Mitchell Blair
Saskatchewan farmers aren’t the only one complaining about drought-like conditions in the province. While the agriculture sector looks for rain to try and save a dwindling crop, the Saskatchewan Roughriders look to end a drought of their own and save a dwindling season by getting their first win of the season Sunday night against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
While the team has lost their first four games by a total of 12 points, the bottom line is they are still winless. They have remained positive in their search for their first victory of the season and this is a huge plus as far as quarterback Kevin Glenn is concerned.
“We’ve done a good job of staying positive and that’s the culture Coach Chamblin has presented to us.” Glenn said. “He keeps telling us to stay positive, forget about the past and move forward and that is wearing off on the guys. If you think negative thoughts, negative things will happen so you have to be positive. Yes, we understand there is an urgency to get a win, but at the same time we aren’t letting ourselves get down”
The Kevin Glenn led has flourished during the four game losing streak, and will get one of its weapons back to make an already potent unit that much more explosive on Sunday as Ryan Smith comes back onto the active roster after missing the last two weeks.
During Toronto in Week 2, Smith had a breakout game catching eight passes for 174 yards before suffering the injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the last two weeks. The second year receiver is excited to get back on the field and contribute to what he hopes is a victory.
“The offense has done a great job so far and K-G (Kevin Glenn) has done a tremendous job in getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers,” Smith said. “Every week we feel we are getting better and better and there is a confidence factor in that room that if we get one, we can get a lot more. There is a lot of confidence in that room and I’m excited to get back on the field. Hamilton is looking for a win just like us so it should be a great contest.”
While the offence has had a great beginning to the season, the same can not be said for a defensive unit which has been hurt by injuries and big plays. Linebacker Macho Harris isn’t going to make any apologies or excuses for what has happened in the last four weeks, but he says it has been challenging. He believes the real Riders defense is ready to show themselves when they step on the field.
“We have dealt with a lot of adversity this season and I’m not going to sit here and make excuses, but we have had to try and overcome a lot right from the opening game with injuries and other things. “Harris stated. “We aren’t down on ourselves, the coaches have great faith in us and everyone understands it isn’t as bad as it would seem. No one is panicking, no one is angry and no one is finger-pointing. When we get that first win, we will have some tremendous confidence knowing we can get it done. Once we get over that hump, we think we can go a long way. If we are sharp and if we are smart, we should be OK.”
Head Coach Corey Chamblin continues to look for that winning formula and he admits the first four games have not gone the way he thought it would referring to it as unusual. However, he says that message of positive thinking continues and the adventure can start anew against the Ti-Cats.
“We have seen positive production and we have positive energy. It is a matter of what are we doing now and what are we getting better at. There are areas where I am seeing a lot of improvement from week-to-week so those are signs we are moving in the right direction. “Chamblin told reporters Saturday afternoon. “The message to the guys is put your hiking shoes on and get to the top of the mountain. We have been down in the valley for too long so lets get on this mountain and start enjoying some wins because we are due.”
Kickoff at Mosaic Stadium is 5 o’clock; TSN will have the action with Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor on the call, 620 CKRM will start the best and most comprehensive game-day coverage in the CFL at 2 o’clock with Roughrider Gameday which can be seen on Riderville.com starting at 2:30. That will be followed at 4 o’clock by Rider Nation pre-game which leads into the play-by-play with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri.
GAME NOTES:
- The Riders have won 13 of the last 14 games played between the two at Mosaic Stadium including the 2013 Grey Cup which Saskatchewan won by a score of 45-23
- No team in the CFL is running the football better than the Riders. Jerome Messam has an average of 7.7 yards a carry so far this season while teammate Anthony Allen has an average of 8.3 yards
- Going into Week 5 play, Kevin Glenn was the only quarterback in the CFL to surpass 1000 yards passing. His 1228 was over 300 yards better than the 2nd place quarterback in that category—Ottawa’s Henry Burris
- Paul McCallum is two successful convert attempts away from hitting 800 straight during his career.
