Nye: Riders get time to work things out before playoffs

The Saskatchewan Roughriders bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.

After five straight losses, the team heads in different directions for a week off. Some home to see their family, Darian Durant was in Dallas to watch his brother’s Cowboys play on Monday Night Football, some returned to Regina to take part in various charity and community events.

But it’s a break. Welcome relief from the last seven games that have seen the team lose six games in total, including five straight.

The last time the Riders had a bye week it was way back in Week 4 of the CFL season. They were 1-2 heading in, losers of two straight.

What happened that bye week was Head Coach Corey Chamblin working his magic. He poured over film, seeing which players needed improvement and which positions could be upgraded.

More importantly, the Head Coach looked over his own work and the work of his fellow coaches. Every detail was second guessed and critiqued.

The result was outstanding.

Corey Chamblin changed their practice routine, and asked more out of his players in 90 to 120 minutes he had them on the practice field.

The pace picked up, things were moved around, the script changed and the team rattled off seven straight wins.

Then the undeniable truth, Durant’s right elbow injury put the team on their heels. They were without their leader in the huddle and air let out of the balloon.

So it’s back to the drawing board for Chamblin and his assistants.

In the final game before the bye week, his team gave him a glimmer of hope. To the point the head coach’s message after the game starting pointing to an ‘us versus the world’ mentality.

It won’t be the first time a coach uses that motivation to get his team geared up. The bottom line of Chamblin’s message is, it doesn’t matter who doesn’t believe in you, I do.

The first three quarters of the game against the Stampeders offered some comfort that maybe, just maybe, this season will turn around for the Riders.

First off, the bye week allows this team to get healthy. Chris Best and Brendon LaBatte need to heal up for the playoff run. Two cornerstones of what was renowned as one of the best offensive lines in the league over the last three seasons.

Anthony Allen would have a 1,000 yard season if it weren’t for injuries and coaching decisions but the running back should be able to return to near full speed for the playoffs.

Weston Dressler hasn’t hit his stride yet as a receiver in Saskatchewan, but has provided a spark on special teams. If his ankle has improved with two weeks off, the Riders will desperately need him to step up come November.

Of course, Durant’s health may just be where the 2014 season hinges. When he returns to the practice field next week to get ready to complete his rehab it will be telling if the Riders will have their Most Valuable Player to mirror his great playoff run in 2013.

Second, the bye week offers Kerry Joseph more time to grow as the Riders quarterback if Durant doesn’t come back. Joseph has two games of film work to study, along with the playbook. He can improve after throwing five interceptions in those two games and will be able to gauge his own receivers’ tendencies on certain patterns.

Third, the mental side of the game helps at this time of year. The Riders get away from the losing. When they return, they have what they hope to be a four-game stretch in front of them that they will have to tackle one game at a time. They also get a tune up game before the playoffs in advance of the do or die games that lie ahead. It should be a refreshed team returning over the weekend.

Finally, Head Coach Corey Chamblin gets a week to work his magic. The same man who turned around his team last season after a slide going into the post-season and the same man who had this team win seven straight games following early season struggles.

The defending Grey Cup Champions are not going to let go of their title easily, and after their last game, there is clearly some more fight left.