Riders look for bounce-back on Labour Day Classic against Bombers

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping some hard lessons can be taught as the team is mired in a five-game winless streak.

Despite going 0-4-1 in this stretch, the Green and White still have claim to the top spot in the CFL’s West Division.

The Riders take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday in the Labour Day Classic. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

The recent loss for the Riders came on a uniquely Canadian play with the Argos missing a field goal and scoring a rouge to beat Saskatchewan 20-19 last week.

“You have to look inward first – that’s always the first thing we do,” said Riders’ head coach Corey Mace who is in his first season as a bench boss. “How can we put ourselves in those situations and anticipate and look at it different?”

Offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller said there’s something to learn from every game.

“There’s something new that you try to write down in your book after the game of a situation you want to think of again or the same,” Mueller said. “Even if you do it right, the circumstances change the next time – your team is different, their team is different, the weather.

“In Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, you’re going to play 10 or 11 games in wind. It’s something you always think of. You try to see what you should have done or could have done, even if it works you think that way.”

Mueller, who is in his first season as a CFL offensive co-ordinator, said he also learns from Trevor Harris, who is in his 12th CFL season.

“Working with him is great and learning from him is excellent,” Mueller said. “He’s been in those (situations). To be able to learn from him and what works and what hasn’t.

“I’ve only been in one offence (in Calgary) in the CFL and to see a guy who has been and succeeded in many other versions of offence in Canada … I’ve been fortunate to be on the same side as him.”

While the Riders haven’t recorded a victory recently, one good sign for the team was the games have been close. During this stretch, the Riders have only lost by an average of 4.75 points.

The Riders host Winnipeg in the hopes of getting back into the win column. The Bombers were the last team the Riders beat this season – a 19-9 decision on July 19.

Harris said that in a lot of seasons, it’s the CFL team that gets going late in the season that usually ends up winning the Grey Cup.

“A lot of times it’s the team that gets hot and close and tight-knit late and starts getting those task and team-cohesion things right as the Labour Day games approach and beyond,” Harris said. “To me, it’s about building for these moments and we are on our details about each and every thing.

“I really like this team. I like where we are going and, believe it or not, there’s not a team I would bet on aside from us. I love this team and I’m excited about the future and the last seven games of the regular season and then beyond.”