Jamie Nye
CFL.ca
What a difference a week makes.
Or better yet, what a difference a win makes.
Riderville is once again smiling, despite the team’s 2-7 record at the half-way mark of the season.
Saskatchewan’s 27-7 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was unexpected, but the way in which they won was far more surprising.
For the most part of the game, the Roughriders neutralized the dangerous Blue Bomber pass rush, they were able to mix in the run game at opportune times and their defence was seemingly at their best.
But was that the real Saskatchewan Roughriders, or just a team playing on the emotion of a new coach with the added emotion of the best regular season atmosphere during the Labour Day Classic?
Coach Ken Miller believes it’s the former.
Adding to the positive swing of momentum in Saskatchewan is the return of some key figures to the lineup. This Sunday’s matchup will mark the return of one of the best receivers this league has to offer.
Andy Fantuz’s much anticipated return to Regina came Wednesday when he stepped onto the practice field for the first time following his NFL release.
In only his first practice since returning, Fantuz reminded the Rider faithful why he is such a special athlete. The 2010 Most Outstanding Canadian hauled in two highlight-reel receptions from one of his best friends, quarterback Darian Durant.
Durant noted he needed little time to get reacquainted with his favourite target.
“It’s just like old times. We started connecting like we didn’t miss a beat, like he was always here. It’s just good having him back. Its good having that big body back and I just look forward to having that carry over to game day.”
The Roughriders now have an embarrassment of riches at receiver with Cary Koch also expected to return to the lineup.
Last week’s debut of Dallas Baker was impressive, as the import receiver led the Roughriders with four receptions for 82 yards, including an impressive 40-yard catch.
Add in Weston Dressler, Efrem Hill and Chris Getzlaf and all of a sudden, the Riders feature one of the strongest receiving corps in the league.
The Roughriders are on the cusp of turning this season around. However, reality bites back when you look at the standings.
They continue to sit in the league-basement and are well out of the playoffs heading into the back half of the season.
While B.C. is only one game up on the Roughriders, they too are playing some outstanding football. The Lions are 3-1 in their last four games.
The Roughriders will get very little help from above as they try to climb back into the race.
But you won’t hear Miller talk about what they need from other teams down the stretch. He has the team zoned in on making it to the 2011 Grey Cup on hard work alone.
A message board in the Roughriders locker room, which was once filled with various messages and photos, has been wiped clean.
Now displayed on that board is a reminder of the 99th Grey Cup in Vancouver with the number of days remaining until kickoff.
Prior to the Labour Day Classic last week, the team walked into the locker room only to find t-shirts with ‘RIDERS’ on the front and ‘WIN TODAY!” emblazoned on the back.
It’s the type of message the team has embraced whole-heartedly.
“If we keep losing games than we’re not going to be anywhere,” said Dressler following Sunday’s win. “We have to start winning now. That was kind of our message this week, to take action now and quit waiting around and let’s go for it.”
And on the road to the Grey Cup, the Roughriders have a lot going for them.
They have Miller leading the charge, a number of key players returning and a positive mindset that they can achieve their goal.
Their one major hurdle, their record, has been self-inflicted. Now the desperate Riders need to prove that their performance on Labour Day was for real.
And there isn’t a better opportunity to do that than in the Banjo Bowl, when they meet their prairie foe for the second-straight week.
