Riders looking for 1st win of the season against Hamilton

By now, “must-win” is a cliche up there with “giving 110%” but a win for the Roughriders is getting a little more urgent.

The club is 0-2 to start the season and with a week four bye and week five game against the Calgary Stampeders, a win Saturday night against the Tigercats would leave them in a much better place going forward.

“I think it’s urgent because we’re in the west division, just the way the west shakes down is very competitive,” said Riders quarterback Kevin Glenn. “But we don’t want to worry about what we’re doing after the bye week we just want to concentrate on Hamilton. I don’t like to use the word must-win but it’s just a game that it’s urgent that we need to win because we’re in the business of winning.”

The Tigercats, however, provide a unique challenge to the Roughriders. After losing to the Argonauts 32-15 in week one, Hamilton went on a bye week.

Throughout the week, head coach Chris Jones stressed that Hamilton was not as bad as the game against the Argos illustrated and with the bye, there isn’t much film for the team to review.

“That’s the hardest things, because Kent Austin didn’t just forget how to coach. He’s got an outstanding staff around him and a big core of that group has been there for quite some time and that’s not to mention their quarterback (Zach Collaros) who is one of the most elusive guys in the league,” Jones said after walk-through on Friday.

Many will be looking for the Riders defence to test Hamilton early as the offensive line allowed five sacks against the Argos.

Regardless, Jones said this week’s win is no more urgent than any other.

“We’ve got a very important game to play because it’s the next game and it’s one of 18 and we’ve got to keep on keeping on,” he said.