The Saskatchewan Roughriders might know their situation, might not like it and might be feeling all kinds of pressure heading into the final three games of the season, but that hasn’t changed how things feel around the team.
In fact, possibly the exact opposite.
Riders quarterback Trevor Harris spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon after practice and revealed that not only is the team in a good mental spot as they head into their most crucial part of the season, they’re also bringing it on the field.
“How we approach this is a choice. You can sit here and mope around and get your head down if you want to, but the vibes are great,” Harris said. “I thought today was probably the best practice of the year and I feel like we've had some great conversations and some great things come up during these few days.”
That’s despite knowing their backs are against the wall with three games against the best the CFL has to offer and almost certainly needing at least a win to get into the postseason.
“I know this team's going to come out fighting and I know exactly what I'm going to do and what the offence's mindset is,” Harris said. “We're going to do everything we can. We're going to come out swinging and do everything we can to go out there and get a win in Montreal.”
Harris felt the team excelled in almost every facet in their return to practice — especially with regards to their energy and focus — and that bodes well for their preparation for the rest of the week.
“That effort, passion, and focus is something that is an ‘us’ thing,” Harris explained. “It's like we make the decision to do that. It's a choice, so what are we going to bring in those categories? I feel like we did a tremendous job of that today, and I look forward to that being in the future. If it's not, then as leaders of the team, we've got to make sure we push on the accelerator.”
The good thing is Saskatchewan controls their own destiny. Win, and they’re in, and there’s nothing their fellow contenders can do about it.
“No question, it's on us,” Harris said. “Even if you don't control your own destiny, all you control is what you do, and so our focus is on exactly what we need to do, which is have a tremendous meeting. Watch film tonight, and then have a tremendous day two tomorrow because the schedule is not doing you any favours.
“It's playoff football for us at this point, and if we're not playing tremendous football, then it's on us. We've got to make sure that we're luggage-packed, ready to work every single day.”
As has been the case so, so many times this season, it appears the Riders will be without one of their biggest weapons in their meeting with Montreal on Monday.
Stalwart receiver KeeSean Johnson has been a go-to for Harris’ offence all season, to the tune of 101 catches and 1,243 yards receiving. He suffered an ankle injury during last week’s contest against Calgary, though, and was on the field but not in equipment on Thursday.
Should the Riders lose him, it will be a major blow, but one the team will once again have no choice but to deal with, Harris said.
“He’s done a tremendous job for us, but that's what we expect from KeeSean, especially when you get Sam (Emilus) and (Kian Schaffer-Baker) out for most of the season,” he added. “We're going to lean into him. But if he does miss time, we've got confidence in the guys in there.
“I think (Daniel) Wiebe has done a tremendous job making a name of himself. Dhel (Duncan-Busby) has stepped up a ton this year on occasion, and so has Johnny (Johnson III), and then Shemar (Bridges) if he has to step in.”
Monday’s contest features a very early start, with the Rider Broadcast Network pregame show with Teagan Witko, Wes Cates and plenty of special guests beginning at 8 a.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder will then have the game call at kickoff at 11 a.m.
