Article content continued

Quarterback Zach Collaros joked “we’re 6-and-4 now” when asked about the difference between the Riders team that lost 26-19 to the Eskimos on Aug. 2 and the one that beat the Blue Bombers on Sunday..

“I don’t know if there’s much of a difference,” Collaros added. “Guys believe that we have the right recipe to win here. We don’t just come in here and say that to say it. Guys really believe in what we’re doing.”

Veteran receiver Naaman Roosevelt feels it has taken time for the Riders to come together. That started to take place against the Eskimos, where Collaros made his first start since Week 2 after being sidelined with concussion and neck issues.

“We had some rookie receivers and we had Zach just coming back,” Roosevelt said about the loss to the Eskimos. “The defence was doing its job, but as an offence we were still trying get our timing down. It took six or seven games for that to happen.”

Saskatchewan’s offence hasn’t exploded with Collaros as quarterback for the last four games, but it has improved. Collaros is healthy and is among the reasons why the Riders have won three consecutive games against West Division opponents.

“I was excited when we acquired Zach this off-season,’’ said Riders defensive back Ed Gainey. “We finally had a quarterback that would stick and give us a chance in the playoffs to compete for the Grey Cup.

“It’s all Zach. He knows to control and run that offence. The coaches are going to make the right calls and Zach is all about putting the ball in our playmakers’ hands. We have a lot of young guys at receiver and they are all stepping up to the plate. They are handling business like men.”