By Jamie Nye

Only a win will do for Roughriders against Montreal

Jul 22, 2011 | 4:12 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are not going to Montreal to just compete.

“We don't get style points,” was the way Head Coach Greg Marshall responded to a reporter's question on Friday, wondering if being close would be good enough for the 0-3 Roughriders.

General Manager Brendan Taman was of the same state of mind when he joined Drew Remenda on News Talk Radio's Sports Night on Thursday.

“Well if there is anybody in this building or on this football field that don’t think they’re going to go out and win then they need to get out of here. Everybody in this place is going out there to win a football game. We’re not going out to play better, we’re not going to compete, we’re going out there to win.”

Tough test

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The Roughriders acknowledge it'll be tough to get their first win of the season as the visitor in Montreal, but one they're not going to back away from.

“I always like being the underdog and playing with my back against the wall. We just have to come out with the attitude that we need to win, nobody wants to be 0-4 , especially on this team,” said defensive tackle Dario Romero.

Learning from their mistakes

The Alouettes and Roughriders met in Week 2 and the Roughriders played one of their best halves of football in the first half and went into the locker room tied at 17. The Alouettes ran away with the game with 15 unanswered points in the third quarter on their way to a 14 point win.

The game was indicative of the Roughriders first three games as they've been unable to put 60 minutes together.

Receiver Weston Dressler understands the offensive stumble two weeks ago took the team out of the game. Dressler and offense only ran five plays in the third quarter against Montreal.

“We're trying to get that full game, not just a quarter here and a quarter there. We need to get a full game plan together and execute it throughout the entire game.”

Another game vs Mother Nature

Last week the Roughriders headed east and faced a high temperature with an even higher humidex. The forecast is a similar one for Sunday's game in Montreal.

Marshall wasn't going to allow the weather and heat be an excuse for the team's 33-3 loss in Hamilton and isn't about to make it one before they even play Montreal.

“Whatever the conditions are you have to show up and play. You have to be tough mentaly and not let outside factors influence how you play.”

News and Notes

Injuries this week appear to have rookie safety Craig Butler on the shelf for Montreal. James Patrick will be back in his usual safety spot after missing two weeks with an injury. Luc Mullinder has moved his way back into the starting unit along the defensive line and replaces Montez Murphy, who may sit out on Sunday.

The team is juggling around a lot of roster moves before Sunday's game as rookies Eddie Russ, Chris Graham and Matthieu Boulay are being considered to make the move from the practice roster to the game day roster.

Running back/returner Hugh Charles may also be back on the roster after two weeks on the injured list.

news@panow.com