MONTREAL — Visiting la belle province hasn’t been tres bien for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of late.
The CFL team has lost five of its past six games in Montreal against the hometown Alouettes. The Roughriders’ only victory in Montreal in that span occurred Nov. 8, 2015, when they defeated the Als 30-24.
“I really don’t think there’s anything difficult about (that particular road trip); it just comes down to execution,” said Roughriders guard Brendon LaBatte, whose team is to face the Als on Sunday (11 a.m., CKRM, TSN) at Percival Molson Stadium.
“I don’t feel like there’s anything there that prevents us from doing the job that we’re there to do. It’s just a matter of guys physically being able to get it done after the mental preparation.”
When the teams met the previous six times in Montreal, Saskatchewan had markedly better records than the Als twice, Montreal had better records twice and the teams had the same records twice.
In 2013, Saskatchewan was 8-4-0 when it fell 17-12 to Montreal (4-8-0). One season later, the Roughriders were 9-5-0 when they lost 40-9 to the 5-8-0 Als.
In 2012, Montreal had a 6-4-0 record when it posted a 28-17 victory over the 5-5-0 Roughriders. In 2015, the Alouettes were 6-11-0 when they were beaten 30-24 by a Saskatchewan team that was 2-15-0.
In 2016, both teams had 1-3-0 records when Montreal dumped the Roughriders 41-3. And last season, the Als prevailed 17-16 in the opening game of the regular season.
Obviously, the teams’ rosters have changed over the past six seasons. This time around, Saskatchewan has an 8-5-0 record and the Alouettes are 3-10-0.
“We’ve had the teams and the potential to win (in Montreal); it’s just the execution has lacked for whatever reason,” LaBatte said. “I can’t honestly say what that reason is other than we haven’t gone there and played the best football we’re capable of playing.”
The Roughriders hope that changes this time.
“We’ve got to make sure that we go in with the mindset that we want to win the football game,” cornerback Jovon Johnson said. “If we do the little things right, we’ll be OK.”
The teams met in Regina on June 30 and Montreal defeated the Roughriders 23-17. The Als intercepted four passes — two each by Brandon Bridge and David Watford, who both played in the absence of Zach Collaros — and Boris Bede kicked five field goals to help the Als post their first victory of the season.
In fact, that win was Montreal’s fourth in five games against the Roughriders since the start of the 2016 season.
That, said Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones, is why the Green and White won’t overlook the Alouettes on Sunday.
“If you look at the games in the past versus this football team, we’ve got to understand the task at hand,” Jones said earlier this week. “It’s really out of the question that we would be looking past anyone.”
“They beat us the last time we played them and they hadn’t won a game yet at that time,” added defensive tackle Makana Henry. “There’s no way we can look past them. They’re desperate — and they’re a young group, too.
“They might not make the playoffs (this season), but they’ve got tape to put out for next season. It’s going to be a physical game for sure.”
The Alouettes have struggled on offence this season, with league-low totals in offensive points (an average of 15.4 per game), net yards (an average of 267.5 per outing), passing touchdowns (six), offensive touchdowns (17) and time of possession (an average of 27 minutes eight seconds). Their quarterbacks also have been sacked a league-high 48 times.
Because of those offensive woes, the Montreal defence has spent a lot of time on the field. The Als’ D went into the week ranked last in many major statistical categories, including opponents’ plays (an average of 62.0 per game), opponents’ offensive TDs (35) and opponents’ net yards (an average of 417.5 per game).
“We knew the first time we played them that they’re a good defence and they have been for several years,” LaBatte said. “They’ve got some key pieces who are still playing well for them.
“We know offensively that it’s going to be a tough game for us to operate on that defence. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Saskatchewan’s offence remains a work in progress — it’s eighth in the league in passing touchdowns (10) and net offence (an average of 315.6 yards per game) and ninth in two-and-outs (79) — but it has taken positive steps of late.
The Roughriders’ defence remains the team’s strength, although Jones hasn’t been overly pleased with its play in recent games.
That unit also hasn’t faced the Als with Johnny Manziel at quarterback — but the reverse holds true as well.
Jones hopes that the Roughriders’ loss to Montreal on June 30 weighs on their minds, but it can’t be their sole motivation Sunday.
“It’s pro football, so if we think that that’s going to be the thing that carries us, we’re wrong,” he said. “They’re a much-improved team from what they were. Even though they’ve dropped some games, they’re playing better in all three phases.
“They look like they’re having fun. You watch them and they’re jumping around when they make plays. They’re still very energetic, which is signs of good coaching and a good organization. We’ve got to go there with a workmanlike attitude.”
