Mitchell Blair
The losses may be piling up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but there is a belief the team can right the ship beginning with their Sunday afternoon battle against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the nation’s capital.
The optimism is shared by some in the CFL with many picking the 0-8 Riders to go cross-country and get a road victory which is something that encourages head coach Corey Chamblin.
“That tells me we are doing a lot of good things.” Chamblin said. “The biggest thing is we are doing a good job when it comes to general football, but we have to start winning situations and have an understanding as to where we are at certain times in the game. Are we punting into the wind, how much time is left on the clock, it is things like that. It isn’t just throw the ball, run the ball and tackle. The CFL is a unique league and we have to be on top of some of those situations when they occur.”
If the Riders are to get that elusive first “W” of the season, the defense has to find a way to prevent Henry Burris and the Ottawa offense to get the ball into the endzone. Going into the week, the Riders are allowing the opposition just under 30 points a game which is last in the league. It is something linebacker Macho Harris knows must be shored up if the team is going to be successful.
“Things haven’t gone our way for a variety of reasons, but we just have to keep fighting and look to pull one out.” Harris stated. “We feel like we just have to do the little things to be successful. We don’t like the fact we have given up a lot of points, but we have had to deal with a lot of rotating parts due to injury and we have had a lot of new players. I like what I have seen over the past couple of weeks and I think we are ready to breakout and be the type of defense we want to be.”
Harris also realizes they will have to find a way to contend with Henry Burris who has experienced a renaissance in his second year with Ottawa after struggling last season.
“Henry is more in time with his throws and his receivers. They surrounded him with some good players in the off-season, and it shows because he is playing at a high level and putting up some big numbers. “Harris noted. “He will provide us with a great challenge this week and hopefully we are ready to meet that challenge.”
While the defense tries to put struggles behind them, the offence seems to have its game back on track under 3rd string quarterback Brett Smith. The University of Wyoming product is getting much more comfortable under centre since taking over from the injured Kevin Glenn. It has been challenging since becoming the starting quarterback four weeks ago, and is still looking for his first pro win. A victory Sunday will create a lot of positive energy in the dressing room as the team gets ready for the second half of the season.
“Getting a “W” would be huge not only for the young guys who haven’t had one yet, but for the older guys as well. “Smith said. “It is something that is long overdue, and it is something that should have happened many, many weeks ago, but it is something we are looking forward to and it is something we know we can get if we put the proper work into it.”
Game time Sunday afternoon from TD Place in Ottawa is 2 PM with television coverage provided on TSN. 620 CKRM will begin the longest and most comprehensive and continuous game-day coverage in the CFL at 11 AM with “Roughrider Gameday” which can be seen on Riderville.com starting at 1130. That will lead into Rider Nation Pre-game” with Rod Pedersen at 1 as he gets you caught up on any late-breaking information while preparing you for the game before he is joined by Carm Carteri for the play-by-play.
GAME NOTES:
- Brett Smith’s start will be his 4th in the CFL. It will be Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris’ 213th career start.
- Despite only carrying the ball 67 times this season, running back Jerome Messam goes into the game 2nd in the CFL in rushing with 492 yards. He is tied with team-mate Anthony Allen for the most 20 plus yard runs in the league this year with 5.
- Jeff Knox Junior continues to have a fine rookie season as he is 2nd in tackles with 49 and 2nd in special teams tackles with 9
- Alex Hall and John Chick are quietly right behind the league leaders when it comes to sacks. Both Rider defensive ends have 5 with four players above them tied for the league lead with 6.
