Riders try to end losing streak on Legends Night at Mosaic Stadium

On what the organization is dubbing Legends Night, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will try to put an end to a four-game skid.

During Saturday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Riders will be honouring hall of fame fullback George Reed, who died on Sunday at the age of 83, as well as members of the 2013 Grey Cup winning team, with the entire squad being inducted into the Plaza of Honour.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m. on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM.

“When you see a legacy and guys who have won Grey Cups and guys who played on the field and wore the same uniform as you – for me, it’s motivating,” said running back Jamal Morrow, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury.

“To go out there and you see a bunch of legends that we are honouring, #34 (Reed), you want to go out there and play great football in honour of them.”

While there will be a lot of attention paid to the tributes and ceremonies throughout the game, the Riders’ main focus will be on how the team can get back into the win column.

The Riders have lost their last four games to drop to 6-9.

While the team remains in a playoff spot, it appears any positive momentum the team gained has come to a sudden halt.

“We’ve been really focused on playing our best game and having our best week of practice,” said Riders head coach Craig Dickenson.

“We’ve had a good week of practice – not different than other weeks though. We’ve had good weeks of practice all year.

“I’ve told them all week it’s about action now. Let’s go out and prove we belong and play our best football and do it when it counts which is when the lights are on.”

Defensive tackle Micah Johnson said it’s time for the players to start rewarding the coaches for having so much confidence in them even when things haven’t gone their way.

“I feel like the coaching staff takes heat but we are the ones out there on the field. There have been plenty of times they have put us in positions and we’ve let them down,” Johnson said.

“That’s what I told coach Dickie – at some point, we have to play for you all as well.

“I’ve been talking to the guys about that and I think we’ve taken that to heart. Week in and week out, the coaching staff tells us how they are committing to us. I’ve been in organizations dating back to when I was in the NFL – you start losing, you’re around .500 and everyone in the building is tight.

“Players are coming in and out, guys are getting cut, they are bringing in try-outs. There hasn’t been any of that.

“Every week coach comes and lets us know he is riding with us so I think it’s about time as the players we step up and start fighting for these coaches.”

The Riders’ defence will see some changes this week as the group looks for more physicality.

The group is coming off a 33-26 loss to the B.C. Lions where quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 458 yards and three touchdowns.

Prior to that game, it was the rushing attacks that were gashing the defence, with the team giving up 721 yards on the ground over three games.

This week, linebacker T.J. Brunson will start ahead of Micah Teitz while William Poole III will make his CFL at cornerback.

“We have to get more physical on defence, we have to get more physical on offence and we have to get more physical on special teams.

“Dressing bigger, stronger, more physical players is going to help us across the board I think,” Dickenson said.

The Riders’ defence will face Ti-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who last played on July 26 when he suffered a leg fracture.

So far this season, Mitchell has thrown for 714 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions in three games.

Hamilton also has one of the top running backs in the league, with James Butler racking up 942 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns.

On offence, the big change comes in the receiver group as Mitch Picton starts, giving the Riders three Canadian starters in the group (Kian Schaffer-Baker, Sam Emilus).

“It’s exciting. It doesn’t change the way I prepare or anything like that,” Picton said. “Any time I can be on the field and trying to contribute to getting some wins is good for me.”

While the Riders are mired in a losing streak, the group still holds control of their own destiny and can clinch a playoff spot with any combination of wins or Calgary Stampeders losses adding up to two.

“This is a big game for us. There is going to be a lot of emotion but I think the locker room is in a good head space,” said quarterback Jake Dolegala.

“We know what we need to do and we plan on going out and doing it.”