play to our potential. We are frustrated, but we are staying positive and know if we tighten up the little things, those wins will come.
While the Riders have lost their first three games to start the season, they have lost those games by a total of nine points so there is a mindset that they are just one or two plays away from having a much different start.
Defensive back Tristan Jackson is one of many players in the Saskatchewan dressing room who remains very confident in the way the team is playing despite the problematic start and says being positive is the key after the close losses.
“We may be 0-3, but there’s no panic,” Jackson said. “Our record is what it is, but we know we could be 3-0 if we had taken care of the little things. We’re not getting it handed to us every week because if we were then you could ask some questions about what we are doing, but we’re not. The offense has been playing great so we just have to pick it up on “D”, and if we do, we’ll be fine.
That is a sentiment being shared by head coach Corey Chamblin approaching the re-match against their Western Division foes. He says the key this week is starting the process to get wins under their belts which is something he feels will start them on the road back from the hole they have created for themselves.
“One win doesn’t cure all, but it will reward us.” Chamblin said. “The guys have been diligent and faithful with the way they have worked and they have continued to move forward. I have seen a lot of positives with this group and I have seen a lot of strength as the guys start to come together. We have had some adversity with injuries and results, but their spirits are still right and their minds are still right.”
One mind which has to be right going in is that of quarterback Kevin Glenn. It would certainly seem as if he has the right attitude as he preaches the positives of his football team. Glenn and the offense have had no problems in putting up numbers, but the QB says don’t give him the credit for the performance in the first three weeks because he can’t do it alone.
“My teammates get all the credit. Without those guys, I can’t throw a pass to myself and block.” Glenn said. “The work they put in to help me and the team be successful is the number one thing. We need to get that feeling of what it is like to win and get in that right frame of mind. We need to get that feeling because we haven’t won a game this year when you count the pre-season. We need to get that winning feeling back and if we go out and take care of business, we will.
Game time at Mosaic Stadium is 8 o’clock with TV coverage coming on TSN with Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor. 620 CKRM will begin their pre-game coverage at 5 with “Roughrider Gameday” followed by “Rider Nation Pre-game” and then the play-by-play with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri.
GAME NOTES:
- After three weeks, the Riders are averaging 504.3 yards on offense a game. That is the 2nd best start by any Rider team going back to 1995 with only the 2010 Riders having a better start averaging 505.7 yards a game.
- If the Riders win tonight, Kevin Glenn will record his 90th career victory as a CFL quarterback
- While doing a tremendous job running the football, Jerome Messam has also had a great start catching the football as he leads the CFL in yards after catch after three weeks with 91.
