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Respond to any Blog Here
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Nov 9/08
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Next Year Country
The BC Lions have put an end to the Riders' season in demoralizing fashion. Right from the coin toss to the final busser, the Riders were dominated by the Leos. BC was the better team on Saturday. The fact that Saskatchewan was manhandled on the line of scrimmage and poor execution were key factors in the Saskatchewan loss. BC's d-line thoroughly out muscled team green's o-line effectively eliminating the Saskatchewan run game and forcing Bishop to try and win the game with his arm - Bad Situation. The same was the case on the defensive side of the ball where the Riders were able to pressure Buck Pierce only two or three times in the game and the Riders weren't able to mitigate the Lions running attack, an issue that eventually wore down the defense going into the second half.
I'm just gonna say this straight out... Michael Bishop was horrible. I was hoping that the good side of Bishop would show up for this one because he was so bad against Toronto in the final week of the regular season. The truth of the matter is that he can't produce in pressure situations. He has one read on each play and if it's not open, then he throws it anyway. He was overthrowing, underthrowing, throwing into coverage, throwing to BC, and turning the ball over. The defense kept us in the game until the 3rd quarter, when there should have been a quarterback change. In my mind there is absolutely no excuse for keeping Bishop in the game after halftime.
I have been saying all season that Durant is the QB of the future in Riderville. I don't know what he did or said to the coaching staff, but it is evident that Ken Miller has no confidence in him otherwise Miller would of made the change while we still had a chance to win. Michael Bishop gave up the ball 3 times in the first half and did not move the offense at all. Why would the coaching staff elect to keep him in the game? I think the coaching staff has not been consistent with their quarterbacks this year and unfairly favoured Bishop over the other two QB's. I may go into this matter in further depth in a subsequent blog, but for now I will just mention that the coaching staff contributed greatly to the Riders' loss on Saturday. That being said, the coaches have done an excellent job this year getting the Riders to 12-6 through all of the adversity they have faced. But it is my feeling that we have to part ways with Michael Bishop because the coaches are blinded to his futility.
The special teams played their best game of the season in terms of kicking, punting, and coverage. But two fumbles on returns are something that cannot be repeated in the future. Saskatchewan did not use Fantuz until it was too late and made poor use of Cates, rushing up the middle every time in a Barrett-style offense.
So it's next year country for the team and it's fans who are all too used to the ups and downs of the Riders. In my eyes, we have a solid team and coaching staff with a few key pieces missing. Hopefully next season we can develop those pieces and go into the playoffs on a high instead of stumbling in like we did this year. All the best in 2009!
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 2/08
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Hosting the West Semi
Step one was to beat the Argos. It wasn't pretty, but the Riders found a way to win. The defense elected not to show up for half of the game and inconsistency plagued Michael Bishop again. Kerry Joseph dissected the Saskatchewan defense for over 300 yards passing and 5TD's, but the Riders came through when they needed to, forcing a two-and-out in the waning minutes of the game. The offense moved the ball well all game, but stalled when Bishop decided to pass the ball to his old teammates. On the plus side, Bishop made up for his four interceptions by running for 3TD's and completing some amazing passes late in the game. Special Teams played well blocking a punt and limiting the Argos return game.
Bishop has been great and awful, consistently inconsistent all season long. That being said, he has been named starting QB for the playoffs and the Riders can win with him behind centre. Michael Bishop just has to manage the ball game. With our star players back from injury, Bishop no longer has to put the team on his shoulders. That means that he doesn't have to force the ball downfield for the Roughriders to win games. Bishop simply has to get the ball to Cates, Fantuz, Flick, Dressler, Hughes, etc. and let them do the rest. On Thursday, Michael Bishop was still forcing the ball. In the playoffs, the coaches will ensure that he is more protective of the football by throwing only the occasional deep ball. In the playoffs the Riders need to be a run-first team.
Step Two was for Calgary to beat BC. 41-30 was the final for the Stamps giving the Riders home field advantage for the West Semi-Final. It is the first time the Riders have hosted a playoff game for two straight seasons since 1975-76 and it feels great. The 13th man will give the Riders an edge in what should be a difficult battle against the Lions.
Some people are giving the Riders no chance in the playoffs. I believe in this team and I'll tell you why. Saskatchewan has the best team in the CFL. The team is filled with team players, not individuals. When one element of the team is slagging, the other elements pick up the slack. The Roughies have a 12-6 record, second best in the CFL. That record is amazing when considering the adversity(injuries/QB Carousel) that this team has had to endure this season. Games in the playoffs are usually hard to win and ugly affairs. The winning team is the one that fights through the challenges and finds a way to win. The Riders have been finding ways to win all season and they will continue to in the playoffs. See you at the game!
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 26/08
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Playoff Bound in the West
After destroying the Eskies 55-9 in Regina, the Riders now know who they will be playing in the playoffs. Saskatchewan will play BC either at home or on the road to start the post-season. If the Lions win in Calgary next weekend, BC hosts. Saskatchewan finishes the season off in Toronto and will try to solidify their QB position in their final regular season game.
The Riders thoroughly dominated all facets in the game versus Edmonton. Saskatchewan's defense is back! They had pressure on the Eskimo QB's all day, forced 8 turnovers, and took two back for TD's. John Chick looked good out there and the 3-4 defensive sets worked well in utilizing the team speed of the Riders defense. Anton McKenzie had a decent game in his first start in 5 weeks and the whole defense looked like they had their edge back. The defense needs to play this way for the rest of 2008 to give the Riders a good shot at repeating.
On offense the Riders took a little while to get going. Steven Jyles had trouble dealing with the wind and was shaky in the first half throwing for 1 TD and 2 INT's. Michael Bishop took over in the second half and played well. We saw the good side of Jekyll and Hyde in this one. Bishop was pretty accurate and didn't turn the ball over. It must be said however, that the game was already in hand when Bishop took control of the offense. There was no pressure on him to perform and he responded with a good effort. Bishop has been named starter for the season finale in Toronto. I am still a believer that Darian Durant should be starter for this football team, but I think that any of the 3 QB's can get the job done. All the QB has to do is protect the ball. Saskatchewan needs the QB to distribute the ball to our playmakers, who are all getting healthy, and not turn the ball over. If the offense doesn't turn the ball over, the Riders will score points and will win games.
Corey Grant scored his first TD in 2 years on Saturday. Congrats Corey! He is a veteran who doesn't see the ball often, but who is always open. And how about the performance by the rest of the receivers. Saskatchewan's pass catchers were going up to get balls and making difficult catches look routine. It was nice to see Fantuz back in there, I can only imagine how amazing we would've been had he been healthy all year. And Weston Dressler solidified his case for rookie of the year as he went over 1000 yards receiving on the season and increased his yards per catch average to 20.2 (2nd in the CFL among starters). If this kid doesn't win rookie of the year something is wrong with the system.
Next week is a big game for the Riders to establish a solid winning streak heading into the playoffs. Saskatchewan needs to work out the kinks and get all of their returnees into game shape. There is a realistic opportunity that the Riders will be hosting a home playoff game this year. The first step is to go into Toronto and come out with a victory.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 21/08
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Quarterback Carousel
Saskatchewan is 10-6 after a last minute victory over the Tigercats. It wasn't pretty, but there were more positives than negatives coming out of this one.
Positive #1: Riders won
Positive #2: Luca Congi kicked the longest field goal in the CFL this season
Positive #3: Dominguez and Cates played well in their return to the lineup
Positive #4: The Riders had something like 250 yards rushing in the game
Positive #5: We had four turnovers and still found a way to win
Positive #6: The QB's were making smart decisions throughout the game. Granted there were 4 interceptions, but those were on poor throws. The QB threw to the right receiver in those situations, the balls were just underthrown or a little late.
Positive #7: Jyles was managed the game well in relief going 12-14 with a TD and interception
A few things I am worried about with this team are not only the turnovers we are giving up, but also the lack of turnovers created by the Roughriders defense. Saskatchewan has not forced a turnover in two games. Furthermore, I am not sure that Steven Jyles is the QB to take this team into the playoffs. My assessment from last game is that Darian Durant was making good decisions: running when the play broke down, throwing the ball away instead of taking a sack. He was rusty though, a second behind the receivers on a few throws. Jyles was good in relief, but some of his tendencies worry me. He telegraphs his passes and throws with less velocity than the other two QB's on our roster. Opposing defenses will pick up on this if he doesn't change. Also Jyles didn't stretch the field much. As far as I can remember, he threw one deep ball and that resulted in a huge gain. Jyles will have to improve if the Riders expect to beat the Esks on Saturday. For defensive info, turn to Matt's column this week.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 16/08
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What the #$%&#!@
After a dismantling of our football team by the Calgary Stampeders, one could rant on and on about how the team played their worst game of the season during the most important contest of the year. I am not going to spend too much time on dissecting the loss as we all know what the problems were... Too many turnovers, inconsistency by Bishop, poor fundamentals on defense, giving up too many big plays, no pressure on Burris, horrible special teams, and unmotivated play. There were however some inspiring performances from a few of the Riders players. Weston Dressler confirmed his standing as the top rookie in the league with over 130 yards and another incredible catch, this one was a one-handed diving grab. Renauld Williams had an amazing game filling in for Anton McKenzie collecting 8 tackles and a sack in the game. Williams' play is good news for the Riders as McKenzie will miss at least one more week with a shoulder injury.
Ken Miller has finally recognized Michael Bishop's cronic inconsistency and has promoted Darian Durant to starter. As a coach, Miller stated his frustration - shared by most fans - from witnessing the sporatic moments of absolute greatness followed by moments of complete mediocrity by Bishop. One can only hope that Durant takes charge of this team and continues the strong play that he displayed early in the season. This is an important time for the future of the Riders and the future is now. If Durant can perform up to his potential, this team is his to take to the playoffs and beyond. My hope is that he turns this season around.
More good news on the Riders front is that Wes Cates is probable for Sunday's game vs Hamilton. The Riders have had no running game since losing Cates a few weeks ago. Even better news for Saskatchewan is news out of practice that DJ Flick, Andy Fantuz, and Matt Dominguez are all only one week away from returning to the line-up. You read correctly. That means that for the very important matchup vs the Eskimos. If the Riders can get these guys back into game shape by the playoffs, they have a good chance of putting together a solid run toward the Grey Cup. It starts this week against the Tigercats.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 5/08
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Eat My Words, Back in First
After a big win by the Riders at home and a career performance by Michael Bishop, I am eating my words (at least somewhat). Bishop and the rest of the Riders came out flying as he went 12 for 13 in the first half, including an opening drive TD. The receivers were catching the ball, the o-line was dynamite, and the play calling was well suited to Bishop's skills. The play calling, as it turns out, was done by Michael Bishop. Kudos to the Riders staff for recognizing that Bishop is more comfortable(and more accurate) when he calls his own plays. Bishop used play action, moved the pocket and moved it around to many receivers. I have to say that I was wrong when I said Bishop was not smart enough to quarterback a CFL offense, because he proved me wrong by calling his own plays and executing. Bishop's numbers dwindled a bit in the 2nd half and he was lucky not to be intercepted on a couple of occasions, but that's football. Now the true test will be to see if the Saskatchewan QB can be consistent in producing results. If Bishop can put together several strong games in a row, I will be officially converted. That being said, I still believe that Darian Durant is the future in Riderville and if Bishop can't produce, Durant should get the nod.
Back to the game. Regina products Neal Hughes and Chris Getzlaf had amazing games on offense, combining for 3 TD's. Wes Dressler was his usual self and Rob Bagg played well for the second consecutive week. But big props have to be given to the offensive line who have not given up a sack in two games. They have been shifting personnel every game, but have been stalwarts consistently giving Bishop time in the pocket. Keep it up men!
Saskatchewan gave up 34 points defensively, but came to play when they needed to. It was evident early that the defense had their spark back by the way six or seven Riders at a time were getting to the ball for tackles. The D-line had pressure on Burris for much of the game and scored a huge TD on the 2nd play of the third quarter when Stevie Baggs forced a Burris fumble and Kitwana Jones took it to the promise land. The secondary played well for the most part, but gave up a couple big plays. They have to stay patient and give up the short stuff to prevent the long bombs.
The Roughriders are now tied for first place in the West and they have a good shot at hosting a home playoff game. To do so, the Riders need to win in Calgary on Thanksgiving Monday. They need to win the season series against the Stamps in order to hold them off in the race for the top. It will be a difficult task, but one thing is for sure... These Riders believe they can win, they never quit, and always give 100%. Great job by the coaching staff and front office for instilling these values in the team. I believe in the Green & White.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 30/08
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3 Straight losses
A loss to the Alouettes combined with a win by the Stampeders has resulted in Saskatchewan dropping to second place in the west for the first time this season. Saskatchewan was outplayed again on Sunday, with the offense taking most of the blame. Saskatchewan cut their turnovers in half from last week, but they still gave the ball away 4 times. The Roughriders were non-existent in the first half on offense, as was evident by yet another failure to convert for a TD when given the ball 1st and goal from the three yard line. The offensive line did play a good game however, as they did not allow a sack against the second best pass rush in the league. Gene Makowsky did a great job filling in for Jeremy O'Day at centre and WR Rob Bagg had a breakout game, but that's where the good news ends on offense.
It wasn't much better on defense as the Riders could not stop Avon Cobourne. Cobourne rushed for over 100 yards and moved the ball in key situations for the Als. Saskatchewan's d-line sacked Calvillo only once, but that one was a freebie. The defense were on the field way too much and they did do a good job of forcing a couple fumbles, but at present time Saskatchewan needs a better effort from the boys on that side of the ball. Special teams were better than the previous game. At some point we're gonna need a spark from them though.
Coaching decisions were suspect for the second straight game for the Green and White. One example was the fake punt near the end of the game was predictable. Why not just go for it on offense. The coaching staff claims that Michael Bishop is in at QB because he is mobile and has a rocket arm. Why doesn't the play calling reflect that. There were very few plays called where Saskatchewan moved the pocket, ran options, or threw the ball deep. Although when deep passes were called, they were way off target. Michael Bishop is wildly inconsistent with moments of absolute greatness, followed by moments of complete mediocracy. Yet Bishop has already been named the starter for Friday's game against Calgary. Here's my assesment of the Michael Bishop situation:
50% Career Completion Percentage, 59% This year
4 TD, 5 INT in 5 games with the Riders this year (2 Wins)
1TD pass in his last 3 games(9 quarters), those type of numbers got Crandell released.
Is there a double standard in Riderville?
How many TD's has he produced in the red zone this year? It's a pretty low number (1).
Of his 300+ yardage totals, how many of them are accumulated when the Riders are already down due to poor starts.
Last game Bishop threw for 300+ yards. How many rushing attempts the Riders have?(12)
If Bishop can use his legs, why doesn't the play calling reflect that?
The fact of the matter is Bishop has skill, but not the mental capacity to quarterback a CFL offense. There is something to be said for athletics, but intelligence is a must in this passing league.
Starting Bishop is like buying a lottery ticket... there's a chance you'll win big, but the majority of the time, your gonna loose.
Durant was once described by Austin as "the smartest QB he has ever met". If the Riders put the same effort into backing Durant as they do Bishop, he would flourish. Injuries are no longer an excuse as Bishop and these receivers have played together for 5 games. The blame now falls on coaching decisions.
I still believe the Riders can win with Bishop at the helm, but I think Darian Durant gives us a better chance. We'll see how it turns out this week. These next 2 games are crucial if the Riders want to win the West. 2 wins and a home playoff game is almost a guarantee. Two losses and we might be looking at the cross-over.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 21/08
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Out-coached, Out-matched, Out-played
Time for me to eat my words. I said last week that the Riders would be better this week. Guess what! I was wrong. Saskatchewan gave up 8 turnovers and 4 sacks in another loss to the BC Lions. The Riders were not prepared to play in this one, as is evident by the four turnovers they gave up in the 1st quarter. I had never seen four turnovers for one team in a quarter! Two on special teams and two fall on the shoulders of Michael Bishop.
Good move by the coaches to make the change by putting in Durant because Bishop was making horrible decisions the whole time he was in there. Bishop was not being smart, taking huge sacks when he could throw the ball away, throwing into double coverages, and not securing the handoff to Cates. Durant didn't play much better, but he didn't hurt us either. Durant's lone turnover was on a hail mary in the last seconds of the first half. I think Durant should get the start next week. He struggled this week, but it was his first game action with this group of receivers. Bishop had previously had 3 weeks to get his act together and hasn't taken the job.
How about Weston Dressler? He has been amazing this year. Saturday was his 3rd straight 100 yard game at receiver. He also did an admirable job returning kicks/punts after Tad Kornegay fumbled away the job. Another great fill in was Stu Foord. Foord played the game of his life getting a TD rushing and a TD receiving.
And the defense was amazing! 8 turnovers for the Riders and BC only scored 27 points, that is outstanding. The defense was the reason why Saskatchewan even had a chance in this one. The secondary shut down the BC receivers and the linebackers were once again the stalwarts for the Riders on the defensive side of the ball. With all of our injuries, we need the defense to keep playing like they're playing if we hope to win the West.
Injuries, it seems this is a word that defines the Roughriders season thus far. Another couple key injuries in this one as C Jeremy O'Day and RB Wes Cates go down with leg injuries and they both could be out for several weeks. However, injuries are not an excuse for the Green and White. Or do I just expect too much from the group that went 6-0 to start the season?
I think the majority of this loss is due to poor coaching. Now before everyone gets upset, I would like to say that the Riders' brass has done an excellent job this year. But last night was the exception. The coaches didn't have the players ready to play. There is no excuse for 8 turnovers. The 8 turnovers were due to a lack of focus, lack of execution, and lack of intelligence. Secondly, the Riders did not have the offensive gameplan ready for this BC pass rush. Against a defensive line like BC, you need to throw screens, draws, play-action, move the pocket, sweeps, or run off tackle. Saskatchewan did some of that, but it wasn't until it was too late. The Roughriders should have been running more option plays early in the game and it cost them bigtime in the end. Another coaching blunder came in the fourth quarter when the Riders were second and goal from the one and the play called was in the shotgun formation. Not a huge deal except for the fact that we had a new centre in there because O'Day was just recently injured. A new centre should be eased into the game with the QB under centre. I like the guts to go for it on third down on the next play and the result falls on Durant as he should have kept the ball on the option. A final blunder came in the dying minutes when the Riders punted the ball away. Saskatchewan had no timeouts left and were down by six with 1:11 left to play. even if we got the ball back, we would have had to drive the distance of the field in under 30 seconds. Bad call.
This is usually the part of my blog that I speak about the positives and get excited about the Riders chances next week. This week I decided to change it up because of a couple bone-head incidents at Taylor Field on Saturday. Before the game, there was a moment of silence for the greatest QB in CFL history. Most fans were courteous, but there was a large number of idiots screaming and chanting during that moment. Grow up and show some respect for Ron Lancaster, a man who always was respectful. A second incident came in the fourth quarter following a missed facemask call. Another large group of so-called fans started throwing beer cans at the BC bench. Even if they were provoked by a BC player throwing a ball into the stands, there is absolutely no reason to react in that fashion. Those 30 or 40 fans have tarnished the image that rightfully labels Riderpriders as the best fans in the league. After witnessing that incident on TV, I was ashamed to be a Riders fan. That was a disgrace and everyone who knows someone who threw a can, should let them know how much of a douchebag they are. Saskatchewan is better than that. The fans are better than that. It's time to prove what the Green and White are all about.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 14/08
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Too Little Too Late
Down 28-16 with less than 3 minutes left, Bishop connects with Palmer on a 60-yard bomb. Wes Cates plunges over the line for a TD. 28-23. Short Kick fails, but the defense stands strong. Riders get the ball with over 1 minute to play. Everyone is thinking that its going to be a repeat of last week. However a couple of incompletes and a sack ends the Riders chances as they lose to the Lions. The score flattered the Riders in this one as it really shouldn't have been close. Saskatchewan's offense was virtually non-existent in the first 3 quarters while the defense kept us in it early on. Michael Bishop was off target all game and would have been under 50% completions if it weren't for a few stellar catches by the young Saskatchewan receivers. Saskatchewan's problems on offense stemmed from poor blocking and mental mistakes on the O-line. Rider veteran Gene Makowsky played the worst game I've ever seen him play as he had 2 costly procedure penalties and was directly responsible for a couple sacks on Bishop. Granted Gene was moved from Guard to Tackle for the game, but he had played Tackle for the previous 12 years of his career. The rest of the o-line were not much better and some of the blame has to fall on the play calling. Wes Cates had a dynamite game, but, with 16 touches, was under-used (Congrats Wes on surpassing 1000 yards rushing for the first time in your career). Gone from the playbook was the Bishop/Cates tandem that moved the pocket and mitigates the defending rush. I also thought that it was evident Bishop wasn't on his game from the get go. When he doesn't get his legs going, he isn't as accurate passing the ball. One positive for Bishop was how he spread the ball around using 8 receivers. In my opinion Darian Durant should have been given a chance to play immediately following Bishop's INT in the 3rd quarter. At that point the Riders were still in the game and they looked like they needed a spark.
The defense played well for about 50 minutes of football. There were only a few lapses that resulted in deep touchdown throws for BC QB Buck Pierce. The secondary has vowed to play better in the rematch this week in Regina. At times Saskatchewan had pressure on Buck Pierce, but it was not consistent enough. The Riders have to get a little meaner on the D-line. They have to "need" to get to the quarterback. That being said, they did a decent job in the absence of John Chick and Marcus Adams. On a good note, the linebackers had another outstanding game and were all over the field making tackles. Mo Lloyd is a monster out there and opposing offenses are feeling the effects. BC's tiny twins were held to under 70 yards of rushing combined.
This week the Roughriders will have to be much better in all aspects of the game. The back half of a home-and-home has traditionally been good to the loser of the first game. Yet the friendly confines of Taylor Field cannot be assumed to result in a win. Saskatchewan will have to better gameplan, be smarter, and have improved play from all three facets. The Riders are now only 2 pts up on Edmonton and Calgary and need a sense of urgency. The Riders will be better during the rematch. You heard it here first.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 8/08
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Banjo Picking Win-breds
Down 17 points with eleven minutes to go, the Saskatchewan Roughriders battle through adversity and take the Banjo Bowl 34-31 with a last second FG by Luca Congi. The offense, led by Michael Bishop, played decent for the first 3 quarters, but exploded in the fourth. Bishop made smart decisions and took his shots downfield connecting on deep balls to Dressler, Marshall, and Walker. Wes Cates had a very good game rushing for 92 yards and a TD while, along with the o-line, providing excellent pass protection for Michael Bishop. But the story of the game had to be Saskatchewan's receiving core. The Riders started 4 rookies (Dressler, Marshall, Walker, and Bagg), all of which came up with outstanding catches at one point or another during the game. Dressler scored 2 TD and had 119 yards receiving showing what can happen when he is given the ball. Vincent Marshall played great, racking up 98 yards receiving including an amazing TD while taking a big hit. Gerran Walker made a couple huge catches including what should've been a TD in the 3rd and a 45 yard bomb to set up a fieldgoal in the dying seconds. Rob Bagg made his first catch of his career and finished the game with over 50 yards. The big thing is that the receivers were on the same page as Bishop and they were making plays.
The Riders had trouble on defense for the first 3/4 of the game. I don't know if it was losing John Chick and Chunky Adams to injury early in the game, but Saskatchewan looked sluggish on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary was getting picked apart and the Roughies had a tough time stopping the run for the first half of the game. The defense came through however, when we needed them the most. The defense shutdown the Bombers, limiting them to 0 points and only a couple first downs in the fourth quarter. As soon as the Saskatchewan offense started the comeback, you could see the energy carry over to the Riders' D. I know that it's tough to win back to back games, but 31 points is too much to give up for this defense even against a desperate team. The bottom line is that the Riders really needed this win and the team came together when they needed to in order to make it happen.
This win was much needed, not just to give the Riders some breathing room at the top of the standings, but also because Saskatchewan is heading into their toughest stretch of the season. The Roughies have back-to-back games against the Leos, a game in Montreal, and then a home-and-home series with the Stampeders. And if that wasn't tough enough, the Riders play their final 3 games of the season in a span of 11 days. With the effort and depth that Saskatchewan has shown, I am not worried so much about the remaining games. I know that no matter who is playing, no matter what happens, the Riders will have talented players who will never quit. The green and white have a coaching staff who have instilled a mindset and a system that produce champion calibre teams. So what if our schedule is tough. Bring it on!
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 3/08
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The Labour Day Classic?
Another Labour Day in the books and another win for the hometown Roughies. The game was a low scoring affair with the Riders coming out on top 19-6. The game was as about as entertaining as last year's Grey Cup game and the result was the same as well. Saskatchewan's offense struggled for most of the game, scoring only one TD supplemented by 4 Luca Congi field goals. Offensive woes were to be expected for the Riders as Michael Bishop only had four practices under his belt. It was apparent on at least four or five occasions that Bishop and the receivers were not on the same page with over/underthrows, misreads, and poor pattern running plaguing the team. Saskatchewan has a very complex offense with subtleties that require both the receiver and quarterback to recognize a coverage and react accordingly, either cutting a pattern short or finding the open zone. Michael Bishop did not have enough time to understand the full depth of the offensive system. That being said, Bishop did enough with his legs to win the game. Bishop's ability to move the pocket and to run for key first downs opened up more holes for Wes Cates due to the extra attention he warrants from opposing defenses. I expect that with a week of practice, Bishop will be much more accurate and comfortable in the rematch in Winnipeg. The fact is with all of our injuries at receiver, we need a mobile quarterback in there and Marcus Crandell was not that guy.
Speaking of Marcus, I believe that the Riders made the right decision in releasing him. Crandell has done a lot for this team on and off the field, but when it came down to it, he didn't perform when he was given the opportunity. All season Crandell had been underthrowing receivers and stalling drives. You could tell that he didn't give the team the spark they need. Marcus is intelligent and has been a good mentor for the younger guys on the team, but the time is now to develop the next great quarterback of this football team. Who will that be? Bishop? Durant? Jyles? Tate? Who knows? What I do know is that the Riders have four very talented quarterbacks on their roster and if one falters, the others will pick up the slack. Once again, good move by Tillman/Miller.
Wow what a game by the Riders defense! A complete effort by all members of the Riders D resulted in holding the potent Winnipeg offense to 2 measly field goals. Mo Lloyd had an outstanding game, while the line controlled the line of scrimmage and the secondary held Armstrong, Bryant, Stegall, and Edwards at bay. The green and white created pressure on the quarterback and confused Kevin Glenn with their defensive package. This is the fourth time this year that the Riders have prevented an opponent from scoring a TD through the air in a game. I hope that with John Chick returning this week, the Riders can put up a duplicate performance on defense during the Banjo Bowl.
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 24/08
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A Streak of the Wrong Kind
A 27-10 loss in Edmonton gives the Riders their first losing streak of the season, as they now sit at 6-2 going into Labour Day against Winnipeg. Saskatchewan got out to an early 10-0 lead against the Eskimos, but it became apparent that the Riders did not have the sustained spark needed to come out with a win. The Roughriders offence showed very few positives in the game. Dropped passes, off-target throws, and costly penalties never allowed the Riders to get in a rhythm and resulted in a poor showing for the green and white. Crandell looked mediocre, making bad passes and poor decisions in the game. The lone bright spot was Weston Dressler who continues to impress with big catches and illusivness from the slotback position. Edmonton shutdown Cates for the majority of the game. Much of that is due to the lack of creativity in finding ways to get him the ball. Co-ordinator LaPolice needs to run sweeps, off-tackle, and screens to open up the middle for Cates. It also helps when the QB runs the ball a little so that the defense cannot key solely on Cates.
On defense it looked like Saskatchewan said 'Edmonton doesn't have a running game, so we will only defend the pass!' For the second game in a row, Saskatchewan allowed too many yards along the ground, resulting in long drives and a lot of points for their opponents. The Riders did however defend the pass well, keeping QB Ricky Ray to under 200 yards passing. Another issue was the lack of gang-tackling and missed tackles that were prevalent in the loss. Saskatchewan's defense is built on speed and execution. The Riders need everyone on the team to pick up their game and execute their plays. On the bright side, Scott Schultz moved into a tie for 5th on the Riders all-time sack list and Seante Williams looked good in his debut on the defensive line.
Good news. We are still 6-2 and in first place in the West. Only 2 pts up on EDM/CGY, we have to regain the form we showed early in the season. Next up for the Riders is the always tough home-and-home series with the Bombers. Winnipeg is a team who has struggled, but looks to be turning the corner. Saskatchewan needs to make sure that doesn't happen. The Riders have the ability and skill to win both games and cement themselves on top of the standings.
Big news out of Riderville this week as the Riders have picked up QB Michael Bishop from the Argos for a conditional draft pick in the 2011 Canadian College Draft. Bishop has a strong arm, quick legs, and is a proven winner in this league. Bishop's downfall has been poor decisions and execution when the pressure is on. Hopefully the Riders brass can help Bishop polish his skills. He should be a good addition to the team.
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 8/08
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At the "Break"
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are no longer undefeated as the Calgary Stampeders beat the Riders 30-25 in Regina on Thursday night. The final score flattered the Roughriders who played only 1 quarter of solid football in the loss. Saskatchewan obviously didn't read my game preview because I told them how to beat the Stamps... Shutdown Reynolds, pressure Burris and execute on offense. Easier said than done. That's why I'm writing this blog and not playing (Although Tillman has been leaving messages on my machine asking me to fill in for one of our many injured receivers). Saskatchewan's defense did not get enough pressure on Burris because they allowed Reynolds to establish the run early. When they did put some heat on the Calgary pivot, it resulted in turnovers - Interceptions by LB's McKenzie and Lucas. Granted the defense was on the field for most of the game because the offense could not sustain any drives until the 4th quarter.
Saskatchewan's offense was filled with rookies and backups, because of injuries, and looked very inexperienced until it was too late. Marcus Crandell seemed to be throwing the ball better this game than he had the last, but his receivers were not helping him out. By my count there were at least 5 dropped passes in key situations for the Roughies. Those missed passes, to go along with undisaplined and mistimed penalties were real drive/momentum killers for the offense. These were also the reasons why Saskatchewan couldn't establish Wes Cates and the running game. The Riders didn't have the opportunity to give Cates the ball as they had way too many 2-and-outs causing them to fall behind early. A 26 point deficit was too much to overcome for the offense who scored 14 pts in the final frame added to Szarka's TD on a blocked punt. Being down so much forced Crandell to try and force the ball into receivers, resulting in an interception late in the game. OL Belton Johnson left the game in the first half with the injury of choice for Saskatchewan this year, a broken fibula.
Now for the good news. The Riders did not quit against Calgary. They gave everything they had in the 4th quarter and proved to everyone not to count them out. The Riders offense seemed to get it going late in the Calgary game, developing some chemistry between Crandell and his new receiving corps. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 6-1 after seven weeks and will be in first place in the CFL heading into the bye week. The bye week will give the injured players time to heal. Hopefully we will see the return of DB James Johnson, OT Glenn January, RB Neal Hughes, DB Denetay Heard, QB Darian Durant, C Marc Parenteau in week 8 @ EDM and maybe DE John Chick by Labour Day. The bye week will also give the Riders to gain some familiarity between players.
Going into the break I personally want to congradulate the Riders on a terrific start, on playing some amazing and exciting football, and on showing the league the true meaning of 'Team'. Take some rest, you guys deserve it. Come back refreshed and ready for a playoff run. I can't wait to see what this team can do healthy!
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 6/08
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6 and Ouch!
Another spirited victory in Calgary gives the Riders a 6-0 start, tying the franchise record from 1934. One more win and the Riders can break the record, to go along with the broken bones. The game Saturday night in Calgary was a tale of two halves. The first half was dominated by Saskatchewan, while the 2nd was won by Calgary. Wes Cates had another stellar game with 139 yards rushing and a reception TD. The Roughies as a team put up 175 yards on the ground against a defense that was allowing less than 70 per game. The offensive line had their best performance of the season, allowing no team losses.
The defense played spectacular, doing everything they needed to do to win the game. They shut down Reynolds, had tons of pressure on Burris, eliminated the big play, and did a very good job of covering the Stamps' talented receivers. When Luca Congi missed his first FG of the season, the defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs. When players get injured, others fill the void seamlessly. Defensive Coordinator, Richie Hall, has been clairvoyant in his playcalling and the Davis/Morgan connection has been a stablizing force in the secondary.
Now for the bad news... Matt Dominguez is contemplating retirement after taring his ACL again. Matt has been a great player for Saskatchewan over the years. His effort and skill far surpassed his luck with injuries. Matt was a leader on and off the field and hopefully he stays with the team to help coach the receivers. RB Niel Hughes is out for a month after fracturing his fibula(fourth one for the Riders this year). Brutal! WR/KR Carl Berman tore his achilles tendon and will miss the rest of the season. Berman was injured on a horsecollar tackle by Calgary DB Browner. Browner has been playing without control this season and needs to be disaplined. DB James Johnson will miss one more game with a concussion.
Good news on the injury front is that Weston Dressler will be back for Thursday's game in Regina. He should provide a spark for the offense as the Riders struggled in the second half against Calgary. The Roughriders haven't been turning the ball over, which is one of the main reasons for their success. The Riders coaching staff has done an outstanding job of keeping the team focussed and keeping the opponents guessing. Great coaching, good execution and playing at Taylor Field give us a good shot at 7-0.
Go Green,
Bert
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July 28/08
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1-2-3-4-5
Five weeks into the season and the Riders have 5 wins. It is their best start in the modern CFL era and it could be their most surprising start in team history. The Riders secured a four point lead in the West Division with a 28-22 win over Kerry Joseph and the Toronto Argonauts. The Riders did exactly what they needed to do... they kept Joseph in the pocket, shut down the run, were aggressive on special teams, and gave the ball to Wes Cates on offense.
It is amazing that Saskatchewan has been able to produce this level of success considering the changes and adversity they have faced this season and off-season. Gone in the off-season were Kent Austin, Kerry Joseph, Fred Perry, Corey Holmes, Reggie Hunt. Replaced without losing production this season by Ken Miller, Crandell/Durant/Jyles, Chick/Jones, McKenzie, Dressler. Then came the injuries: Crandell, Szarka, Flick, Chick, Dressler, Johnson, Fantuz, Durant, etc. The last few injuries particularly hurt the team with Fantuz out till September and Durant gone for at least 3 weeks. It is unbelieveable that the Riders continue to win and persevere. Victories are a testament to the mindset, demeanor, system, attitude and work ethic infused into this team by the coaching staff and front office. Ken Miller has done a fabulous job of keeping the players focussed and on an even keel, while GM Eric Tillman has loaded the team with talented players from top to bottom. Ever since Jim Hopson was appointed as President/CEO of the Riders, things have been looking up in Saskatchewan.
And things will continue to look up for the Riders. Consider the following... We still have a healthy Matt Dominguez, Wes Cates, and Eddie Davis! These 3 players are leaders in the dressing room and have the ability to put the team on their shoulders. Our injured are getting healthy. Chris Szarka is back in the lineup and this week we should see the return of QB Marcus Crandell, DB James Johnson and SB Weston Dressler. I am not worried about our team, they have and will continue to persevere. The Riders are a team in the ultimate team sport and will continue to compete against the likes of Henry Burris and the Stamps in the next couple weeks.
Go Green,
Bert
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July 21/08
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4-0 BABY!
Another day, another Riders Sellout, another wild game, another Saskatchewan win, another one bites the dust. The Roughriders have once again proven that they are the team to beat this year with a 41-33 come from behind victory against the East Division leading Montreal Alouettes. The game went back and forth until the final seconds, but in the end it was the Riders who put forward a 60 minute effort to come out with the win.
Darian Durant took the rains of the offense and came through with another stellar game, passing for over 350 yards and 3 TD's and scoring the winning points on the ground with under two minutes to play. Durant looks very comfortable behind centre and only made a few mistakes against a solid Alouettes defense. Reggie Hunt was the cause of most of the problems for Saskatchewan's offense as he played a great game for Montreal. Durant was able to use all of his weapons and checked down to the third and fourth receivers at times - something Nealon Greene wasn't able to do in 4 years with the Riders, let alone 2 games for Durant. Neal Hughes, Fantuz, Dominguez, etc were all doing their jobs out there. And what can I say about Wes Cates! The Rider RB has been Mr. Everything for this team as he had 107 yards on the ground and another 88 receiving to go along with a TD. Cates is now 2nd in the league in rushing yards and only 9 yards shy of Calgary's Reynolds. Keep it up Wes.
The defense completely shutdown the rushing game of Montreal allowing only 13 yards on the ground. Passing defense was a little sketchy at times, allowing 4 TD's in the air and there was very little pressure on Calvillo, but the defense came through when it counted. A huge deflection and interception led to a TD for the Riders. LB McKenzie had a great game with a sack. forced fumble, and interception all in the last 3 minutes of play to help seal the deal for the Riders. Sack master, John Chick, was injured and is likely out for at least a month, but I am not worried as the depth on this year's team is better and more talented than any Saskatchewan team in recent memory. Someone will come in and get the job done.
Special teams was special again. Luca Congi maintained perfection making every kick he was asked to and the kick cover team did an excellent job pinning Montreal deep and forcing a fumble on the last two kickoffs of the game.
Kerry Joseph and the Argos come to town this week, in what should be a very emotional and entertaining football game. The Riders should get some players back from injury and will be playing in front of their 11th straight sellout at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field. Let's keep on rollin' Riders!
Go Green,
Bert
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July 12/08
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Steeltown Triumph
Another great win by the Riders! Two straight road games and three all together has the Riders sitting a top the CFL standings. What more can you say about Darian Durant? Kent Austin was quoted as saying he is the smartest quarterback he's ever met. That's saying something if Kent Austin says that. Durant never turned the ball over once and threw over 350 yards with 2 TD's. Not bad for a "third stringer" quarterback. Wes Cates had another good game with over a hundred all purpose yards and two rushing TD's. Just another day at the office for Wes. The recievers may have been the story of the offense. When they weren't making great catches for Darian Durant, they were making huge blocks down field for the running backs. Weston Dressler had a monstreous game with one TD and 122 yards recieving in his first career start at slot back. The offensive line played great as they didn't allow any sacks all game. Both the o-line and Neil Hughes were instrumental in creating big holes for Wes Cates to run through.
The defense did their part in a close win over Hamilton. They may have allowed their most points (28) and yards (439) than any other game this season, but they did force three turnovers. Jesse Lumsden had a good game, but the Riders did stop him late in the game to give the ball back to their offense for a last minute game winning drive. The defense played really well against the pass and still have yet to allow a passing touchdown all year. Maurice Lloyd is really playing well in the heart of the defense and may be the best run stopping middle line backer in the league. The Rider defense is one of the best in the league and will give this team a chance to win every game. What more can you ask from your defense than that?
The Riders will have to be at their best if they hope to stay perfect when they host the Montreal Alouettes. Whether it's Durant or Crandell starting at QB the offense has to make sure Wes Cates stays involved in the game plan early and often. The o-line with be working hard on film all week trying to key on Montreal's blitz hungry defense. The Riders secondary will be put to the test as they try to stop the leagues best pass offense. Pressure on Calvillo is a must, or else he will just sit back in the pocket all day and pick apart the secondary. The line backers will be relied on heavily to provide the type of pass rush the defense needs. Saskatchewan will be playing in front of a sold out crowd for the tenth consecutive home game and that could provide the difference in this game as the Riders look to move to 4-0.
Bleeding Green,
Matt
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July 5/08
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The Lions Den
What a character win for the Saskatchewan Roughriders! After losing starting quarterback Marcus Crandell for the game and all-star reciever DJ Flick the Riders went all the way to their third quarterback to grind out a win on the road. Here's hoping D.J Flick heals well and is back for the latter part of the season as he will be missed on the offense and in the locker room. Wes Cates once again willed the team to a victory by carrying the offense in the fourth quarter. Wes is a phenom at running back who can do it all and he's showing it week in and week out. Durant has now taken over the back-up role from Jyles after he managed the offense well in the second half. It looks Crandell is going to miss a few weeks, so Durant better be ready to take the helm of the offense for at least a couple of games. Personally, I think the Riders will do alright with Durant getting some reps in practise with the first team. The o-line had a bad game allowing six sacks, but played well when it counted opening up running lanes for Wes Cates and Neil Hughes late in the fourth quarter. Also, much has to be said about Weston Dressler. He's a speedster that provides great field position for the offense after every punt and kick-off.
The defense was stellar again! They forced four turnovers that set up 17 of the Riders 26 points. The only points B.C scored in the second half were on a safety given up by the offense. Thus far this year, the secondary has been playing great without a touchdown pass allowed yet this season. Scott Gordan can be given much praise for his play at safety stabilizing the defense. Gordan is a physical presense that can stop the run and provide great zone coverage as well. The linebackers are also playing great football with Lloyd being a solid presence up the middle, while Mckenzie and Lucas provide great contain on the outside. The D-line is doing a great job stoping the run, but the only knock on the defense is their lack of pressure with only two sacks all year. But if the defense continues to hold teams under twenty points, I don't care if they're getting sacks or not. Richie Hall is a mastermind who just keeps on surprising opposing offenses. Richie's systems brings out the best in his players and it shows in the results.
Things are looking interesting for next week. Hamilton may actually be ready to play after they literally ran all over Toronto. Lumsden and Printers are a two headed monster in the running game. The Riders top notched run defense will be put to the test, but I think they can handle it. The offense will most likely be led by Darian Durant and thus will need to rely heavily on Wes Cates. The coachs will simplify the game for Durant and make him throw high percentage passes. If the defense continues to play like they are and the offense just gives the ball to Wes Cates, we could be looking at a 3-0 start.
Bleeding Green,
Matt
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June 30/08
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Season Opener
Well, some questions have been answered and the Riders are looking alright. Crandell was no MOP in week one, but he did his job. He turned the ball over too many times, but it is only week one and he had only played two quarters of football all year prior to that. Wes Cates was unbelievable in game one as he rushed for 86 yards and 2 TD, while also recieving over 50 yards, including one spectacular over the shoulder catch on what should have been a pass interference call anyway. Adarius Bowman did his share as well with 113 yards recieving and 1 TD. Last on the offense front, the o-line was a brick wall as January looked good holding Fred Perry at bay all game and Mean Gene Makowsky didn't miss a beat playing his new inside spot at guard this year.
On defense, wow do the Riders look solid. KJ and Chick were flying around on those rush end spots causing havok all day, while shultz and Chunky in the middle were stuffing the run right at the line of scrimmage. Aton Mckenzie was a phenom at weak side line-backer making Riderville forget all about Reggie Hunt. Mckenzie was in on almost every tackle, covered well, pressured the quarterback and made virtually zero mistakes in his debut as a starter for the Green and White. The secondary has stepped it up from last year as it was great to see Omarr Morgan back in the right shade of Green. James Johnson was in Grey Cup MVP form as he intercepted another two passes, knocked down any ball thrown his way and didn't miss a tackle all game.
Next week will be a tough game in B.C as the Lions won't take kinly to an 0 - 1 start. B.C will be looking for revenge from last years Western Final, but Saskatchewan will play them tough. Our offense will have to get better if they hope to move the ball on B.C's stingy defense. Help may be on the way tho, as Matt Dominguez should be back in the line-up. Our defense matches up very well against the Lion offense. Jackson and Pierce aren't proven quarterbacks yet and as long as the Riders hold Joe Smith to an average game, then the Riders should have a good shot at a 2-0 start.
Bleeding Green,
Matt
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Mar 5/07
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Dissecting the Trade
Dear Toronto,
Enjoy the present that has been sent to you via GM Eric Tillman. You are so lucky to get the 2007 CFL MVP, 2007 Grey Cup Champion, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders Heart and Soul, QB Kerry Joseph. He is a great football player with outstanding leadership, dedication and work ethic. Kerry is gifted athletically and deserves all of the dollars you will be paying him.
Thank you in return for the young players that you have sent us. Thanks to your generosity we can now retain several veterans that would have been released had we paid Joseph what he asked.
Sincerely,
Riderfan in Disbelief
After hearing what Tillman had to say about the trade I don't know what to think. Ideally we would all love to have KJ quarterbacking our team this year, but at what cost. Who would have been released? Makowsky? Dominguez? Davis? Szarka? O'Day? What amount of talent would have been enough to sacrifice for the 2007 MOP? The reality of the salary cap league is continuing to rear its ugly head in Saskatchewan. Yet I wonder how other teams can afford all of these high priced players and the Riders can't.
Rumor has it that KJ wanted 375k-400k same as Ray, Burris, and Printers. And at age 35, Joseph probably wanted a multi-year deal to secure his financial future. Look at the teams of the aforementioned QB's. Hamilton, Edmonton, and Calgary were the three worst teams in the league last year. Coincidence, I think not. It is unrealistic to pay a player 400k when the salary cap is around 4 million. Last year has shown that spending large amounts of money on a few players results in poor team performance.
The reality of the situation is that CFL quarterbacks are grossly overpaid in comparison to the salary cap. Most of the big deals for QBs were signed prior to the implementation of the salary management system and as such were signed without financial constraints in mind. Furthermore, there is a shortage of outstanding pass throwers in the league resulting in bidding wars and higher prices. The next few years will continue to consist of teams adjusting to the SMS and trying to find the right mix to win. Moves like this one by Tillman will improve the talent in the league by giving more youngsters a chance to play QB. Once more and more talent is discovered, QB's will take up less and less of the team's payroll.
Kerry Joseph had a great year last year, but it is one of only a few great years in his career. One has to ask wether last year's performance had more to do with KJ or Kent? I think that Kent Austin was the reason for Joseph's success and that KJ will return to his old self in Toronto. KJ is 35 and most likely on the down-turn of his career. That being said, he has been a great player for the Roughriders and will be remembered as the QB who took the team to the 2007 Grey Cup Championship. Now, the job goes to Marcus Crandell. Let's hope that Tillman and Miller know what they are doing. Eric's track record leads me to believe that he is making smart decisions, but only time will tell.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jan 28/07
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Twelve days after I first heard the news about the departure of Kent Austin, it still hurts to think about him leaving the team again. Although this time it's on much better terms than back in 1994 when Austin demanded a trade and winding up with the Lions. This time it was a bittersweet parting with the man who brought Saskatchewan two of their three Grey Cup victories. Austin was key in both victories winning Grey Cup MVP in 89' and most certainly will be named Coach of the Year this season.
As a fan, it is sad to see the leader of our club head down to the states. As a person though, I am happy to see Kent and his family moving home and still being able to enjoy coaching the sport that he loves. I can understand some fans being upset with Austin leaving because he was committed to the Riders with a contract. But there is something to be said for the allure of home. Kent brought us two Grey Cups, he deserves to do what he wants and to be happy. After winning it all, it was inevitable that someone would come knocking on his door. It's too bad for us, that it had to be Ole Miss.
Austin is gone. So I want to take this opportunity to say thanks. Thanks for turning a competitive team into a championship team. Thank you for instilling a sense of confidence, hard work, and dedication into the Roughriders. Thanks for being a great player, great coach and great person. Farewell Kent Austin, you will be missed.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jan 16/07
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Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 26/07
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THE RIDERS ARE GREY CUP CHAMPS IN 2007! After 18 long years, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have hoisted the league's biggest prize once again. The game was a real defensive battle as the Riders came out flat on offense. It wasn't until the second half that KJ and his receivers started clicking. Andy Fantuz had an amazing touchdown reception making 3 or 4 Bombers miss en route to the endzone. Fantuz won the top Canadian award while James Johnson took home MVP honours with his three crucial interceptions, one returned for a TD. Kerry Joseph avoided pressure all day by running for over 100 yards, compared to 41 by Charles Roberts. The green and white D-line shutdown Roberts and forced Winnipeg to try and beat them through the air. We all know how that panned out. The better team won on Sunday. The better team was the Riders - a team with very few superstars, but a whole hell of alot of heart.
I want to give a shout out to the officials who called an outstanding game. Instant replay proved its worth with Saskatchewan gaining a first down after a call was overturned when the ball was originally marked short. And of course I have to praise the fans that made the trip to T.O. The streets were coloured green for the whole week and the inside of the Rogers Center was described as 'a big salad bowl' by some members of the media. Saskatchewan was well represented and rewarded for their support.
Coach Kent Austin has led his team to their 3rd ever championship and this is just the beginning. Enjoy the winter Riderfans, Enjoy!
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 19/07
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THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS ARE GREY CUP BOUND IN 2007! With a huge and convincing win over the BC Lions, the Riders have finally made it back to the big dance. The Roughies dominated the game from start to finish by controlling the lines of scrimmage and winning the turnover battle. The Riders' defense was unbelievable forcing 5 turnovers and sacking BC QB's 7 times. Saskatchewan was physically dominant, a point that was pounded into Jason Clermont by Reggie Hunt on one of the biggest hits I have ever seen... I mean he knocked Clermont's chin-strap right off of his helmet, Wow! On offense the Riders did what they had to do to win. Kerry Joseph and the offense got off to a great start showing that they know how to deal with crowd noise. Wes Cates played a key role by doing an outstanding job of blocking while contributing 70 rushing yards on 12 carries. Andy Fantuz had a great game receiving and the o-line did a decent job of protecting Joseph against the league's top pass rush. Special teams did a good job with the lone mistake on a 78 yard punt return by BC's Ian Smart. Luca Congi played an excellent game kicking 4 field goals and adding a couple converts - he missed 0 kicks. Now the Riders are off to the Grey Cup to face their arch-rivals, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Saskatchewan has to maintain the same focus and passion that they exhibited over the past couple of weeks. In an all prairie Grey Cup, Toronto is going to be one hell of a party. This year's edition of the green and white has something special. Let's hope it means one more win. We have the talent and desire. Now it's time to prove that we deserve the biggest prize of all.
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 13/07
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For the first time in over 30 years the Saskatchewan Roughriders have won a home playoff game. QB Kerry Joseph carried the team on his back with the best performance of his career. Joseph threw for 391 yards and added 109 on the ground in one of the most heroic playoff efforts I have ever seen. DJ Flick and Andy Fantuz showed that they are premier slotbacks in the CFL with over 100 yards a piece and the defense played outstanding. The defensive line got pressure on Burris all game and held Joffery Reynolds to peanuts along the ground. In the secondary, Eddie Davis shutdown Jermaine Copeland and made a huge redzone interception snubbing out a Calgary scoring attempt. Not to be forgotten are Luca Congi, who completed six field goals, and Reggie Hunt, who had a game changing sack on 2nd and inches forcing Calgary to settle for a field goal.
The result sent the sold out crowd into jubelation. The crowd was so loud that some Roughriders referred to them as a crowd of 60 000. Fans continually heckled Burris and chanted MVP for Joseph while contributing to some of Calgary's seven procedure calls under deafening noise.
Even with the big win, there is room for improvement for the guys in green. Saskatchewan needs to be able to put more touchdowns on the board. There were countless opportunities to finish off the Stamps where the Roughies came up with less than seven points. Wes Cates and better play-calling inside the 20 should result in more scoring plays against BC. Another issue was the offensive line didn't have a great game. Joseph was sacked and pressured way too much against Calgary. The o-line has to pick it up if they hope to hold off the BC rush. And there were a couple of mental blunders that led to points for the Stampeders on Sunday. A missed block on a punt and botched coverage by S Gordon in the last 2 minutes of play are mistakes that have to be eliminated against the Lions. But overall a great showing by a good team on Sunday. The Roughriders dominated most of the game, won the turnover battle, and made breaks for themselves. Saskatchewan now has the opportunity to face their nemesis, the BC Lions, in the West Final for the 3rd time in 4 years. It's our time.
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 3/07
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Wow, that was ugly! The Riders matched a mean nothing game with a nothing effort to close out the regular season. Saskatchewan rested 10 starters but the 14 who were dressed didn't show up either. The offense spent most of the day trying to get on track while the defense looked over-matched against a potent? Argos offense. The Riders lost the game on lack of intensity, poor effort, and mental mistakes. The green and white lost the battles on the line of scrimmage and lost the turnover battle. The Riders failed to establish a running game early and that hurt their chances of winning the game. Saskatchewan's secondary has to be the biggest question mark for the team and fans. The Riders defense has given up big numbers through the air this season and at times it looks like they cannot cover anyone. That being said, I think that the secondary is finally getting healthy and will pick up their game/intensity for the playoffs. Pressure on the QB would really help the secondary out. When the Riders get sacks, make the QB force throws, and shutdown the run, the Riders win games. That's the bottom line. Enough about that, the Riders have concluded a remarkable regular season in 2007. We have all of the skill and smarts in every position to contend for the Grey Cup this season. The key will be executing at a high level over the full 60 minutes of each playoff game. And the road to the Grey Cup runs through Regina this year with the Riders hosting the West Semi-Final against Calgary on Sunday. The atmosphere at Mosaic will be insane. Let's hope the Riders can channel that energy and play the way they can. If they do, we will all be in for a treat.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 27/07
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It wasn't pretty, but the Riders were victorious in Edmonton for the first time in 10 games. After taking the 1st and 3rd quarters off, Saskatchewan was forced to battle back from 13 and 15 point deficits to end the Eskimos' playoff hopes. The Riders played the game with mostly backups and the green and white looked like a team that hadn't gelled. Saskatchewan's offense showed flashes of good play while the Riders' defense was split between great and poor plays. Michael Palmer, Henri Childs, and Neal Hughes had excellent games on offense and the line played outstanding on defense. The Roughies had 3 huge stands on 3rd and short when the Eskimos were in scoring range. One glaring issue though, was the poor play of the Riders' secondary. Saskatchewan surrendered over 400 yards passing to a backup quarterback and gave up some pretty big plays. Granted most of the Eskimos success came on crossing patterns taking advantage of the Riders backup linebackers. But overall the Riders came out and got a tough victory in a meaningless game in a city where wins are tough to come by. Saskatchewan forced 6 turnovers and put the pressure on the Eskies when it counted most. Bounces were landing in the Riders' laps and good fortunes were earned by the green and white. After all the years of hard knocks, things are finally going the Riders way.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 23/07
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Four wins in a row have the Riders' faithful in jubelation as Saskatchewan has secured a home playoff game for the first time since 1988. The Riders completely destroyed Hamilton on the heels of spectacular performances by Kerry Joseph and Corey Holmes. The defense played outstanding holding Hamilton to 0 TD's and only 11 pts. The secondary played much better and the defense as a whole has been eliminating the big plays that have hurt the Riders this year. Saskatchewan now heads to Edmonton before hosting Toronto in Regina to close out the season. Coach Kent Austin is emphasizing that the team finish the season strong and the team seems to be responding. The Riders need to continue to keep their focus. It will be a test of mental strength for the Riders to put forth a solid effort against a weaker team. These are the games that show the signs of a quality football team. The Roughies need to continue to demand more of themselves as they head into the post-season.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 19/07
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Another week, another win for the Riders. Saskatchewan rolled into Hamilton and on the heels of season best performances by Kerry Joseph and Andy Fantuz. The game was a wild one with 3 Riders players being ejected. Two of the players along with GM Eric Tillman and Kent Austin were subsequently fined by the CFL. Andy Fantuz was named Canadian Player of the Week while Kerry Joseph was forgotten in the Offensive POW honours. That award went to Henry Burris who had a great week passing for 5 TD's, 1 INT, and 401 accumulating a QB rating of 137 while having 0 rushing attempts. Kerry Joseph's numbers were comparable if not better than Burris'. Joseph threw for 392 yards, 4 TD's, no INT's and a QB rating 147.3 while rushing 3 times for 32 yards and another TD. In my opinion Joseph deserved the top player award if not simply an honourable mention. This week the Riders have another tilt with the Tigercats and with a win can secure a home playoff game and end the drought in Saskatchewan. Get your winter gear ready.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 10/07
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Do you see the Home Playoff game on the horizon? Can you feel it? Can you taste it? With a win over the Stamps on Thanksgiving, the Riders are 3 pts away from hosting their first home playoff game since 1988 when they were upset by the BC Lions at Taylor field. Adding to the excitement is the fact that tickets went on sale today for season ticket, flex-pack and shareholders. Season ticket holders have until the 26th to claim their seats while flex-pack and shareholders can purchase upto 2 tickets in red sections at Labour Day pricing. Any combination of 2 Riders wins or a win and a Calgary loss/tie will guarantee that Saskatchewan will be hosting at least the West semi-final. It's gonna happen! I can't wait.
Now to talk about the last game. The Riders marched into Calgary and did what they had to in order to get the win. Joseph/Cates were dynamite on the ground with Holmes adding a TD for good measure. The passing game took a little while to warm up as Joseph and the receivers weren't on the same page until midway through the second quarter. DJ Flick had an outstanding game with 150+ receiving yards on a week in which he missed every practise due to family reasons. The defense did a great job of shutting down Joffery Reynolds and getting pressure on the Stamps QB's. It was nice to see Eddie Davis back on the field. The defense seemed to play with added intensity, but mental mistakes were evident in the secondary where two big play touchdowns were given up on missed assignments. Those mistakes as well as the containment on special teams need to be rectified if the Riders want to be able to stop the top teams in the league. But all in all a good overall showing by a Riders team that probably would have been much less resilient in previous years.
Now the Roughies can get ready for their final four games of the season. It is a part of the schedule that I feel is the toughest part of the Riders season. Sure they play 4 teams without winning records including the Ticats twice, the Argos, and the Eskies. But these are the teams that are most dangerous near the end of the season. This stretch will test the mental preparedness of the Roughriders as their opponents seem on paper to be weaker teams. In Hamilton, players are fighting for their jobs and the team is trying to put together some good outtings that they build on for next season. Casey Printers is dangerous and will be looking to establish himself as a premier QB in this league. Edmonton and Toronto pose their own challenges as both are fighting for playoff spots and can't afford to lose any more games. Saskatchewan has to be ready for these teams. They cannot hold back and have to keep pressing forward and improving as they head toward the post season. The Riders are still a young team and have much to learn. They must use these final four games to come together as a team and show the rest of the league that they will not be satisfied with a home playoff game. The Roughriders have to want, expect and work for more.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 3/07
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After a strong showing by the Green and White, the Riders have ended their losing streak with a huge win over the Als. This game marked a significant turnaround for the Saskatchewan defense. The Riders held RB Payton to 31 yards on 11 carries, sacked Calvillo 5 times and forced several turnovers. Sure they have a little work to do in the secondary, but if the Riders have that kind of pressure up front, they will be in great position to win most games. More good news is Eddie Davis is going to be back and in the lineup against the Calgary Stampeders on Thanksgiving Monday. On offense, Andy Fantuz has turned into a favourite target of Kerry Joseph and the two have been connecting on big plays in the last couple games against very good defenses. Corey Holmes got into the action with two TD's on wonderful play calls that exposed the weaknesses of the Als. The big thing was that the Riders began playing with emotion and determination for a full 60 minutes. Saskatchewan fed off the sold-out crowd and dominated in almost every aspect of the game. The Roughies outplayed the Als at just about every position as is evident by the Riders taking home 3 of 4 CFL weekly awards. Next up is the Burrisless Stamps, a team that the Riders cannot take lightly as they are just 3 pts ahead of the Stamps for 2nd place in the West. Hopefully we can get a nice winning streak going leading into the playoffs.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 25/07
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Another week, another loss for the Riders who extended their losing streak to 3 games. Riding a big lead into halftime, Saskatchewan looked like they were going to break out of their slump. But the Riders were manhandled by the Lions in the second half. Saskatchewan's effort was dominant in the first half, the issue is sustaining that effort for 60 minutes. I didn't think I would say this this season, but the defense has to figure out a way to stop the run. In the last three games opposing offenses have run all over the Riders, opening up time and lanes for the BC passing attack. That's no exuse for the absolute brain fart that affected starting safety Tristan Clovis on the biggest play of the game. There is absolutely no reason for Geroy Simon to be wide open on 3rd and 10 with the game on the line. Someone has to be held accountable. Scott Gordon is a talented player who is waiting for his chance to play. He deserves his chance now. On offense, the Riders have to get their running game going. The legs of both Wes Cates and Kerry Joseph are underused. Special teams continues to be an issue with missed tackles giving opposing teams great field position.
The good news is that the Riders offense put up 34 points against a top tier defense. Kerry Joseph and Andy Fantuz had one of their best games of the season while Luca Congi finally got into a game scoring 7 pts. It's only one more game without Eddie Davis, but until then the Riders need some other players to step up. You only become a winner after learning how to overcome losses. The only way to overcome losses is to come together as a team. The Riders need to eliminate blame and distractions, focus hard on their next opponent, work hard to get things right, and put forth an effort that makes other teams back peddle. It starts this week against Montreal. Saskatchewan needs to stop talking and start playing. It is in the hard times that great teams come together.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 15/07
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Right from the get go, you knew it was gonna be a bad day for the Riders. Coming in with no Dominguez, the Riders went 2-and-out on the opening drive. Then there were the two plays(fumble and TD) that should have been challenged by the Green and White. It was at about that point that the Saskatchewan defense decided to pack it in for the day. Saskatchewan's defense has gone from the best in the league to one of the worst in recent weeks. The Riders gave up over 300 yards of offense in the first half and it wasn't because Henry Burris played great, because he didn't have to. He only completed 14 passes. It was the Riders defense that made them look good. Once again, no pressure on the QB, missed tackles gallore and missed assignments. The sad thing is that it's not only rookies making mistakes, it's veterans too. I think it's time for the coaching staff to make an example of someone. Players who underperform need to be held accountable for their actions. Something has gotta change on defense. We are being outworked on just about every play. Just take the two deep ball touchdowns by Copeland/Lewis for example. The only good thing is that we beat ourselves with mistakes that are correctible. But right now the Saskatchewan defense is playing like rookies. Granted Kerry Joseph didn't have a great game either, but even if he played the greatest game of his life, the Riders wouldn't have had the chance to win. The bottom line is that these players need to start playing like a team again. Each player has to do their job better than the player they are lined up against on every play. Lucky for the Riders, they get to head back to the friendly confines of Mosaic Stadium where they can try and squash this losing streak at 2 games. On the bright side of things, Saskatchewan is usually fighting for 3rd place at this point in the season. It's nice to be venting about a team in the hunt for first place once in a while. All kidding aside, the Roughriders this year are different from years past. I believe that Richie Hall and Kent Austin will find a way to turn this ship around and at the end of the year we will be in the playoffs in the hunt for the Grey Cup.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 9/07
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Where do I begin? 7 days after coming through with a victory in one of the best Labour Day Classics ever, the Saskatchewan Roughriders failed to compete against a Blue Bombers team that looked superior in the 4th annual Banjo Bowl. There were very few bright spots for the Riders in the 34-15 loss. It started right from the coin toss where the Riders chose side, instead of taking the ball, ensuring that the Bombers would receive posession at the beginning of both halves. It looked as though the Riders brought their practise squad on defense. The Bombers moved the ball at will with very little resistance from the Riders defense. When it looked like the Riders were gonna stop them, Saskatchewan took penalties or gave up a big play. The Riders had no pressure on Kevin Glenn and Charles Roberts rushed for nearly 100 yards. On offense, there were way too many dropped balls and detrimental penalties. The pass protection was shaky at best and the Riders were forced to abandon the running game much too early. Matt Dominguez was the sole bright spot, catching 6 balls for over 100 yards before getting injured late in the 4th quarter. Matt came up favouring his left knee and was helped to the dressing room after the game. It doesn't look good for Dominguez, who has a history of season ending knee injuries. Let's hope the injury isn't as bad as it looked. Needless to say, the Riders weren't ready to play football today. It's back to the drawing board for Saskatchewan's defense and offense. That being said, we are still 7-3 and in first place in the CFL. Saskatchewan has the talent at every position and coaching good enough to win in this league. Saskatchewan will have to respond next week in Calgary for the Riders to prove that they are the real deal. The next couple weeks include some of the toughest games in the Riders schedule. Calgary and BC will be ready to play... will Saskatchewan? I think so. This team is different from teams of the past. They have the ability to rebound from a tough loss. They have the ability to win big games.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 5/07
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It's been two outstanding games in a row for the Riders. On Sunday, Kerry Joseph sent Mosaic Stadium into hysteria after running 27 yards for the game winning touchdown with only 6 seconds left on the clock. With that amazing play, the Riders knocked off the Bombers in one of the best Labour Day Classics ever. Saskatchewan's offense played very well while their defense was exposed by former Riders, Glenn and Armstrong. It's a quick turnaround for the Riders who travel to Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl this week. It will be really important for the Riders defense to improve on getting pressure on Kevin Glenn and also to correct the mental mistakes that they were making in the secondary. Andy Fantuz, Wes Cates, Matt Dominguez, and Mike Washington had great games on a potent Riders offense led by player of the week Kerry Joseph. Joseph is playing some of the best football of his career right now and we can only hope that he keeps it up. My guess is that with Kent Austin, Kerry will continue to improve.
At the midpoint of the season, it's a great time to be a Riders fan. The Riders are in 1st place in the CFL with a 7-2 record and have beaten all of the top teams in the league. There have been many outstanding performances and countless great plays up to this point. Here are my picks for the best of the first half...
Best Offensive Player - Kerry Joseph - 2011 yrds passing, 430 rushing
Best Defensive Player - Fred Perry - 42 tkl, 6 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 blocked FG
Best Catch - DJ Flick - One-handed, blind catch in the endzone vs CGY in week 4
Best Play - Kerry Joseph - 27 yrd TD run to win the Labour Day Classic
Best Trade - Wes Cates for Rob Lazeo to CGY
Best Hit - Fred Perry - concusses Dave Dickenson with a clean dismantling of the perenial allstar
Most Improved Player - DB Sean Lucas - 39 tkl, 2 sacks, 1 int
Biggest Surprise - 7 and 2, need I say more
Best Quote - Wayne Smith - "It felt like a cupcake or maybe a pizza. I wasn't going to let it go." - after recovering a fumble in Toronto on Aug. 10/07
Best Canadian - Jeremy O'Day
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 19/07
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In one of the best games in a decade, the Riders took sole possession of 1st place in the CFL with a come from behind victory against the Edmonton Eskimos. It was a wild game that included lead changes, turnovers, and lightning. The power even went out at Mosaic Stadium, but following an hour long delay the teams were able to finish the fourth quarter. I have to commend the Riders for battling through all of the adversity they faced. Injuries to key players, missed opportunities, bad luck, bad weather, and momentum shifts were no match for the Roughies. Early in the game, Kerry Joseph threw a sure TD pass that bounced off of DJ Flick's hands/chest and right into the hands of an Eskimo player. The Riders bounced back later in the second quarter to take a 24-22 lead at half-time. The Riders defense played a shaky first half, giving up 22 points and getting burned deep on several occations. The second half was a different story as the defense allowed only 1 pt while getting pressure on Ricky Ray and forcing a huge turnover when John Chick ran untouched on an attempted punt, forcing Fleming to drop the ball that was eventually coralled by Scott Schultz.
On offense, the Riders looked like a team that would not be denied the endzone. Kerry Joseph survived a nasty hit early in the game and became the catalyst in the Riders attack. Joseph was amazing avoiding the rush and distributing the football to his arsenal of weapons. Matt Dominguez had one of the best games of his career, lighting up the Eskies DB's for 171 yards. Congi played well going 3-4 in very poor conditions. But the most significant aspect to the Riders win was their ability to maintain their focus through the storm and their ability to adjust as the game went on. Kent Austin, Ken Miller, Richie Hall, etc. are able to do what previous regimes have not. They were able to make game altering adjustments that inevitably led to a Riders victory.
Now the Riders can rest with the bye week before the game we've all been waiting for.... The Labour Day Classic on September 2nd. The Riders can still improve, but right now they are playing good resillient football. They are playing as a team, not as individuals. They seem focussed, grounded, and prepared to work hard to achieve their goals. The 2007 edition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders is the most exciting version that I have seen in years. Keep it up gentlemen. The province is with you!
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 11/07
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I bet you thought you wouldn't hear these words seven games into the season.... "The Saskatchewan Roughriders are in 1st place in the CFL!" After knocking off one of the league's top defenses for the second week in a row, the Riders have moved into a tie for first in the western division with the BC Lions. One of the bright spots from the game was the Riders quick start and ability to find the holes in the stingy Argos defense. Saskatchewan won the turnover battle again, which is key in Rider victories. Eric Tillman looks like the smartest GM in the league with Wes Cates racking up 100+ yards of offense, DJ Flick having another big game, and Wayne Smith recovering a fumble that eventually turned into 7 pts for the Riders in the fourth quarter. Kent Austin's squad stuck it to his old employer showing them what a bone-head move it was to fire him a year earlier. The Roughies defense surrendered less than 15 points for the fifth time this year and the Riders improved their road record to 3-1 a major advancement on the records of Danny Barrett led squads.
But the Riders didn't look as sharp as they should have been against a injury ridden team like the Argos. The defense gave up more than 300 yards for the first time this season. Much of it was due to the fact that they couldn't tackle anyone in the first half. Good adjustment by the Riders to get their fundamentals together on defense for the second half. Another issue was the Riders offensive production in the final half. Saskatchewan seemed to put it in cruise control and decided not to take chances to put the game out of reach. It looked similar to a Bellefeuille offense in the second half with short passes and single-back handoffs to Keith, oh I mean Cates. That being said, the Riders were able to put some solid drives together and won the field position battle with the Argos while accumulating 300+ yards of total offense against the league's second best defense. The Riders pass rush has been less potent in recent weeks as offenses are trying to get quick passes away and double-teaming Fred Perry to take pressure off of their QB's. Speaking of Perry, even though he has no sacks in the last couple games, he is still lighting it up in other ways. Last night Perry blocked a field goal, recovered a fumble late in the game, and added five tackles. This guy is amazing! Lastly, Luca Congi is struggling with the sophmore curse as he missed another field goal and is kicking only 70% this season. The Riders cannot be satisfied with this win. There are always things to improve on and they will need to be improved upon if the Riders want to be successful next week when they host Ricky Ray and the Edmonton Eskimos. It's a long season and the Riders haven't accomplished anything yet. But for now, I am happy saying that the Riders have the best team in the league.
Go Green,
Bert
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Aug 3/07
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After a short week the Riders travelled to BC and came out with a victory. It was a good road win for the Riders who weren't spectacular, but did enough to give the Lions their first loss of the season. The big difference between this game and the last time these two teams met was the turnovers. Saskatchewan was able to play virtually error free ball on offense after the opening drive. When playing against a defense like BC, it is imperative that you don't turnover the ball especially considering BC's offense has been less than potent this season. Good points from the game were Andy Fantuz getting his hands back, Wes Cates was dominant in all facets, the defense were themselves, the ball was spread around on offense and the play calling was top notch. The only negatives that I noticed during the game were a couple overthrows by Joseph to wide open receivers and penalties that negated big plays by the Riders. That leaves some work left to do for the Riders. They must continue to improve throughout the season. Austin's philosophy stresses execution, improvement, and accountability. So far the Riders have been accountable for their actions by responding to poor showings with marked improvement. This trend should continue when the Riders travel to Toronto and take on the struggling Argos next week. But for now, we are 4-2 and in sole posession of second place in the West.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jul 30/07
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Eight days after an embarassing meltdown, the Saskatchewan Roughriders made a statement by destroying the Edmonton Eskimos 54-14 at Mosaic Stadium. It was all Riders from the get go as the Riders scored touchdowns on their first two posessions and never looked back. The Riders defense was huge as they forced 5 turnovers and chased Ricky Ray from the game in the 3rd quarter. Kyle Mitchell had, to quote Pierre McGuire, a "monstrous" game. Mitchell had an INT and a blocked punt that he returned to the house for 6. The Riders' DBs were shutting down every attempt by the Edmonton receivers. On offense, the Riders got their running game together as they accumulated 155 yards on the ground. The big thing for Saskatchewan was maintaining the intensity in the second half and not turning over the ball. It was a complete team effort and a demonstration of the quality of football that can be expected by this group. Early season inconsistency by the Riders will need to be rectified if they hope to contend in the West. This week is their chance to prove it as the Riders visit the Lions in BC. The Riders have the offensive and defensive weapons good enough to beat any team in the league. Execution and consistency are the difference between wins and losses for the guys in green. I'm feeling that the Riders are on the verge of something big here. Let's hope they take it and run with it.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jul 20/07
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It was a great start for the Riders as they got out to a 20-1 lead by halftime in Edmonton. But the Riders came out dead in the second half. They were not focussed and not ready to play for the final 30 minutes. The whole team deserves blame. The offensive line for starters was eaten up in the second half. It was as if they were outmatched. It didn't help that Riders receivers were dropping balls left and right and the play calling in the final two frames was less than spectacular. I mean what happened to the play action and moving the pocket? On defense, the Riders played 3 quarters of solid football. The problem was the 3rd quarter where Edmonton picked apart Saskatchewan's D for 17 points. Tackling was an issue as Edmonton racked up yards after the catch. On the positive side, Saskatchewan's special teams were much better as Jason Armstead had a 90 yard punt return TD. Needless to say, the Riders still haven't been able to find that killer instinct (something they've been missing for quite some time). The good thing is that it's a quick turn around as the Riders host the Eskimos next week. We're still learning the new system, but we have to be better.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jul 15/07
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It's been a few days since the Riders were put in their place by the visiting BC Lions on Friday night and upon review Saskatchewan wasn't horribly outplayed by the Lions. They were just out executed. Turnovers were the story of the game as the Riders had 7 give-aways and 0 take-aways. BC's offense didn't have to move the ball very far as more often than not, they were given the ball on the Riders side of midfield - making it easy for them to score 38 points off of turnovers. Two turnovers in particular hurt the Riders. The first was Jason Armstead's fumbled punt return just before the half and the second was Marcus Crandell's interception thrown in the first series of the 3rd quarter. Those two turnovers resulted in 14 pts and an insurmountable lead for BC. Some other aspects that didn't go so well for the Riders were Andy Fantuz's 6 dropped passes, two of which could've swung the momentum in the Riders' favour early in the game. Kerry Joseph going 4-14 with a fumble and an INT and Crandell not doing any better throwing 3 INT's to 1 TD. Furthermore the Riders got behind so early that they weren't able to utilize any type of running game.
On the positive side, all of the Riders mistakes are correctible. Turnovers can be eliminated, catches can be made, and penalties can be avoided. They have to utilize their weapons(Dominguez/Flick/etc.) earlier in the game. Special teams need to be much better as Ian Smart ran all over us returning kicks. And even though we lost by 30, the defense played a good game. Saskatchewan's D was all over the Lions holding them to 168 net yards of offense. I mean I didn't even notice Geroy Simon out there and Fred Perry was a one man wrecking ball flying all over the field. If the Riders' defense wasn't having a good game the score could've easily been 60-12 for the Lions. On the bright side, the Riders are 2-1 and in sole possession of 2nd place in the West three weeks in to the season. Joseph had a bad half of football and is more than capable of leading the team to victories in the next few weeks. Head coach Kent Austin and his crew are holding players accountible and will have the players prepared for the next game in Edmonton.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jul 8/07
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Kerry Joseph leads the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 2-0 record after a 49-8 thrashing of the Stampeders in the Riders home opener. The Riders started off with a huge 100+ yards drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Jason Armstead. From that point on the Riders defense took over getting in Burris' face all night and forcing 5 turnovers. Airabin Justin, John Chick and Maurice Lloyd, just to name a few, had great games on D. On offense the Riders released a potent air attack with DJ Flick hauling in 2TDs and over 100 yards. Wes Cates had a stellar debut with Saskatchewan scoring 2 rushing TDs in limited action against his former team. The offensive line are the unsung heroes of the game opening up holes for the rushing attack while providing sufficient protection for the newly formed passing game. Kent Austin/Ken Miller did a great job mixing up the play calls to keep the defense guessing and the Riders' defense kept Burris in the pocket and held RB Joffrey Reynolds to just 37 yards. Next up, the Riders host the defending Grey Cup Champs, BC Lions in a showdown for first place. The games will keep getting tougher to win and more important as the season rolls on.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jul 3/07
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders scored 22 points in a 16-7 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. First of all, Congratulations to head coach Kent Austin for getting his first regular season CFL win. The Riders' "D" was stellar forcing five turnovers, accumulating eight sacks and holding the once potent Montreal offense to only one point. The Als' other six points came on safeties given up by the Riders. But is it really hard to believe that the Als offense sputtered - their new offensive coordinator is ex-Rider OC Marcel Bellefeuille. Bellefeuille employed the same perimeter passing game and draw plays as he did in Saskatchewan. That being said, the Riders defense stepped up and came together as a unit that forced Anthony Calvillo into bad decisions. On offense the Riders started slow, but Kerry Joseph got progressively better as the game wore on. He avoided would-be tacklers on numerous occasions and made plays when the Riders needed them. If it weren't for Joseph's 51 yards on the ground, the Riders' rushing game would have been non-existant as Henri Childs averaged only 2.6 yards per carry. You can expect that new Roughrider, Wes Cates, will get a significant chunk of playing time on Sunday when the Riders host the 1-0 Calgary Stampeders. The Riders cannot get to comfortable with the win as it is only gonna get tougher as the season rolls on. Constant improvement is what the Riders need to strive for. Constant improvement is what makes championship teams.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jun 24/07
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2007 Season Preview
The Roughriders' preseason ended in style with a 2-0 record and a flurry of moves by GM Eric Tillman. The offseason started off with the Riders replacing Danny Barrett with new head coach and Roughriders legend, Kent Austin. It ended with the Riders having a ton of new players, new turf, and new expectations. It is unknown as to how well the Riders will do this year as they adjust to change. But one thing we do know is that Kent Austin will not settle for mediocrity. He demands respect, expects excellence and will make his players accountable for their actions. Even though he is inexperienced as a Head Coach, Austin is a brilliant football mind as evidenced by his decision to keep Richie Hall as defensive coordinator. There will be a steep learning curve but Austin and his coaching staff will do better than average for a revamped staff and team
Offence On offence the Riders will make an effort to establish themselves as one of the top calibre offences in the league. It will be a drastic change from former ball control, run-oriented offences, to a high-powered pass-oriented attack with an abundance of big play potential. The Riders will concentrate on throwing in between the hashmarks instead of the perimetre passing game of the past. Pass catchers Matt Dominguez, DJ Flick, Andy Fantuz, and Yo Murphy will headline the group that expects to post big numbers in the passing department this year. The running back will be expected to be more complete than a simple runner. RB's will be required to block, run, and catch the ball out of the backfeild. Regardless of who will be the starting QB(probably Joseph), the Riders will take their shots downfield and will not settle for field goals. Receivers and QB's will have to be on the same page with option routes as just some of the intricacies of a Austin offence. You can expect that the offence will start slow and progressively get better as they learn the complicated system and eventually become one of the top offences in the CFL by season's end.
Defence With the loss of several key players on defence, one would expect that the Riders will have a rebuilding year on the defensive side of the ball. However, with Richie Hall and a core group of veterans leading the way, the Riders defence will be as lethal as ever. The beauty of Hall's system is that it is a dynamic entity. Personel changes occur nearly every play in Hall's system. This gives players the chance to gain experience regardless if they are first or second stringers. His system creates good football players and makes them reach their full potential as a defensive unit. Four years ago no one knew who Davin Bush or Omar Morgan were. Hall's system turned them from potential into realized potential and gave them star status. He has that ability to do it again. Watch for Fred Perry and Reggie Hunt to lead the defence to a very productive season with a team that will be especially hard on the run.
Key additions: DB Airabin Justin, WR DJ Flick, OL Wayne Smith, RB Wes Cates, Coach Kent Austin
Key losses: DB Davin Bush, DB Omar Morgan, DL Nate Davis, OL Andrew Greene
Players to Watch: SB Andy Fantuz, S Scott Gordon, QB Kerry Joseph, WR DJ Flick, DB Airabin Justin, DL Scott Schultz
Prediction: The Riders will start slow, progressively improving until the end of the season as they gel as a team. Kerry Joseph will thrive under Kent Austin and Andy Fantuz will elevate his game to all-star status. Luca Congi will continue to be deadly accurate on kicks and Fred Perry will dominate opposing offences. The Riders will finish with an 11-7 record with the possibility of a home playoff game and a solid run in the post-season.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jun 16/07
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In his first game as a head coach, Kent Austin led the Riders to a pre-season victory in BC last night. Andy Fantuz led the way making several outstanding catches, including a TD reception from the hand of Marcus Crandell in the second quarter. Yo Murphy looked good out there in his final season playing football. Ritchie Hall's defence was steady as usual and the Riders offence committed no turnovers. That being said, it was just a pre-season game and the real test will start June 29th when the Riders open the season in Montreal. Next up for the Riders is when the Stamps come to town on Friday June 22nd to close out the pre-season. Several jobs will be up for grabs as the competition picks up.
Go Green,
Bert
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Jan 17/07
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The Riders have been robbed by the Indianapolis Colts! The Colts signed RB Kenton Keith to a 3yr deal this week. Keith is arguably Saskatchewan's best player and was going to play a major role in the Riders' plans for the 2007 season. In my opinion Keith was the most talented running back in the CFL and it is truly a tragedy that he will be no more than a second stringer, most likely a practise roster guy, riding the pine in the NFL. However, the Riders uniforms aren't the only green things in demand. Keith elected to fill his wallet with another kind of green. Good for you Kenton. Take what you can. You will be missed.
This leaves a gaping hole in the Riders back field. Who is going to step up? Eric Tillman says the Riders are going to stay with young running backs Shermar Bracey and Dominique Dorsey. It's a given that these players don't have the pure talent of Keith. Bracey is a downhill runner and Dorsey is more of a shifty speedster. So deploying a platoon strategy seems like the most likely solution using these two young and promising backs. Kent Austin, work your magic!
Go Green,
Bert
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Dec 8/06
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So Danny Barrett is out and Kent Austin is in as head coach under the microscope that is Saskatchewan Roughriders football. But was he the right choice? Only time will tell whether Austin's return to the province that he left so bitterly in 94 will be successful. However, even with his previous departure as a player, I feel that Austin was the best available candidate for the position of head coach in Saskatchewan. Austin demands accountability and perfection. He knows what it takes to win the Grey Cup and he has been a chief contributor in improving the teams that he has been a part of both as a player and coach. Kent is also an offensive minded persona and Saskatchewan's offense has been mediocre since he left as a player. And Austin knows what it's like to feel the pressure that comes with leading the Roughriders. Other candidates for the job were Dave Ritchie (old and past his head-coaching prime), Winnipeg defensive coordinator Greg Marshall (Defensive minded persona we need offense and he may clash with Riders D-Coach R. Hall) and Riders assistant coaches Richie Hall and George Cortez (both are good at what they do and wouldn't be a big enough change to get the kind of results that we need in Saskatchewan) were also considered. The best candidate available snatched up before Hamilton could even interview him. Good job Eric Tillman and good luck Kent Austin! I hope that you can build upon the job that Barrett did in bringing this team back to respectability and take the next step from pretender to contender.
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 23/06
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It's been awhile since my last post. I was in a coma as a result of complete and utter disbelief that a group of professional athletes can go into a playoff game not being ready to play. But that was the case with the Roughriders against BC in the West Division final. The Riders veterans looked more like rookies, the offense moving backwards and the defense being dismantled by Dave Dickenson. The Roughriders completely over-thought their gameplan and abandoned the strengths that got them to where they were. Who cares if BC is going to be looking for the run? Kenton Keith is arguably the most explosive and shifty player in the league. Give him the ball! On defense, the Riders didn't get any pressure on Dickenson and the two rookies in the secondary were exposed. Johnson and Clovis were targeted and beaten by the Lions. The Riders may have had BC's number in the regular season, but BC has the Riders number when it counts. And there's always next year, right?
This brings me to the major question at hand. Should Danny Barrett be re-signed as the Riders head coach for next season? The answer is no. I am a fan of Danny Barrett, but I am a bigger fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Roughies have to move on. Danny is a relatively young CFL coach and has matured drastically in the past few seasons. He has an unshakeable demeanor and outstanding repor with the players. Danny and Shiv took the Riders from being the laughing stock of the CFL and made them into a very respectful team. However, the Riders have been stuck in a rut of mediocrity during the past four seasons. The Riders cannot be satisfied with playoff appearances anymore. They have to take the next step, a step that can't include coach Barrett. The world of coaching is based on what have you done for me lately and I'm sure even Danny would admit that in recent seasons his teams have performed below expectations and haven't improved overall as a whole. Danny will eventually be able to get to the Grey Cup as a coach, but not right now with the Riders. Often coaches and players need a change in scenery in order to rejuvinate their careers. In the coming weeks, Danny will take the high road, as he has done countless times during his tenure with the Riders, and resign from his position as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. So let me be the first to say thanks for getting us this far Danny.
Go Green,
Bert
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Nov 7/06
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Calgary 8-1 at home this season means nothing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders' defense dominated from start to finish against the Stampeders in the Western Division Semi-final. Saskatchewan won the battles along the lines of scrimmage which led to the win. On defense, the "fantastic four", Perry, Davis, Schultz, and Jurineack, were in Henry Burris' face all day and held star running back Joffery Reynolds to only 55 yards rushing. The pressure forced Burris to make bad decisions, throwing 4 interceptions and fumbling once. On offense, the Riders had a slow start but got it together just before halftime. The Riders finally figured out the key to winning is giving the ball to Kenton Keith. He is the most explosive running back in the league and needs the ball. Special teams was an area of concern vs Calgary. The coverage on punts and kickoffs needs to be improved. Now its on to BC for the Western Final. The Riders won the season series 3-1, but BC will not be a pushover.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 28/06
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A loss in Edmonton means that for the third straight season the Roughriders have finished with a 9 and 9 record. The stagnant state the franchise is currently caught in is resultant of a complete lack of consistent execution. All in all, the Roughriders have underperformed this season. With all the talent that they have, they should have finished with at least three more wins and at least 2nd place in the West. However, the Riders have made the playoffs for the 5th straight season. This hasn't happened since the 70's. One thing is for sure, it's playoff time now and the records don't matter. The Riders will need to put all the pieces in place if they hope to succeed in the post-season. The time is now for them to take the next step. Expectations are low, due to their record, and potential is high, due to their talent. The Riders routinely perform opposite to expectations and will be the underdogs in the playoffs. It's a long road ahead for the green and white. Time for Kerry Joseph and the offense to step up.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 25/06
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It wasn't pretty, but the Roughriders went on the road to Toronto and came back with their second straight win. In a tightly defensive battle, the Riders scored 13 first half points and held on to beat the Argos 13-9. The Riders were able to cut down on the turnovers that had plagued them for the past few games. Sask jumped out to a 13-0 lead on the heels of a Andy Fantuz TD reception, but didnt' do much on offense in the second half. The problem, I felt, was that the Riders weren't running the ball enough against a weak vs-the-run Toronto defense. Kenton Keith should have been given the ball 20-30 times against that defense. Also, I felt that the Riders need to stretch the field more often and Joseph has to be more accurate. On defense, the Riders didn't allow the talent packed Argos offense to even score a major. It was a great showing by the defense as a whole and particularly Terrell Jurineack. My one other issue win the game is that the Riders didn't win the game, the Argos simply lost it on two missed field goals. The Roughriders' offense has to put more points on the board.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 19/06
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Four days removed from their worst game of the season, the Roughriders rebounded to beat the Alouettes with a last second field goal by rookie kicker, Luca Congi. The win didn't come easy for the Riders as they turned the ball over 5 times to Montreal's 1. But what really won the game for the Roughies was the play of their offensive and defensive lines. The Riders this year have consistently shown that if they win the battles on the line of scrimmage, they will win the game. Thumbs up to Scott Schultz, who played his best game of the season recording two key sacks. And thank God for instant replay. Danny Barrett was successful on two of two challenge attempts on plays that could have been major momentum builders for the Alouettes. Coach Barrett is now 2 and 6 on the season on challenges, he's on a roll. Luca Congi played excellent and holder Andy Fantuz did a great job filling in for injured Rocky Butler. Fantuz also made an outstanding TD reception on a tipped ball, diving to grab the pigskin and then rolling into the endzone. All in all a gritty win for the Riders. Saskatchewan needs now to focus on getting healthy and eliminating mistakes before going into the playoffs.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 12/06
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Oh my, that was the worst display of supposed football that I have seen this season. Saskatchewan was dominated in all aspects of the game by the Als on thanksgiving Monday. I wasn't surprised to see the Riders come out not ready to play. Throughout Danny Barrett's reign the Riders have seldomly been prepared properly on the road and particularly in the East. This was different, however. The Riders usually start slow, then make it interesting. On Monday, the Riders started slow and finished slow. They, once again, were outsacked by their opponents and the decision making by Riders' QB's was suspect. Butler tried to throw the deep ball at every opportunity and wasn't paying attention to the safety. Joseph was opposite from Butler and threw 2 yard passes on second and long all game. The defense needs to improve as well. In the last 2 mins of the 1st half, Sask. gave up a 10 play, 97 yard drive that led to a TD and a huge lead at halftime. Some blame the game on Luca Congi for missing a field goal and getting a punt blocked. It wouldn't have made a big enough difference if he would have succeeded. The Riders need some urgency. They need some emotion. They need some passion for the game and a hell of a lot of drive to get the job done. I expect that you won't see another blowout against the Riders for the remainder of the season. The players talk the talk, now they have to walk the walk in the rematch on Friday.
Go Green,
Bert
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Oct 2/06
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Drive - Something required in order to win in the CFL. Something that many of the Riders do not have enough of. Edmonton beat the Riders because they had more drive. Edmonton dominated the fourth quarter and controlled the lines of scrimmage for the whole game. The Riders were outsacked 4-0. The secondary had a good game but no one can be expected to cover a receiver for more than 5 seconds per play. The Riders need to not just get pressure, but also to get sacks. They need to hit the QB. Our offensive line on the other hand, was outworked by a hungry Eskimo defensive line. Even worse though was the turnovers that kept Edmonton in the game early. Had Saskatchewan not turned the ball over, tthe Riders would have been up big at halftime and this blog would be about how the Riders put the final nails in Edmontons coffin. Instead, I am writing about a .500 team that continues to underperform. There's no more time for waiting. The Riders need to win 3 of their last four in order to be able to have a good run into the playoffs. The problems lies in the fact that 3 of 4 games are on the road and 3 of 4 are against eastern division teams. Theoretically, even without Kerry Joseph, the Riders should sweep these four games as they have better talent. Realistically, the Riders will most likely come away with a 2-2 record. Let's hope theory prevails. Oh ya, "the play" at the end of the Edmonton game was exciting but useless as the outcome would have been the same if Butler wouldn't have fumbled. Kenton Keith didn't see the open Riders on his right because he had one goal in mind and that was endzone. Saskatchewan needs more players with heart like him.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 26/06
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In the game of the year, the Riders fought hard to gain a much needed victory agaist the Lions 23-20 in double overtime. Things weren't looking good for the Riders until Wally Buono made the bonehead coaching mistake of the year by asking McCallum to punt the ball 70 yards for a rouge, on first down, in an effort to win in the first OT. The play failed and the Riders took the momentum. Saskatchewan definitely outplayed BC the whole game. The problem was turnovers. The Riders lead the league in fumbles and need to rectify that problem before the playoffs arise because turnovers can kill you. Rookie slotback Andy Fantuz was the hero for the Roughies by first jumping on a ball fumbled into the endzone for a TD and then by catching the winning TD in the second period of OT. This kid is gonna be a good one. Kerry Joseph looks to be back at full health and was a little rusty, but got the job done. Yo Murphy had an amazing game considering he has played a grand total of 1 games this year counting this previous one. New faces were also stepping up on defense, LB Lloyd had an excellent game and on offense Antonio Hall didn't make many noticeable mistakes filling in for Fred Childress. The defense played outstanding once again, forcing Dickenson out of the game by holding him to a meager 17comp-26att-97yrds. And where is Jason Armstead on offense. The man is very fast and very talented. GET HIM THE BALL! Finally, even though it was illegal, what a hit by Kitwana Jones on a punt cover. He totally dismantled the BC returner and received 30yards in penalties for it. Next up are the Eskies. A win pretty much ensures the Riders a playoff spot, but it won't be easy.
Go Green,
Bert
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Sept 12/06
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The Riders finished off the second third of the season splitting a home-and-home series with Winnipeg. That puts the Riders at a meager 6-6 in third place in the Western Division. In the Labour Day Classic, the Riders came out flying and took the play to the Bombers. The defense had one of their best performances of the year and the o-line played amazing, giving the Riders the win. QB Kerry Joseph was shaky at best, but still managed to run for 2 TD's and to throw for an additional 2. This type of performance was to be expected from him after sitting out 2 weeks with a knee injury.
In the re-match, the Riders offense was horrible (mainly becau | |
