STORYLINES TO WATCH
1. Trying Again
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting another crack at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. The last time the teams met, on Aug. 20 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field, the Tiger-Cats drubbed the Roughriders 53-7 — the most lopsided defeat of Saskatchewan’s season. The Roughriders turned the ball over seven times, with four interceptions by quarterback Darian Durant, a pick and a fumble by backup QB Mitchell Gale, and a failed third-down gamble. ExRoughriders defensive end John Chick, who was playing his first game against the team that released him in January, had two sacks and a forced fumble.
2. Zach Attack
Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros, whose 2015 campaign ended in knee surgery, was making just his second start of the season in the teams’ previous meeting. All he did was complete 23 of 30 pass attempts for 381 yards with five touchdowns in just over three quarters of work. In the six games he has played this season, Collaros has completed 67 per cent of his passes for 2,101 yards — exceeding 300 yards in five of those contests — with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Hamilton is 3-3-0 in those games.
3. On the Defensive
Saskatchewan’s defence has made huge strides since the game in Hamilton, even though the Roughriders have just one victory since then. Saskatchewan has allowed seven touchdowns over its past four games and surrendered a season-low 17 points to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl on Sept. 10. One of the keys is the continuity the Roughriders have developed on defence; they’ve started the same five defensive backs for their past three games, the same four D-linemen for the past three games, and the same five linebackers for the past five games.
4. Man of Steele
Tailback Curtis Steele returned to the Roughriders’ lineup for Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win over the Edmonton Eskimos after missing the previous seven games with a leg injury. Steele gave Saskatchewan a legitimate ground threat, rushing 13 times for 87 yards — and in the process set season highs for attempts and yards by a Saskatchewan running back this season. Saturday, he’ll tangle with a Hamilton defence that entered the week third against the run (68.8 yards per game).
5. Lowering the Boom
Roughriders punter Josh Bartel has been outstanding of late, averaging 45.7, 47.6 and 48.7 yards in his past three games. Of his 22 punts over the past three games, six have pinned the opposing team inside its 10-yard line. He continually flipped the field against the Eskimos on Sunday, especially when the Riders had the wind at their back. Saskatchewan — which entered the week ranked fourth in the CFL in opponent’s punt-return average (11 yards) and second in opponent’s kickoff-return average (19.6) — has to contend with Hamilton returner extraordinaire Brandon Banks on Saturday.