It’s now or never for the Saskatchewan Roughriders if they want to avoid basically pressing repeat on a painful storyline.
For the third year in a row, the Roughriders are in danger of wasting a hot start and missing the playoffs thanks to a seven-game winless streak.
There are two differences this year. First off, the Roughriders do have one tie during this skid. And secondly, in good news for the team, this seven-game spiral doesn’t coincide with the end of the season.
This year’s Roughriders (5-7-1) still have five games to turn it around and solidify a playoff berth, but the sense or urgency is real.
At Tuesday’s practice, first-year head coach Corey Mace gave his team a profanity-laced rant during practice, per the Regina Leader-Post.
Then, Mace sent the team to the locker-room before the scheduled end of practice to deliver another loud lecture.
While Mace said Tuesday was an isolated incident, it’s hard to believe the team’s current slide had no impact on the mood.
“We talked about the standard we want in this facility and I just felt we didn’t meet it really since the beginning of the day,” Mace told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “It kind of trickled into practice and we had to address that. I thought we had a great day (Monday), (but) we’re always looking to be better each day. I thought we kind of failed at that today. It’s just a message we’ve got to come to work, we’ve got a lot to play for. We’ve got to prove it each day, though.”
Mace said he expected his team to respond and he was happy with what he saw at Wednesday’s practice.
“Excellent practice today,” he said. “Right from the meetings, everything was on point. I anticipated two steps forward and I thought we did that today.”
More importantly, however, they’ll have to take more steps forward during Friday’s road game against the Calgary Stampeders.
The Roughriders are clinging to the third and final playoff spot in the West, one point ahead of the surging Edmonton Elks (5-8) and three up on the struggling Stamps (4-8-1).
Under previous coach Craig Dickenson, the Roughriders could not stop their slides.
We’ll see if things are different under Mace.
If not, it won’t be a good look for general manager Jeremy O’Day, who was retained after the late-season trouble the past two years and then received a three-year extension.
Grudge match
The Roughriders signed running back Ryquell Armstead this week after he was released earlier this month following discipline issues with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Perhaps the schedule-maker had an inkling something like this would happen before the season.
In a nice treat for fans, the Roughriders host the Redblacks next week.
Armstead, in talking to Regina media this week, didn’t do anything to take the spotlight off that confrontation.
“It’ll be good to see those guys, it’ll be good to smile at the ones that put you down and tried to belittle you and keep proving them wrong as well,” said Armstead, who is fourth in the league in rushing this season. “I’m just thankful and I’m very ready to see those guys.”
Butler back
James Butler finally will get a chance to return to the field.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats running back, who was a top-five rusher in the CFL the last two years, hasn’t played in the team’s last five games as coach Scott Milanovich opted to go with Greg Bell.
But Bell (Achilles) is out for Friday’s contest in Toronto against the rival Argonauts, putting Butler back in the lineup.
The Ticats (4-9) have won the past two games to get back in the playoff race, but there is no margin for error.
“If we want to go to playoffs, we’ve got to win out,” Ticats defensive lineman Nick Usher told reporters this week.
Ford driving the Elks
The Elks are going back to Canadian Tre Ford as starting quarterback Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers now that he has recovered from a rib injury.
Edmonton is making the move despite veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson looking good as starter in the past two games, both wins.
“(Bethel-Thompson’s success) definitely makes it tough but at same time McLeod’s a pro, he understands what going on. He understands the business and how things go,” Elks interim coach Jarious Jackson said. “McLeod’s going to be there for us … and at some point, we’ll need him again. You always need at least two guys that are more than capable of going out and winning you games.”
Bethel-Thompson went 0-7 to start the season as starter before the Elks originally made the switch to Ford, a University of Waterloo product.
Game of the week
The Redblacks enter Saturday’s home game against the Alouettes four points back of Montreal for first in the East.
With a win here, it could set up a battle for first on Oct. 14 in Montreal.
Here’s a full look at the Week 16 schedule:
Friday, Sept. 20: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-9) at Toronto Argonauts (7-6), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Friday, Sept. 20: Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-7-1) at Calgary Stampeders (4-8-1), 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, Sept. 21: Montreal Alouettes (10-2-1) at Ottawa Redblacks (8-4-1), 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
Saturday, Sept. 21: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-6) at Edmonton Elks (5-8), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
