Riders hope to tame the Lions

The Roughriders will play game number three on their schedule Saturday night looking for that first victory of the season.

On the other side of the Taylor Field turf will be Wally Buono, coaching his 400th game and looking for career win number 257.

That fact hasn't gone unnoticed by Riders' head coach Chris Jones.

"Wally is the winningest coach of all time for a reason," Jones said. "And you see the results of him being the head coach over there."

Yes, Wally is back. He stepped away from the sideline for a few seasons to concentrate on managerial duties but he re-hired himself to coach, already infusing his influence on a club with a 7-11 record in 2015, to one with a winning record after three games this year.

He obviously knows how to treat his players. Take Anthony Allen, for example; a player who appeared to have lost confidence and love for the game under Corey Chamblin in Saskatchewan. 

Allen, who ran for close to 1,000 yards with the Riders in 2014, will start at running back for the Lions against his former club. Under Wally Buono, Allen's enthusiasm has not only returned but needed to be controlled.

"He noticed I was a little more excited at practice this week," Allen said. "I was excited about being the starter and coming back to where I started at. He saw that and he slowed me down saying, 'Hey, don't try to do everything yourself, you can't be Superman out there.'" 

Allen admits the Lions' coaching staff tried to pick his brain about the Riders' defensive players this week, but what could he offer? Other than Jeff Knox, there are no defensive players who were with the Riders last year.

"You never know what to expect with a Chris Jones defence," said Allen. "He brings everybody and he runs some unorthodox defences." 

Mosaic Memories

Buono knows a thing or two about dealing with players. He also knows a thing or two about winning football games. A good percentage of his wins have come against the Riders during his 23 year coaching career.

Toss in 10 years as a player and Buono has seen a fair bit of old Mosaic Stadium, which after Saturday will have seven regular season CFL games of life remaining. Buono says its always been an interesting place to visit.

"I played here when it was called Taylor Field, when it didn't have an upper deck and when it had a fence around it," he said. "So its been a long, long journey. But it's always been fun, it's always a different atmosphere coming here and the new stadium will look spectacular."

Remembering the Riders' first Grey Cup win

Buono played against Reed and Lancaster who were part of the 1966 Grey Cup team. Marking the 50th anniversary of that championship there will be a half time ceremony to honour the team that brought Saskatchewan its first title.

The fans at the game Saturday night will be happy just to get a win from the current team.

Looking for win No.1

The Riders will have a few changes to the roster including the addition of recently acquired defensive tackle Cedric McKinley and Josiah St.John who could make his professional debut Saturday.

"My first pro snap is definitely going to be exciting," St.John said Friday after learning he at least made the 46-man active roster for the game against the Lions.

This year's first overall draft pick could be in the lineup as centre Dan Clark appears doubtful. Andrew Jones would snap the ball in Clark's place.

One goal set by the offensive line prior to the season is to lead the league in sacks allowed; that is, as few as possible.

So far so good. Quarterback Darian Durant has only been sacked once in two games. Brendon LaBatte says it definitely makes a difference having Durant back under centre.

"It's motivating having a guy back there you know has been through so much," LaBatte said. "You hate to be the reason that he didn't have a good chance to shine because we let him down up front."

Durant's start Saturday will be the 101st of his career.

Chris Jones has never lost three consecutive games as a CFL head coach.