“We feel we’re not even the same team from Week 1. We had a big identity problem trying to figure out the type of team we were. Now, guys are playing and not thinking. We’re playing fast and it’s fluid.”
-Tiger-Cat quarterback Henry Burris on his offence’s evolution from their opening week loss. Toronto Sun
“He’s good guy and that deal on the weekend was way out of character. He has shown that he has difference-making speed. He has a knack for hitting the crease when it doesn’t look like there is anything there. When he gets a step on you, you’re not going to catch him. He certainly has home-run-hitting capability.’’
– Saskatchewan Special Teams Coordinator Craig Dickenson on Chris Williams. Regina Leader Post
“We’re going to make plays and we’re going to get him on the ground and hopefully get the ball on the ground. That’s one thing about these dynamic returners. They are fast, but if you can get to them and get the ball out, you can create a turnover. That’s one of our main focuses, but we just play our game on our coverage teams.’’
-Rider long snapper Cory Hucklack on countering the Tiger-Cats’ returners. Regina Leader Post
“I feel like the Rider Nation is still a part of me, and it always will be. I had a great time when I was there, and I appreciate everything that the province and the organization and the community had done for me. I’ll always be a Rider fan. I still have a lot of good friends on the team and I wish the team all the best, except when they’re playing us, I guess.’’
-Tiger-Cat receiver Andy Fantuz on his lingering feelings for Saskatchewan. Regina Leader Post
“We’re just trying to get on the same page and trying to gel as an offence. We seem to be getting better every week. Henry had a great game on the weekend. If I just catch the ball when it’s thrown to me, that’s all I can really do. On the weekend, I had a chance to make some plays. We spread the ball around a lot and we’re tough to stop, so you see what can happen if we utilize all our weapons and don’t make mental mistakes and take penalties and have dropped balls or fumbles or turnovers or whatever. If we can continue that, we’ll be on the right track and that’s where we want to be. The Riders have a great defence and it’s going to be a tough go. I think it’s going to be a good challenge.’’
-Fantuz on the increasing comfort of the Ticats’ offence. Regina Leader Post
“I think it will be a good ol’ Saskatchewan welcome back. I think they’ll get after ‘Tuz, but they’ll always get after me. But hey, they’ve got a great quarterback who is doing some great things in Darian Durant. He has carried that team to a great start. Regardless of what they do, we’re focused on what we have to do. We know it’s going to be a typical Saskatchewan welcome.’
-Burris on the reception he expects in Saskatchewan. Regina Leader-Post
“He’s very explosive and, if he handles the ball enough, he’s going to hit the hole sometimes and be gone. We just have to make sure he gets enough touches.”
-The Tiger-Cats’ Head Coach George Cortez on Chevon Walkers abilities. Hamilton Spectator
“We would like to have our No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 guys involved in the passing game. The onus is on me to create opportunities for them. It’s hard to tell a guy to pick it up at No. 3 and No. 4 when you don’t create options for him. If someone is getting open all of the time, the quarterback is going to find him. It’s a combination of me creating more opportunities and the receivers making more plays.’’
-Saskatchewan Offensive Coordinator Bob Dyce on balancing his team’s passing attack. Regina Leader-Post
“Defences are going to start scheming against them. They are going to take them away and we need another one or two guys out there to balance the load. We don’t want to get to the point where the quarterback is looking to force things in certain directions. We feel that everyone has an opportunity. If everyone is in the right spot and when they get open, the quarterback knows they are going to get open. He can make his reads and throw to the guy in the right spot.”
-Dyce on the need to spread the ball away from top targets Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf. Regina Leader-Post
“It’s big. It’s another step in my career. Hopefully I can keep this spot. I’m just really excited to go out there and show what I can do and show that I can contribute to this football team.’’
-Roughrider rookie offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld on getting his first CFL start on Saturday. Regina Leader-Post
“The fans are awesome. For this game to be sold out the way it is, that really helps us, having that 13th man just roaring. You can practice with crowd noise. It’s not the same. I’ve coached here and we’ve had the crowd noise. It’s not the same. Those guys are going to be in for a treat there, and hopefully we can continue to keep the energy going through every play, whether it be on the field or in the stands, just to make it hard for the Tiger-Cats.’’
-Saskatchewan’s Head Coach Corey Chamblin on the crowd noise he expects at Mosaic on Saturday. Regina Leader-Post
“I’m not sure what the reception will be. I’m sure it will be mixed. I’m sure there will be some boos but I also still have support from some people there,” Fantuz said, after the club’s final workout before leaving for Saturday’s game. “It’s going to be fun. Loud, hostile environment. The CFL at its finest.”
-Andy Fantuz on what he expects from the fans on Saturday. Toronto Sun
“He doesn’t play on the field. We have to worry about the other 12 guys, we don’t have to worry about him as much,” Burris said. “He has a past with the Ticats, so you know there’s a bitter side. We’re not going to use his little rookie coach rallying cry to get us going — we’re focused on what we have to do.”
Henry Burris on Corey Chamblin’s comments following their season-opening loss to Saskatchewan. Hamilton Spectator.
“There’s going to be some head-smashing on Saturday. I’m not into the whole ‘they kicked our (butt) so we have something to prove.’ No,” “We’re playing really good football right now and we have to keep doing it.”
Chris Williams on keeping the momentum the team has built over the last two weeks. Hamilton Spectator.
