Music: {allcanada} ESKIMOS AIM TO SHUT OUT BAD RECORD WHEN FACING ROUGHRIDERS

Saturday, August 28, 2010

{allcanada} ESKIMOS AIM TO SHUT OUT BAD RECORD WHEN FACING ROUGHRIDERS

EDMONTON -- The standings say otherwise, but the Edmonton Eskimos insist they'll have a clean slate when they return from a week off to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.

With a 1-6 record through seven games, the do-over approach is easier said than done in a season fraught with defeat, disappointment and upheaval.

But that's what coach Richie Hall has been selling during a bye week since his team took a 56-15 thrashing in Calgary on Aug. 15.

Are the Eskimos buying it?

"I think they're buying into just where we're at," Hall said. "They understand where we're at record-wise, but they also understand that there is 11 games left. That's all we can look forward to."

Amazingly, the Eskimos aren't out of the playoff picture in the CFL's West Division, thanks to the equally inept B.C. Lions, but that's about as good as the news gets.

"The way we're approaching this is there's nothing we can do about the 1-6 record," receiver Kelly Campbell said. "We look at it as a new season.

"We go into this game 0-0. If we approach it like that and just look at what we have to do in the next game, we just have to take care of business and then keep going.

"We can't worry about what other teams are doing. If we take care of our business and win games, we'll be where we're supposed to be."

Quarterback Ricky Ray is banged up, having suffered a sternum injury in Calgary. Ray's maligned offensive line is trying to find its game under new coach Tim Prinsen in the wake of the firing of Jeff Bleamer.

Linebackers coach Dan Kepley resigned after the loss in Calgary and has been replaced by Mark Nelson. General manager Danny Maciocia didn't survive five weeks. Maciocia was fired after the Eskimos lone win, a 28-25 squeaker over the Lions on July 30.

"You just have to look forward and forget what's been done in the past," said Ray. "We still have a lot to play for.

"We're just trying to stay ahead of two teams. Six teams make it (playoffs), so we've still got a lot to play for. That's given us motivation to move forward."

Front office and coaching changes aside, the Eskimos have several glaring on-field issues as they host the 5-2 Roughriders (TSN, 7 p.m. ET), who beat them 24-20 in Saskatchewan July 17.

The Eskimos have allowed 34.1 points per game, which is worst in the CFL. The defence has recorded just 12 quarterback sacks, the second-lowest total in the league.

"We believe in each other but we just haven't collectively, as a team, shown it," said linebacker Maurice Lloyd. "This week, everybody's got it in their mind this is a test. It's a test of every man's character, even my character. Do we really believe in each other? Tomorrow, we'll show that. I feel we're going to come out here and give it everything we've got."

The Eskimos have scored just 145 points. Only the Lions have scored fewer points. Much of the onus for turning that around will fall to the offensive line, which has to keep Ray and backup Jared Zabransky out of harm's way and upright.

"It's important we give Ricky time to throw the ball," said right guard Patrick Kabongo. "Whether it's Ricky or Jared or Jason (Maas), for us, it's protect, protect, protect. That's what's most important."

Ray has declared himself fit to play, but Zabransky, who mopped up against Calgary by completing eight of 16 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, took a lot of reps in practice this week and is ready if Hall calls on him.

"The most important game is this game," Hall said. "Just to break it down a little more simply is to take it one play at a time. It's easier said than done, but that's all you can do.

"It's a season within a season. Usually people break it down, whether it's a quarter of the way or a third of the way. There's nothing we can do about the 1-6 start. That's in the past and it's factual stuff.

"Nothing is going to change that. What we can change is trying to be 1-0 this week. When you look at the other team, Saskatchewan, they're 5-2. When we look at them, they're 0-0. Their 5-2 and our 1-6, neither one of those records is going to help us out in this game. It's about playing this game."