After watching the film, what are your thoughts on last week’s game against Montreal?
MB: Well we played better than the score showed, I felt like we did a good job defensively until the end, and offensively we moved the ball well. We just didn’t do as well as we’d like in the score zone and short-yardage. We still have some things to improve on and work on but I think we’re improving.
The defence seemed to play well against the Alouettes. Can you comment on their performance?
MB: I thought we did a good job. They had good field position throughout the game and the defence was able to hold them to field goals and field goal attempts, unfortunately their kicker was pretty efficient for them. We did a lot of positive things defensively and we have a lot to build on.
You’re coming off a tough game in a hostile environment, and heading into arguably the toughest place to play in the league this week. How are you preparing your team to handle gameday at Mosaic Stadium?
mb: It was good tune-up for us, playing on the road and getting used to the noise and the environment with the home opener. I think it helps us prepare to go on the road in Saskatchewan and the reality is if we want to be the formidable team we want to be we’re going to have to go in and have success in those types of places.
What have the Roughriders done well this season to get to 3-1?
mb: Well they’ve won the close games, that’s the first thing. They won the first game at home against Montreal, the won a close game against Edmonton where they made some big plays in the last few moments of the game, and that’s what they’ve done all season. They’ve made plays at the end of games and given themselves opportunities to have success.
Darian Durant leads the league with 1,325 passing yards and has also ran for 162 on the ground. What’s the most effective way of stopping him?
MB: You have to try and eliminate the big play. Keep him in the pocket and try to take away the big play, make him check it down and kind of rally the football. When he’s the most effective he’s getting the big play down the field and throwing the football down the field.
The Roughriders have allowed a league-high 32.2 points-per–game this season… do you expect a high-scoring game on Saturday?
MB: You never know what you’re going to get week-to-week. It’s a little bit of a misleading stat since there were 51 points in that first game so that’s not a true reality. Having said that, to win on the road you do have to go in to score points so that’s going to be our challenge.
Your defensive line has been applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks throughout the first four weeks of the season. Talk about the play of the D-Line…
MB: The D-line have played real well, they’ve been very active and have played in a lot of different positions. Everyone has created up front there and they create opportunities for each other, so it’s nice to see them play as a complete unit.
You spent five years on the Roughriders coaching staff. Do you enjoy going back to cities where you’ve previously worked?
MB: I’ve only coached in 2 other places, so it’s fun to go back but there’s no novelty, it’s been such a long time since I coached there but it’s fun to go back and see some old friends. I’m happy for their success and it’s good to know their organization is strong and doing really well.
