Riders defensive tackle Marcus Adams at practice Wednesday morning.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post
REGINA — The challenges and distractions are formidable when looking at a road trip to play the Montreal Alouettes.
For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, there is the arduous travel associated with making the trip to Montreal. This year, the team faces an eight-hour trip, including a four-hour layover in Calgary, while making the excursion to Montreal for Friday's game at Molson Stadium.
If the travel wasn't enough, the Riders were to leave today after a short work week. They beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-23 on Sunday and after a day off Monday, had just two days of practice.
Adding to the distractions, the players also know that Friday's game is the final one before embarking on their bye week. The Riders' next game is Sept. 6 against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
"We've talked about the distractions,'' Riders head coach Ken Miller said after Wednesday's rain-soaked practice ended at Mosaic Stadium. "We've talked about the distraction of time, of being in Montreal and going on a break. We also talked about keeping their primary focus on the things that are important. Those things are proper rest, preparation and to play the game with full-out effort.''
Flying to Montreal requires some effort. The Riders are leaving Thursday at 6 a.m. and are scheduled to arrive in Montreal around 5 p.m. There are plans to conduct some positional meetings in Calgary but there is still a lot of time spent sitting in an airplane and in the Calgary airport.
"I hate it,'' Riders defensive tackle Marcus Adams said when asked about making the trip to Montreal. "It's the longest day ever because we're all bunched up and sometimes we're sitting three to a row. We need some money so we can afford a charter but we have to do it.''
The seating on the small jets is a challenge for the larger players. The jets aren't designed with 300-pounders in mind, so space is at a premium.
"You pray that you get an empty seat beside you,'' said centre Jeremy O'Day. "If that doesn't happen, then you hope that you're not sitting beside another offensive lineman. It can be really tight.''
The travel challenges may also contribute to the Riders' struggles in Montreal, where the Riders are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Their last win in Montreal was June 29, 2007 when they beat the Alouettes 16-7.
"That was big for us because it was early in the year,'' said O'Day. "Still, it's no secret that we haven't played well in Montreal. If I knew the solution, then I would try to clean it up.''
The travel challenges may also contribute to the Riders' struggles in Montreal, where the Riders are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Their last win in Montreal was June 29, 2007 when they beat the Alouettes 16-7.
"That was big for us because it was early in the year,'' said O'Day. "Still, it's no secret that we haven't played well in Montreal. If I knew the solution, then I would try to clean it up.''
The weather may also be a challenge for the Riders. It's expected to be 28 C in Montreal on Friday and, combined with the humidity, it should feel like 38 C. That's a huge change from Wednesday's practice where it was 14 C with rain showers.
"I'm from the East Coast and I like the hot weather but practising in cold weather isn't good for our team,'' said Adams. "We have to adjust and I know that we will.''
The Alouettes on their own present a challenge for the Riders. Montreal leads the East Division with a 6-1 record and are 3-0 at home. The Alouettes are among the CFL's leaders in all of its offensive and defensive categories. The Riders are 4-3 and tied for first place in the West Division with the Edmonton Eskimos.
"Montreal defends their home pretty well,'' said Riders cornerback Omarr Morgan. "It's not just the Riders.
"Montreal defends their home pretty well,'' said Riders cornerback Omarr Morgan. "It's not just the Riders.
They play well at home against everyone.''
NOTES: Riders slotback Andy Fantuz is expected to miss a fourth straight game with an injured left hamstring. Miller said that Fantuz could have played but felt it was wiser to rest him with the bye week looming . . . Left offensive tackle Bobby Harris was working with the first-team offence on Wednesday and Miller said it was possible that he would play on Friday. Harris is nursing a tender left knee. If Harris doesn't play, it's expected Gene Makowsky would move from left guard to the left tackle and Chris Best would start at guard . . . After Friday's game, the Riders are off until Aug. 31.
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