The 5-7-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders are in Calgary for Friday’s match-up with the 4-8-1 Stampeders. The winner of the contest will have the upper hand when it comes to securing a playoff spot in the West Division.
The Riders, winless in their last seven games, are all business looking for an elusive victory. Still, a number of coaches on the current Green and White coaching staff will have a short homecoming. Head coach Corey Mace spent five years as a player and five years as a coach with the Stampeders, while offensive coordinator Marc Mueller spent a decade on the Stamps coaching staff.
“I'll see some of the people that I've spent lots of time with the past 10 years, but I'll get to see them for 30 seconds or 40 seconds. We're there to win a football game, and that's what it's about," Mueller said.
Mueller was on Calgary's coaching staff from 2014 through 2023 serving as a defensive assistant coach, running backs coach and most recently quarterback’s coach. The 35-year-old admits he knows the Stampeders well but the opposition team also knows him. The first-year, full-time play caller knows his offensive identity with Saskatchewan.
“At this point, if you don't have tendencies, you don't really have an identity," Mueller said. “We’ve got to be able to move the line of scrimmage and protect the quarterback. After that, we have really good skill on the outside, try to get those guys in space and get them the ball.”
Mueller has Grey Cup rings from Calgary’s championship teams in 2014 and 2018. He knows the first step is making the playoffs. The Riders can make a big move towards their first postseason appearance since 2021 with a win in Calgary on Friday and Mueller agrees his offence has to start fast.
“No matter who you're playing, the more plays you have, the better chance you have to score. The more time you're on the field, the more time they're not, the less chances they have to score as well. If you can control the ball and move the sticks, you’ve got plays off of plays, it's hard to set them up unless you're on the field.”
The Roughriders are back on the field Friday night at McMahon Stadium. Countdown to Kick-off begins with Justin Dunk and Wes Cates at 4:30 p.m. Luc Mullinder, and I will join in at 6:30 p.m. with kick-off to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
