CHAMBLIN’S MONDAY COMMENTS

Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin met with reporters on Monday to discuss the team’s status heading into Sunday’s 2014 CFL Western Semifinal at Edmonton (3:30 pm, TSN, 620 CKRM).

WHAT’S THE INJURY STATUS?

CC:  The medical table is decently full in there with Ivan Gutfriend and I know he’ll get those guys back to health.  I think all those guys should be available for this week and available to go Day 1 of practice.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES DURANT STARTS?

CC:  The chances of him starting?  I think that’ll be determined moreso towards the end of the week if he’s there.  I do expect him to be on the active roster and in one of the positions.  #1, #2 or #3, I can’t say that right now.  I think that’s gonna be how it looks Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and leave it after that.

COULD IT BE A TWO-QB SYSTEM?

CC:  I think having those guys in either order is good.  If one of the guys starts to struggle a bit, then we have something to go from there.  That’s the thoughts right now.  Hopefully it gets to that point because they’re our two strongest QB’s just because they have a lot of starting experience.

HOW IS K CHRIS MILO?

CC:  I don’t think there was any structural damage.  Right now that’s what the assessment has been.  Moreso a bruise, and how long it takes to heal, I don’t know.  Will he be ready to go?  We’ll see on Day 1.  We’ll see when he gets out there and starts kicking around.

WOULD YOU BRING SOMEONE IN?

CC:  There’s an option there, and that’s a thought process.  But as we go back on the roster, we sat some guys last week and usually we have some guys who’ve done some kicking but we didn’t last week.  Going forth this week we’ll add those guys.

ARE YOU READY TO FIELD YOUR TOP 44 PLAYERS?

CC:  Very ready.  We’re going back and forth in the meetings as to who exactly should be playing because there were some guys who did some good things the other night and over the past couple of weeks that has made it a tough decision.  I like that.  Some of that may go down to Day 2 where there are guys competing in spots to see who gives us the best chance to win a playoff game.  But I think we’re the healthiest we’ve been all year.

YOU’RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH EDMONTON…

CC:  Yah that’s one thing.  I think there’s only so many new things you can do.  It comes down to how your roster’s set, who’s your personnel, who’s playing and not playing and both teams have the same amount of time to get ready.  Both teams will come with wrinkles and if you can survive those wrinkles and be stout versus what they do base, that team will win.

WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES OF A ROAD GAME?

CC:  To be honest, I think the whole season is different from last year at this time.  This team, they’re young, and when they’re young you just tell them where to go and they go.  I think they’re prepped and ready for it but I guess the other difference from not being at home is there’s not a lot of pressure in the city and hype about winning the Grey Cup.  I think a lot of people are still happy over the last one but we’re not set and we’re not happy about it.  We’re trying to to move forward.

OG CHRIS BEST’S STATUS?

CC:  He’s another guy that, in the next couple of days, we’ll see where he goes in terms of moving from rehab to on the field.

HOW READY IS DURANT?

CC:  I may make him live in practice!  And see if he can escape and take the hit.  That’s the biggest thing — the mental of side of him and taking that first hit.  He’s taken them before but it’s not about taking the hit.  It’s about protecting his arm and I think he’ll be ready to go.  Whatever amount of weeks it is, he’s cleared to practice and cleared to go.

ANY COMMENT TO RIDER FANS GOING TO EDMONTON?

CC:  Bring your parka!  Make sure you’re ready to stay the full 60 minutes and get ready to go!  I’d love to have that thing packed.  This is an opportunity, it’s a wide open stadium and it’s a good chance for us to pack it.  Show that Rider Pride.