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| Proud As Ever! - 12/01/2009 |
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Several days after the fourth quarter collapse that cost the Roughriders the 97th Grey Cup, it's still hard to put into words what happened. The Riders had a great season, but it will always be marred by how painfully close the team was to the franchises fourth Grey Cup victory. Even though the Riders lost, myself and the historic Rider Nation will always back the Green and White. The team was a huge underdog going into the game against one of the greatest regular season teams in CFL history. The Riders played exceptionally well and should have won the game. They outplayed the Alouettes for most of the game, but just came up a little short at the end. It was a heartbreaking loss, but Rider Nation is strong and will back this team with as much enthusiasm as always next season. The ending to this season played out the same as the 1976 season. The same season which, ironically, was the last time, (until this year), the Riders had finished in first place in the Western division after the regular season. In 1976, the Riders experienced their most heartbreaking defeat in a Grey Cup, once again, until this season. In 1976, the Riders, lead by the "Little General", were in position to win the Grey Cup as they lead by more than a field goal with a minute left. That was when disaster struck. A limping Hall of Famer, Ottawa receiver Tony Gabriel, got open in the end zone and gave the East Rough Riders the Grey Cup Championship. After that lose, it took our Saskatchewan Roughriders thirteen long seasons before they got to finally hoist Lord Grey. The 2009 edition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders suffered a similar fate. This team also had a Grey Cup victory snatched from their grasp in the final seconds of the game. The emotional damage in this one was done by a last second field goal after the Riders blew a 16 point lead in the fourth quarter. The comparisons of the two teams stop there. The 1976 Roughriders was a team on their last leg as they had an aging team and a legendary quarterback, Ron Lancaster, at the end of his career. The present day Roughriders are a young, up and coming team. This team is solid all around with a young quarterback entering the prime of his career and a big play defense that keeps getting better. This team is much better equipped to rebound from a devastating loss than the 1976 version of the Roughriders. This Grey Cup loss won't soon be forgotten by the players involved and the Roughrider Nation. The Tony Gabriel reception still haunts many Rider fans, but Rider Pride only grows stronger through adversity. It will be a tough off-season in Riderville and a bunch of idiots who call themselves fans will say some stupid things about the team, but the core of the Rider faithful, the real fans, will be ready to support this team next season and for many more to come. Rider Pride may be bruised, but, like this team, we are far from being down and out. Saskatchewan now gets an off-season to heal and be ready to go next year… Can't wait! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Going Back To The Show- 11/24/2009 |
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For the second time in three years, the Riders are going back to the big game. The Riders can attribute this accomplishment to their dominance of the Stamps in the West Final at Mosaic Stadium. The defense stepped up and played their best game of the season. This win was huge for Riderville, but their work is far from done. The goal is to win their last game of the season and be the Champs. The Riders defense played exceptionally well to start off the playoffs and need to keep playing strong to defeat the Alouettes. First, the Riders need some much deserved credit for their play in the West Final. Stevie Baggs, John Chick and Rey Williams all had a field day against the Stamps offensive line. Williams recorded an amazing three sacks and ten tackles, while Chick also recorded a sack. Baggs didn't get any sacks, but did a great job with contain on Burris' play action. The best example of Baggs contributions was when he made great reads twice that blew up Calgary miss direction plays that caused confusing and helped Williams to two of his three sacks. Also, the Riders secondary played exceptional as they forced three interceptions by Burris. Most notably, James Patrick stood out as he played center field to perfection as he picked off two passes, (one in a one on one man coverage situation in the end zone on a two point conversion… Nice!) With Calgary out of the picture, the Grey Cup is the final mission for the 2009 Saskatchewan Roughriders. This game will be far from easy, but then again, nobody ever said this would be easy. Stopping the Montreal offense will be the toughest challenge this defense has faced all season. The Als have a great running back in Avon Cobourne, but the Riders have proven time and time again this season that stopping the run isn't as important as neutralizing the opponents passing game. Therefore, there is no denying it, the Montreal offense starts and ends with Anthony Calvillo. If he is left with time in the pocket, good luck. An unpressured Calvillo can not be stopped as he will just take what the defense gives him and burn the secondary. Thus, the Riders have to do what they do best, make the quarterbacks life a living hell. Chick and Baggs will have to somehow find a way to exceed their already unbelievable play and turn it up to another level. When linebackers blitz, they have to time the blitz perfectly. And, for all of the front seven, if they can't get to the quarterback, they have to get their hands up! Calvillo is behind the leagues best offensive line and gets rid of the ball quickly. If the Riders can find a way to get quick pressure with only sending four or five rushers, they will have success against this elite offense. The Riders secondary will also be key in disrupting Calvillo's timing. Calvillo loves to throw quick passes and let his big receivers rack up YAC yards. Getting a hand on the receivers at the line of scrimmage is good way to slow the receivers release off the line and mess up their timing with the quarterback. The Riders have a veteran secondary and they match up well against Montreal's impressive group of receivers. This match-up could be the Riders best chance of getting an advantage against the Als league leading offense. It is that time of year to "Put up, or shut up". The Riders shut up Calgary last week and need to come out with that sense of urgency again this week against the Alouettes in the biggest game of the year. You play all season to get to this point and it is now down to the battle of the best. The Als are going to be hungry as they have lost their past four appearances in the Grey Cup. The Als are the only team in the CFL that the Riders haven't beat this season and there would be no better way for the Riders to finish the year off than beating the last team on their list in the Grey Cup. Riderville is taking over Calgary and McMahon Stadium this weekend and will be supporting their troops loud and proud at the expense of their voices. It's going to be one great game and here is hoping our Riders come out on top. I'll be at the game cheering on the Green and White and I truly believe they have what it takes to win. To be the best, you gotta beat the best. Time to shine Riders, time to shine… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Calm Before The Storm - 11/18/2009 |
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You can feel it in the air. The entire province is bubbling with excitement in anticipation of the Western Final at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field. All that emotion will boil over as soon as Kitwana Jones leads the troops out of the tunnel shortly before kick-off of the Western Final. The stadium is going to be even crazier with 30,000 thunder sticks in the hands of the notoriously loud Rider Nation. The defense has to use the crowd to their advantage and dominate the Calgary offense. It's one thing to say the Riders can dominate Calgary, but its another thing to do it. Burris, Reynolds, Copeland, Lewis and a very talented offensive line are all dying to score big points on the Riders defense. Slowing down Reynolds is the number one priority of the Riders. Reynolds is the Western Division's MOP for a reason and the Calgary offense revolves around him. If he gets the running game going, Burris will have lots of time by using play action. The Riders don't need to completely shut down Reynolds, but keeping the run game from making big plays is a must. While Reynolds is going to try and carry the load for the Stamps on the ground, Calgary's passing game can be very lethal. If Burris gets going, he can hurt the Riders by extending plays with his feet outside the pocket and then finding a receiver open for a big play. The Riders defensive front has to get to Burris quickly and in numbers. One guy is often not enough to catch Henry. For this reason, the entire Riders front seven has to play their best and constantly beat their blocker to get to Henry. The front seven has to treat chasing Burris like a special teams play. Because Burris is so elusive, the Rider defenders have to stay in their lanes and pursue Henry as a unit. This won't be an easy task, its tough taking Burris down and it's a challenge all in its own just getting past an impressive offensive line in front of him. The Riders d-lineman and linebackers will have to play their best football of the season in this game. Containing Burris won't only be the task of the Riders front seven, as the secondary will also be asked to step up in this game. With Burris' ability to extend a play, the Riders secondary has the unenviable task of covering receivers for up to ten seconds on some plays. On any regular play, a defensive back is expected to supply coverage for up to four or five seconds. Asking ten seconds of coverage may be impossible, but, in the playoffs, you have to play above your opponent. The Riders secondary is, in my mind, the best in the league. In this game, the final line of defense for the Riders is going to have to prove to the rest of the league how talented they really are. It's been 33 years since Saskatchewan has earned the right to host this game. The Riders defense has to come out and want it more than the Stamps. The defense will be expected to play at a level that the Stamps are unable or unwilling to match. I can guarantee that the Sea of Green in the stands will be ready for this one. A storm is brewing and 30,000 thunder sticks are ready to unleash the pain on the very cocky Defending Grey Cup Champions. Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field is going to be electric and Rider fans are ready… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Carrying Them To First Place - 11/10/2009 |
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The offence put up some quick points early and the defense did the rest to take the Riders to first place! The offense put up 21 points in the first half and the defense only allowed 14 points all game. It was a complete effort by the defense to carry the Riders to top spot in the West. The secondary covered well, like they have all season, and the front seven put pressure on the quarterback. Henry Burris and his receivers were forced off their timing all day. The Riders defensive backs constantly made Burris look for his second and third receivers. The blanket coverage made it possible for the Riders pass rush to hit Burris. Even though the Riders were only credited with one sack, (a game changing sack by John Chick), Burris was running for his life most of the game and was constantly hit as he was throwing. The Riders defense did struggle on one aspect, the same old story of the season, they still get run on. Reynolds had another big game against the Riders, but once again, Calgary didn't win. It's a known fact in the CFL, you can't win Grey Cups with just a run game. The CFL is a passing league and I've been saying it all year, you don't need to stop the run to win football games. The Riders defense is very good at stopping the pass and putting pressure on the quarterback, a winning formula in the CFL. The Riders have a possible two games remaining and if they continue to play this style of defense, the team will be tough to beat. The Riders have now accomplished one of their goals, finishing first in the West. Now they have lots of work to do to accomplish their next goal, getting to the Grey Cup. Just because the Riders are hosting the West Final in the most hostile environment for visiting teams in the league, doesn't guarantee a victory for the green and white. The defense will be called on once again to lead this team after their bye week. The Riders defense needs to remain focused and be ready for Edmonton or Calgary. The anticipation is building as us fans have to wait one more week for our first home West Final in 33 years… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
A Game 33 Years In The Making - 11/02/2009 |
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By now, everyone knows the stat, "the last time the Riders finished first in the Western Division was way back in 1976". That stat could be erased on Saturday. The 2009 version of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has a chance to change this franchise's fortune. If the Riders can beat Calgary this weekend at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, they earn the right to a first round playoff bye and would become the hosts of the Western Final. After 17 regular season games, it all comes down to this. No stats before this game or during this game matter anymore… only who has more points when the final whistle blows. The Roughrider defense will have to be ready to carry this team to have a chance to beat the Stampeders. Joffrey Reynolds, as always, is the key to the Calgary offense. The Riders have to find a way to slow Reynolds down. He leads the league in rushing and has burnt the Riders in the past. Last time these two teams met, Reynolds had three touchdowns and 150+ rushing yards. When Reynolds is playing good, it helps Burris immensely. Burris thrives on play-action bootlegs and can rip a defense apart when he scrambles around in the pocket. The defense needs to keep contain and keep Burris from making big plays with his feet. Stopping Reynolds early and keeping Burris in the pocket will be the key for the Riders defense to lead their squad to a huge victory. This game is going to be a dandy that you won't want to miss. I'll be in the crowd cheering my lungs out to try and help the Riders get the elusive top seed in the West… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Playing With Your Heart - 10/26/2009 |
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In a game the Roughriders really needed to keep first place hopes in the West, the defense definitely manned up. They could have given up when the Rider offense only scored five points in the first 28 minutes of the second half… They could have given up when Durant threw a pick six to arguably the greatest safety in CFL history as Baron Miles took it to the house late in the fourth quarter… They could have given up when B.C needed a touchdown to win in overtime and it was a first down and goal from the Riders six yard line… The defense had many excuses to fold the tent, blame the offense and give the B.C Lions a victory. Instead of giving in, the Saskatchewan defense dug in their cleats, gritted their teeth and made a game winning interception to end the game. It was a very gutsy effort put forth by the Riders defense. Aside from a few exceptional plays from Printers using his feet to bye time in the pocket, the Riders defense controlled the game. They sacked Printers three times and constantly pressured the Lions quarterback. The most impressive stat posted by the Riders defense was their ability to stop the run. They held a dynamic Lions run game to a meager 90 yards combined. A.J Harris and Martell Mallet had hurt the Riders with huge numbers out of the backfield in previous games. The Riders stood their ground on Saturday night and handled the two big backs. With two weeks remaining in the season, this week's game is as important as ever. Even if the Riders were to lose this week, they would still play the final regular season game of the year for the right to host the Western Final. But, if the Riders win in Hamilton this week, they at least guarantee that they will finish at least second place in the West regardless of the outcome of next weeks game versus Calgary. With that in mind, the Riders defense needs an exceptional effort this week if they hope to defeat Hamilton. Kevin Glenn has rejuvenated the Tiger-cats offense and is leading a playoff hungry team to some big point tallies over the last few games. Hamilton has scored 64 points combined over the past two games against league leading defenses in Montreal and Toronto. Glenn has a very quick release and is difficult to get pressure on. The Riders defensive backs need to jam the Ti-cats receivers at the line to disrupt Glenn's timing with them and allow the Riders vaunted pass rush to unleash their organized chaos. Win this one and it's a third straight season with a home playoff game… not bad for a franchise that went 30 seasons with hosting only one playoff game until that streak ended a few short seasons ago… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Bailed Out By The Offense - 10/20/2009 |
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In a battle for first place, the Rider defense didn't have their best game. The defense allowed 475 total yards of Stampeder offense, which included 137 rushing yards by Joffrey Reynolds. The Rider defense also wasn't able to find a way to stop Calgary from scoring touchdowns on both overtime possessions, (one of those touchdown heavily aided by a terrible, terrible call against John Chick, but were not going to get into that). Even though the defense had an off night, the offense had their back in that game and executed an impressive game plan that lead the Riders to a tie. Even with a bad game, the Riders defense still made some plays to help the Riders get a point in the game. Saskatchewan, lead by their two all-stars at defensive end in John Chick and Stevie Baggs, still put up three sacks in the game. Lance Frazier came up with his second pick in as many games and puts him in the team lead along with Omarr Morgan with four interceptions. The Riders also forced three fumbles, but were unable to jump on top of one on the ground to complete a turnover. Week 17 is an even more important game for the Riders than last weeks tilt with Calgary. The B.C Lions are in town and it promises to be a tightly played ball game. B.C trails the Riders by only one point in the standings with only three games remaining. The Riders have to be ready for anything from the Lions quarterbacks as any of the four in the B.C camp could be the starter in this game. It appears Buck Pierce will start even though he left early in last weeks game after aggravating a shoulder injury, but if he can't go, it's unsure who will start. Travis Lulay, Jarious Jackson and Casey Printers are all back-ups, but it's not certain to who will be listed as the number two guy on the depth chart. Assuming Pierce starts, the Riders need a better effort than last time these two teams met by their secondary. Pierce shredded the Riders defensive backs for 381 passing yards. The Lions receivers have to be jammed at the line of scrimmage and the Riders defensive line needs to get pressure on Pierce early and often. The Riders defense has to have a better game than last week and help the Riders on their quest for first in the West. The weather is getting colder, playoffs are approaching and its time for the defense to take over… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
First Place Showdown- 10/13/2009 |
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The defense has really hit their stride in the past three weeks and if the Riders hope to host a playoff game for a third straight year, the defense will have to lead the way. Over the past three games, the defense has allowed an average of twenty points per game, which is very respectable in CFL standards. The Riders haven't gotten as many sacks in the past few weeks like they did early in the season, but they are still punishing the quarterback. The defense is doing whatever it takes to help this team win games. With offensive all-star Weston Dressler on the shelf for the rest of the regular season with a broken leg, the defense will be counted on even more to carry the team down the stretch. The offense was set up to revolve around Dressler a great deal this season and will be expected to struggle just a little bit over the next few games as they adjust to having to cope without the superstar. With this bad news, the defense will have to be stellar if the Riders hope to stay in contention in the West. John Chick, Stevie Baggs and the rest of the Riders defense have to continue their hard hitting play to keep quarterbacks hurting. Two weeks ago, Buck Pierce was limping around by the end of the game and it was a surprise that he even lasted the entire sixty minutes. This last game, Joseph was knocked out of the game by half time and Pickett knocked out by the start of the fourth quarter. Toronto didn't even have a third string quarterback and had to put Joseph back in the game even with a concussion. The Riders players are hitting hard every chance they get and are really taking a toll on opposing team's quarterbacks. This week, the Riders defense has to focus their hitting on Henry Burris and the Calgary Stampeders. The Stamps offense has only scored one touchdown over their past nine quarters, but still has the potential to be very dangerous. Burris has a lot of weapons to throw to in Jermaine Copeland, Nik Lewis and the new comer from Winnipeg Romby Bryant. The most dangerous weapon Burris has is Joffrey Reynolds. Reynolds may be the leagues best running back and is also a great pass catcher out of the back field. Hopefully for the Riders, Shaun Lucas will be able to play after sitting on the bench last game with a sore ankle. Lucas and Kornegay will be relied on heavily to stop Reynolds catching out of the back field. Mike McCullough needs to continue his impressive play as him and Rey Williams will be asked to stuff Reynolds in the run game. Here's hoping John Chick and Stevie Baggs have a many meetings in the back field at Henry Burris this week… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
To No Avail - 10/06/2009 |
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The defense played a great "bend but don't break" style of defense against the Lions allowing only 19 points. Even with the low point total allowed, the Riders still lost. The Rider offense struggled all game and couldn't put up some points to help their defense. The defense allowed more than 500 yards, but buckled down in their own end and held the Lions to one touchdown and four out of six field goals made. The defense was unable to carry the Riders to a win as they were on the field for more than 38 minutes. The huge difference in time of possession hurt the Riders late as the defense couldn't make one more stop late to get the Riders struggling offense the ball back. The defense played their hardest all game, but in the end, they had no gas left in the tank to make a game changing play. This week, the Riders are back home after two road games. Currently sitting one game back of Calgary, the Riders need a win this week if they hope to keep their first place hopes alive. The Toronto Argonauts come to Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field for a tussle with the Green Machine. Toronto has the worst record in the CFL and won't be making playoffs. This makes them a very dangerous team. The Toronto players are playing for their jobs next season and will be tough to contend with. Their offense revolves around running back Jamel Robertson. The defense needs to stop the run early and make the Argoes throw the ball with their inconsistent quarterbacks. Joseph and Pickett haven't done anything special through the air all season from the QB position and the Riders need to take advantage of their inability to make big plays in the passing game. The Riders pass rush hasn't produced many sacks in last three games and have to get that aspect back to their defense if they hope to contend with Calgary for top spot in the West… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Sweet, Sweet Redemption- 09/28/2009 |
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After being embarrassed by Ricky Ray and the Eskimo offense last week, the Saskatchewan defense showed up for the rematch. The defense allowed only ten Eskimo first downs all game and held Ray without a touchdown pass. The defense only had one sack and no turnovers, but they only allowed 13 points (Edmonton got their other seven points on an interception return). Edmonton put up 30+ points both of the last two meetings, but the defense played much better in this game. What was done differently in this game compared to the other two was that Rider defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry changed his defensive scheme to beat Ray. Etcheverry is notorious for running a blitz heavy defense and it has worked for the Riders for the most part this season… except against Edmonton. Ray tore apart the Rider blitzes in the first two meetings by throwing short passes to his receivers and letting them make big plays with yards after the catch. This game, Etcheverry usually only rushed three or four players and sacrificed pressure for coverage. Ray beat the Riders deep a couple times early, but the defense buckled down and held the Eskimos to field goals on those drives. Ray was held to a 51% completion rate and only 244 yards passing. The Riders played much better in the pass coverage in this game. Holding back on blitzing also helped the defense stop the run. Edmonton running back Whitlock had 85 yards rushing with one TD, but most of that came on one play. The defense over pursued on one short yardage play and it turned into a big play for Edmonton with a 55 yard touchdown run for Whitlock. Other than that one carry, Whitlock was held to 35 yards on the other nine carries. This defense was getting burnt every game by the run early in the season, but seem to be turning the corner to being able to stop the run now. With an improvement against the run and a secondary that ranks in the tops of the league against the pass, this defense stacks up well right now against any opponent. This week features another important Western match-up in the ever tight West division. The Riders travel to the dome in Vancouver to tussle with the Lions. B.C will be tough in this one as they try to climb back into the West playoff race after a loss to Calgary last week. B.C running back Martell Mallett is the key offensive weapon that the Riders have to stop. He's already over 1000 yards rushing for the season and as he goes, so does the Lions offense. B.C stays committed to the run all game so the defense has to be weary that the run can come at any time. As for quarterback Buck Pierce, he is very susceptible to pressure. Etcheverry can get back to his heavy blitzing play calling and let John Chick and Stevie Baggs create havoc in the Lions back field. The Riders need to hit Buck Pierce early and often to make him get rid of the ball early to short patterns to help eliminate the big passing plays deep. A win in this one would put the Riders three games up on B.C with five games remaining and virtually guarantee the Riders would finish ahead of them in the standings… LETS GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Keep Getting Beat Up By Ricky- 22/09/2009 |
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Ricky Ray and the Edmonton Eskimos offence had their way all game with the Roughrider defense. Ray was extremely accurate on his short passes all day long and the Riders had no answer. Ray was getting rid of the ball so quickly that Chick and Baggs didn't have much of a chance to get anywhere near the quarterback. The Eskimos offense excelled on first down with short runs and short passes and made it easy on themselves with second and short all day. When the defense finally decided to step up on a short route, Ray hit Maurice Mann on a double move over the top of coverage for a 68 yard game winning touchdown pass. Rider defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry had no answer for the Eskimos game plan. The defense was flat out embarrassed in this game. In the first half, the Edmonton offense scored a touchdown on every drive and had positive yardage on EVERY play from scrimmage. Through out the game, running back Arkee Whitlock rushed at will with 88 yards and two touchdowns, while Ray through for over 300 yards and a touchdown. Everyone on the defense is to blame for these high statistics by the Edmonton offense. The secondary has to make smarter decisions by evaluating game situations. On first down they need to step up on the short routes, but when protecting a lead they need to keep everything in front of them. The linebackers need to stop the run at the line of scrimmage. Once Ray gets any type of run game, he can use play action to carve up a defense all game. Last, the d-line needs to find a way to create pressure without requiring extra blitzers. With how fast Ray gets rid of the ball, blitzers are too much of a risk as those players are needed in coverage. The back side of a home and home is huge for the Riders. They have already lost the season series with the Eskimos and if they lose this game, even though they would be one game behind Edmonton in the standings, they would technically be two games back as they lose the tie-breaker. The key to beating Edmonton has to be stopping the run early. If Whitlock can't muster up much offense in the first half it will make the job for the Rider secondary much easier as they would only have to focus on the pass. Fred Stamps has become Ray's favourite target and with his speed he is dangerous any time he catches the ball. The defense needs to find a way to tackle him as soon as he catches the ball and not let him have any space. The defense has to play much better than last week if the Riders hope to win on the natural grass at CommonWealth Stadium… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Keeping Their Eye On The Prize- 16/09/2009 |
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The Riders absolutely dominated the Bombers in ever facet of the game on Sunday. The defense was at their best as they came up with four interceptions, three fumbles, one turnover on downs and another two sacks. Bomber quarterback Micheal Bishop had said in the media earlier in the week that his was going to "Whoop their ass" as he spoke of the Riders. The defense seemed to remember that quote as they completely dominated Bishop and the Bomber offense all night. The entire Rider defense showed up for this game and contributed to the beat down of the Bombers. After a big win, teams tend to become complacent. The Riders need to remember that, even though they dominated this game, they didn't exactly beat the best team in the league. The Bombers are far from a Grey Cup contender this season and the Riders have to built on this win and not look at it as they have no more learning to do. The Riders still need to continue to improve if they hope to win their last game of the year and become Grey Cup Champs for the second time in three seasons. This team is really good, but to be the best, they have to be great. I think they can be great and I look to the defense to keep creating turnovers and lead this team deep into the playoffs. After a four game stretch against the East, this week's game is back to the Western division the Roughriders. Richie Hall and the Eskimos are in Riderville and looking to get back into the win column. Last time the Eskies came to town they came back from a 22 point deficit to beat the Riders. To obtain a different result, the Riders defense needs to play like they have over the past month. The defense of late has done a great job of creating many turnovers, stopping the run and getting pressure on the quarterback. If Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray has time in the pocket, he will pick the secondary apart. Chick and Baggs have to continue to collapse the pocket and terrorize the quarterback all game long. The defense needs to play lots of zone so they don't get mixed up in all the crossing patterns the Eskimos love to run over the middle with their receivers. Edmonton will try to run on first down to make it second and short. Stopping the run early will be key to getting the defense off the field and keeping them rested for late in the game. The defense needs to set the tempo early in this game and win the battle at the line of scrimmage. Play like they have over the past four games and the Riders take this one… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Love Winning On Labour Day!- 09/09/2009 |
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It is always a really good feeling to win on Labour Day over the rival Bombers. The defense was a main reason for the Riders win. The Riders have done very well over the past several weeks with the time of possession battle and this game was no exception. Saskatchewan controlled the ball for thirty seven minutes and helped keep the defense fresh all game. The defense didn't allow many drives that kept them on the field for a long time it definitely aided in some big plays late in the game. The defense also did a great job stopping the run as the Bombers league leading rushing attack was held to only thirty seven yards! Stopping the run was the major reason the Riders defense held Winnipeg to only fourteen points. The defense made a few game changing plays. First, the goal line stand on the last play of the first half was huge. Keeping the Bombers from getting within one score before the half helped keep the Riders rolling going into the second half. Another big play occurred at a crucial point of the game when Winnipeg was within four late in the third quarter. The Riders had just missed a field goal and Winnipeg got good field position. Tad Kornegay jumped a short rout, picked off Bishop and returned the ball to the Bomber fourteen yard line. The pick set up a Dressler touchdown catch and the Bombers didn't put up another point after that all game. Two players were main reasons for the way the defense played as John Chick and Tad Kornegay had very impressive games. Chick had four tackles, two sacks and one pass deflection, while Kornegay had five tackles and two picks. It's one thing to win the Labour Day Classic, but to win the second one in Winnipeg is another thing. Traditionally the Riders have had problems in the rematch, but last year they won both games. The Bombers always play better in the rematch and the Riders will have to be at their best to win. The Bomber offense had some success throwing last week against the Riders defense, but make no mistake, stopping Reid is still the most important job for the Roughrider defense. When Bishop has no running game he tries to do everything himself and it leads to turnovers. Bomber head coach, Mike Kelly, loves to run the ball and will try to do so again this week. The defense needs to step up and stop the run for the Riders to be successful. Just like last week, stop Fred Reid and we win the game!… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Improvements Needed - 30/08/2009 |
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After eight games, there can only be one conclusion for the play of our defense… improvements must be made to be a Grey Cup contender. The defense has had some good games and some bad games, but the bottom line is, this team is only playing .500 football. Winning only half your games is not where this teams wants or expects to be. Gary Etcheverry has to do some self evaluation to his defense and make the proper adjustments. The Riders defense has a few flaws to work on. First, they need to toughen up against the run. To be a solid defense in the CFL you don't need to be the best team in the league against the run, but they can not continue to allow 150+ rushing yard games by the opposing team. Shologan, Adams, and who ever starts at middle linebacker have to step up against the run to help this team win more ball games. The other flaw the defense needs to work on is minimizing the offenses mistakes. When the Rider offense puts the defense in tough position with a turnover, the defense has to step and at least hold the opposition to a field goal. The Riders have allowed too many points off turnovers this season and cutting down on a few of those points a game would go a long way for this team. Even with the flaws, the Riders have also done some good things on defense as well. To start, Stevie Baggs and John Chick have played exceptionally well. Baggs is tied for first in the league in sacks with seven and Chick is one behind. The way these two cause havoc in the backfield is really helping this defense force turnovers. Another positive for the Riders defense has been the play of the secondary. The Riders are leading the league in passing yards allowed per game by allowing there opponents only 232 yards per game through the air. Veterans Eddie Davis and Omarr Morgan really have the young guys reading the offences and playing their positions exceptionally well. It's now time to see if the Riders have made improvements through the bye week. The most anticipated game of every season is about to take place… The Labour Day Classic!!! Mosaic Stadium will be packed for the rivalry tilt. The defense needs to sure up their run defending in a hurry as league leading rusher Fred Reid strolls into town. Reid is the whole Blue Bomber offense and has to be contained. Mike McCullough is going to have to have his best game of the season in the middle of the defense and stop Reid before he has the chance to hit the secondary running. Stop Reid and the Riders win the game… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Good To Have You Back - 18/08/2009 |
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After a bad loss in B.C and the injury to star MLB Rey Williams, the Riders really needed some good news. That rainbow after the storm came in the form of John Chick. After missing three games with a partially separated shoulder, Chick came back for the Hamilton game and dominated on the line of scrimmage. Chick recorded two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and hurried the Hamilton quarterbacks into many errant throws. Chick's presence also helped Stevie Baggs create more pressure as Hamilton had to focus on blocking both sides of the defense. Chick and Baggs together proved to be too much for the Ti-cats offensive line to handle. The Riders defense played a great game, especially in the first half. The defense allowed zero first downs and -11 net yards of offense for the opening two quarters. Those numbers lead the Riders to controlling the ball for almost forty minutes! The time of possession really helped the Riders pull ahead in the fourth quarter after Hamilton tied it up. At the end of the game, Hamilton's defense was too tired, while the Rider defense was well rested and performed their best when the game was on the line. Also, Saskatchewan finally played well against the run. Hamilton is a strong running team, but looked very mediocre against the Saskatchewan defense that held them to 31 total yards rushing all game. Great job front seven! Week eight isn't going to be as easy for the Saskatchewan defense. The Riders travel East to battle the league leading Alouettes. Last time these two teams met, Montreal put up forty plus on the Riders in their own back yard. If Saskatchewan hopes to get revenge in this one, they'll need to create havoc in the Als back field. The Riders didn't record one sack last time these two teams played and Calvillo left the stadium without a scratch on him. The Riders defensive line has to find a way to beat the veteran offensive line of the Als to rough up Calvillo. The Riders need to be at there best on first downs. If Calvillo is constantly in second and short situations he will pick apart the secondary with short crossing patterns and get Avon Cobourne's big play running game involved which will make the Als offense very hard to stop. Hopefully the Riders learnt from their mistakes in week three and will make this a much more competitive game… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Losing Our Leader - 08/10/09 |
The Riders didn't only lose a game against B.C on the weekend, they lost the leader of their defense. Rey Williams will be out for 8 to 10 weeks with an MCL tear. Rey hurt his knee early in the game against B.C, but like the true warrior he is, he finished the game without missing many plays. This bad news really hurts the Riders as they do not have a back up to match his talent and leadership. Non-import and veteran Mike McCollough has started for the Riders before at MLB and knows the defense well, but is probably more of a special teams player at this stage of the season. However, McCollough will be counted on to help the younger imports learn the defense as they are more likely candidates to cover the spot for Williams. Rookies Jerrell Freeman and Kye Stewart are the probable replacements for Williams. Coach Miller has hinted that it will probably be Freeman who gets the start at middle, while Stewart will see some playing time at weak side sharing time with Kornegay in short yardage situations. Freeman has played well so far this year on special teams, but will have to play over his head if he hopes to stop the bleeding left to this defense created by the loss of Williams. Rey is an extraordinary talent and can not be replaced by just one player and the entire team will have to step up to fill the void.
Next up for the Green Machine, the surprising Hamilton Tiger-cats. Saskatchewan has won the last ten meetings between these two teams, but this one won't be so easy. Hamilton has the second best record in the league and are the leagues "cardiac kids" this season. It seems every time they need a play late in the game, the offence delivers. Quinton Porter is playing mistake free ball at the quarterback position and is getting a lot of help from his running game. DeAndra Cobb is running all over opposing defenses this season and is the key to Hamilton's success. The Riders need to finally stop a running game and force Porter in to lots of second and longs to see if this young guy can really carry a team by himself. Porter can make a lot of plays with his feet as well and the defensive ends of the Riders need to keep contain on every play to avoid big runs by Porter. The Riders really need a victory in this one as next week is on the road in Montreal. I'm hoping for a defensive lead victory in this one... GO RIDERS GO!
Bleeding Green,
Matt
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A Complete Game - 04/08/2009 |
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Last week, I said the defense had to step up. Against Calgary, they did so with a four quarter performance. The Roughrider defense was at its best late in the game when we needed a stop. First, when Calgary was up by six with three minutes to go and their starting field position was the Sask. fifty. The defense held Calgary to a long field goal attempt that was missed and returned out to the forty five yard line. Then, with a one point lead in the final minute and a half, the defense didn't allow Burris a completion and forced two straight three and outs to seal the victory. The entire defense contributed to the one point win over Calgary. The run continued to hurt us as Reynolds amassed over 110 yards on the ground, but the defense held Burris in check. Henry completed less than 60% of his passes for only 224 yards and one touchdown. The linebackers and secondary both played their best game of the season to date. Rey Williams, (Mr. consistency), had another solid game as he recorded six tackles and came up with the Riders only two sacks. Rey is the undisputed leader of this defense and seems to be at the top of his game every play. The secondary as a whole came together in this one. They played the Calgary receivers tough all day as they allowed only Ryan Thelwell to tally more than forty five yards in receiving. The defensive backs also contributed eighteen tackles and three pass knock downs. The only bad news for the Riders this week was the retirement of fan favourite and all-star defensive tackle Scott Schultz. Schultz was a huge part of the Riders defense. He constantly demanded two o-lineman to block him and left our defensive ends free to single blockers. Schultz's desire to win and his in game intensity will be missed the most on the field. Off the field, he was a team leader and a volunteering contributor to this province. He's a true professional and forever a Rider. Thanks Scott and good luck in your future away from football. This week, it's a second straight road game for the Riders. Saskatchewan travels to the coast to face the struggling Lions. Even though B.C is slumping to start the season (1-4), don't expect this to be an easy one. A Wally Buono lead team always plays the Roughriders tough. Martell Mallet has solidified the B.C run game and will be hard to stop. If Mallet gets going early, it will be difficult for the Riders to get pressure in the passing game. Last time these two teams met, the Riders recorded an amazing nine sacks, but still almost lost the game in the last minute. A dropped ball from B.C receiver Griece-Mullen helped the Riders hold on to a four point victory. The Riders need to get into Buck Pierce's face early and rough him up a bit. When Pierce hears foot steps, he starts to throw errant passes. The secondary has to keep Geroy Simon in front of them and stop him from making the big play deep. Simon can change a game with one deep play. Take away the big play from B.C and success should follow for the Riders defense. Another win would help the Riders create some separation in the ultra competitive West division… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Have To Step Up - 26/07/2009 |
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For the second straight home game in a row, the Roughriders were badly beaten in time of possession. For the second straight home game in a row, the Riders come out of the game without a W. Many people give the defense a break because the offence hasn't moved the ball with much consistency. Well, I'm not giving them a break. If the offence can't keep the defense off the field, then the defense has to keep themselves off the field. If our offence was forced into a bunch of two and outs, then why can't our defense force just as many two outs on our opponents. A great defense takes care of things themselves and makes their offence better. The defense did do some things well. Early in the game, Lance Frazier jumped a short out pattern and made a "pick six" on the Eskimos offense. That's about the extent of the highlights though. After that, Ray never threw another interception, the Eskimos ran the ball at will, and the Riders only recorded one sack. The defense has to get back into forcing turnovers, getting sacks and creating havoc. Another bad thing for the defense is that they will probably be without stand out defensive end John Chick for several weeks. Chick is rumored to have separated his shoulder just before half and it is undetermined how long he will miss. It's a tough turnaround for the Rider defense this week. They travel to Calgary for a date with the Stamps. Calgary struggled early, but now seem to have found their stride. The Stamps have put up over 90 points in the last two games. Henry Burris is playing well, throwing 4 TD's and 0 Ints in the last two games. With all-star receivers Rambo and Lewis questionable to start in this game, the Riders need to take advantage of the inexperienced young receivers coming in as back-ups. The best way for the defense to do that is to make the Stamps one dimensional by taking the run away from them. That will not be an easy task for the defense as Calgary has one of the best running backs in the league in Joffrey Reynolds. Reynolds is the key to the Stamps offence. Stop Reynolds and you give your team the best chance to win. I think the Riders should take Kornegay out of the weak-linebacker spot and replace him with rookie Kye Stewart… at least on first down and running situations. Stewart is bigger than Kornegay and gives the Riders a better chance to stop Reynolds. The defense needs to step it up for the Riders to get a win in this one as the Riders look to stay atop the West standings… Let's go Riders! Bleeding Green, Matt |
One Bad Game - 21/07/2009 |
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There is no denying it, the Riders defense got lit up on Saturday. Anthony Calvillo completed 69% of his passes, while Avon Coburn rushed for 140+ yards. The defense played well for the first half of the game keeping Montreal to only 14 points in the first two quarters, but after being on the field for most of the game they began to stumble. The defense created fumbles again, but were unable to rattle Calvillo as they had zero sacks and zero interceptions. The defense played well for to start the game, but a lack of support from the offense was too much for the defense to over come. The Rider offense didn't produce any points in the second half and were not able to keep the Alouette defense on the field long enough to rest the Riders defense. That being said, great defenses find ways to win games when the offense struggles. The defense did a good job, but the Als defense did a great job. Etcheverry's defense was outplayed for the first time this season. The Riders players are full of pride and won't take it lightly how they got embarrassed on home turf. This week provides the perfect chance for redemption. Ricky Ray and the Eskimos are in town. The Riders defense can get back on track with a great game this weekend. Edmonton is coming off two straight blow out losses and will be determined to play well. Ray is great at getting the ball out quickly and hitting receivers short over the middle in crossing routes. The sack attack has to return as the Riders don't have to worry about a running game from the Eskimos. Etcheverry should be able to be creative with his blitzes to confuse Ray. The Rider secondary will have to play some bump and run to mess up the timing between Ray and his receivers. The Riders defense has to play better than last game and I believe they have the personnel to do so. Bring back the roar to Mosaic Stadium that was missing last week… Let's go Riders! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Controlled Chaos - 12/07/2009 |
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Gary Etcheverry's high pressure defense is creating havoc on opposing offences all over the field. Against the Argoes, the Rider defense forced five turnovers, two sacks, one interception, and forced a safety. Etcheverry's unique formations and extra blitzers has offensive coordinators around the CFL scratching their heads. The defense may have allowed 36 points against the Argoes, but the points don't matter as much when they forced turnovers deep in Argo territory to help the offense easily put points on the board. The players most responsible for creating all the chaos are the defensive line. Stevie Baggs and John Chick are in the quarterback's face almost every passing play and making the quarterback get rid of the ball early. Shologan, Schultz, Adams, and Mullinder are each running on all cylinders creating pressure from up the middle of the d-line to free up the defensive ends on the outside. A pleasant surprise for the defense has been the early success of rookie linebacker Kye Stewart. Used mainly in special teams coverage, Stewart has already seen some time in short yardage situation on the defense and has a nose for the ball. Stewart hurries down the field on special teams to help limit the yards gained by the returner and is doing well on defense following his assignments. The secondary didn't have their best game in coverage and will have to be better in the upcoming weeks. The only other negative for the defense is their play against the run. An old adage says… "In the CFL, a team can not win with a running game alone". I think that's what Etcheverry's theory is too. He constantly sacrifices run defense for the ability to pressure the quarterback. This defense will work very well when the Riders are leading the game, but will have to be adjusted when the team is playing from behind. This being said, I'm sure Etcheverry has many different formations we have yet to see and will use them accordingly to suit game situations. The toughest test yet is on tap for week three as Anthony Calvillo and his talented offence rolls into town. Fresh off their 50 point night against the Eskimos, the Als look like they are already in playoff form. It will be tough for the Riders to get to Calvillo as he has a very quick release and doesn't take many sacks with his veteran o-line in front of him. The secondary will have to be much better than last week. The defensive backs need to jam the Als receivers off the line to disrupt their timing and make Calvillo hold onto the ball longer. Another headache for the defense could be all-star running back Avon Cobourne. Cobourne is a double threat as he can make big plays as a runner and as a receiver. The Rider linebackers will be in tough trying to cover Cobourne out of the back field. Safety help may be a good idea every once in awhile to help the linebackers with their coverage of the Als running back. This game is the battle of the only two undefeated teams left in the CFL and will be a tough challenge for the Riders team as a whole. The defense needs to make a statement early in this one and continue to create turnovers. Let the chaos begin! Let's go Riders! Bleeding Green, Matt |
The Boys Can Play! - 28/06/2009 |
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That was refreshing. Everyone was nervous to find out how the Riders defense would be without Richie Hall calling the plays. Gary Etcheverry is known as a high pressure defensive coach and he sure showed that on Friday. The Riders had 9 sacks 9 sacks!!! I cant remember the last time a Roughrider defense had 9 sacks in one game. B.C may have a weak o-line, but that many sacks still says a lot about the Sask D. The defensive line was very impressive. The young guy, Keith Shologan, had a great first game as a starter as he recorded two sacks. Also, Stevie Baggs is looking impressive as a pass rusher with another forced fumble and two sacks. The defensive lines hard work lead to the linebackers getting free on several blitzes. This was never more evident than when Sean Lucas broke around the line untouched and drilled Buck Pierce from behind causing a fumble. The heavy pressure also helped the secondary out as Omarr Morgan picked off two passes himself and James Patrick also grabbed one late. The defensive backs also did a great job covering Geroy Simon as they held the perennial all-star under 20 yards receiving for the game. The defense looked really good, but it also has a few holes. First, late in the game, someone blew a coverage really bad. How did Grice-Mullen get behind the entire defense on the second last play of the game? The Riders got a little lucky that the ball was dropped, but it is what it is. Also, this high pressure defense will be very susceptible to screen passes and quick throws over the middle. The defensive ends will have to be alert when a screen is coming to their sides and stop rushing the passer to cover the running back. Week two brings another challenge for the Rider defense. The Toronto Argonauts looked really strong on Canada Day versus the Tiger-cats. Rob Murphy has the Argo o-line playing with an edge and they are tough to play against right now. Robertson looks really dangerous at running back carrying for over 130 yards in the season opener. Joseph was also pretty accurate hitting his receivers with ease. The surprising thing was Joseph didnt really even run very much and relied more on his arm. The defense will have to start by shutting down the run to make the Argos one dimensional. The defensive line needs to get under Rob Murphys skin early. When Murphy is mad, he takes stupid penalties. Well see if game one wasnt just a fluke for the Riders defense. Going for a first road victory on the season LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Let The Games Begin - 28/06/2009 |
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Enough with the meaningless pre-season, let's play some real football! The Roughriders have a chance to start the season by exacting some revenge from last year. No one needs to be reminded of how the B.C Lions came into Mosaic Stadium last season for a West Semi-Final playoff game and ended the Riders season in embarrassment. B.C dominated every element of that game and the Riders will be looking to put last years demons to bed early this season. The Riders new look defense will be put to their first test. Buck Pierce is the man behind centre for the Lions and can be a hand full. The Riders need to keep Pierce in the pocket all game to eliminate big plays made with his legs. Pierce plays with a lot of heart, but if he's forced to beat you with only his arm, you have a good chance at winning. The Lions don't have a strong running game this year and Saskatchewan needs to take advantage of that. The Rider defense is designed to stop the pass and should be able to hold their own against B.C. The Lions have a really good receiving core, but the Riders should have a great secondary. The five in the secondary (Eddie Davis, Omarr Morgan, Jason Frazier, Donovan Alexander, and James Patrick) have the potential to rise as the best pass defense in the league and I expect nothing less. B.C loves to use the deep pass to gain big chunks of yards in one play. The defense needs to stay disciplined in the secondary to keep Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson from getting behind them. As long as the front four can provide some pressure on Pierce, the Riders should be able to keep B.C pretty low on the scoreboard. So, everyone is sick of all the talk from the expert analysts and is ready to see how everything will play out on the grid iron. The Roughriders are looking to send a message to the rest of the league that they are still a contender and no better time than the present to do so. B.C is not as strong on offense as in previous seasons, but Wally Buono and offensive coordinator Dan Dorazio are experts at executing an effective offensive game plan that uses big plays to put quick points on the board. Gary Etcheverry gets his first shot at leading the Roughrider defense and we'll find out what this team is made of. Getting back at the Lions on home turf would remind the rest of the league of how tuff Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field is to play in for a visiting team. Going for 1-0… LETS GO RIDERS! Bleeding Green, Matt |
Is Coach Crazy? 06/14/2009 |
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The question is... Who is going to replace the 230 lbs. all-star weak-side linebacker Anton McKenzie? Answer... The 185 lbs. part-time starter at halfback Tad Kornegay? Really? A big man position is being filled by a little guy? Well, it all makes sense in defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry's new defensive system. Coach Etcheverry has changed a few things. He chooses players with speed over players with size from his back eight players. The size of the defense is going to come from the four guys up front. Last season, Kitwana Jones played undersized at defensive end, but this season he's gone. Chick will be the main man on d-end, while Stevie Baggs is the front runner for the position on the other side of the line. Renauld Williams will be asked to lead the defense from his middle linebacker spot, while Sean Lucas and Tad Kornegay will be covering slot backs and plugging holes in the running game on the outsides. It will be interesting to see how Etcheverry decides to use the outside linebackers in the blitzing packages. With that much speed on the outside it can create some mismatches with the offensive tackles. This is the first time since 2001 that the Riders have had questions going into the new season about their defensive co-ordinator. The defense this season will be changed from what Roughrider fans have been used to, but in a league that promotes change, this could be just what the doctor ordered for the Saskatchewan football club. One thing is for sure, coach Etcheverry will have a much different defensive style than former coach Richie Hall did, but it just might be crazy enough to work. Bleeding Green, Matt |
Not Mo's Town Anymore - 05/09/2009 |
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The much beloved sight of the long haired, energetic, big hitting linebacker in the middle of the Riders defence is gone. Over the past three years, Rider fans had embraced Maurice Lloyd as a team leader and a difference maker for the defence. But come the 2009 season, that familiar feared presence who once lead the Riders defense will no longer be there. Pretty big shoes to fill for anyone, right? Enter Renauld Williams. The six foot tall, 228 lbs. linebacker is ready for the challenge. The twenty-eight year old Williams is a two year CFL veteran who has been scratching at the gate like a starving dog waiting for this opportunity. Rey played several years in the NFL as a special teams player and is now looking to become a star in the CFL. He started four games last year for injured all-star Anton McKenzie at weak-side linebacker. Williams was an impact player in those starts as he had 27 defensive tackles, 2 quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and an interception for a touchdown. This season, Williams will be looked on to provide a lot more than just a part-time starter. Playing middle linebacker provides a much bigger challenge than weak-side linebacker. At weak-side, a player is basically responsible to take care of one side of the field, while at middle, a player is expected to factor in on every play no matter what the situation is. This change will be a tough challenge for Rey Williams, but he is more than capable of excelling in his new role. Williams and Lloyd are two very different players, but now they will be forever connected as Roughrider middle linebackers. Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field was once generalled by Maurice Lloyd and became known as Mo-Town. Now, the Riders have a new man in the middle to lead them through the battle on the grid-iron. Its Renauld Williams chance now and you can bet he's going to make the most of it! Bleeding Green, Matt |
New Players, Same Results? - 02/23/2009 |
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In Riderville were use to losing big name defensive players in the off-season. Going into 2007, long time riders Nate Davis and Omarr Morgan left the team. Entering the 2008 season, fan favourites and perennial all-stars, Fred Perry and Reggie Hunt were no longer part of the team. The 2009 season will be no different as the Riders are losing two of the best linebackers in the league in Anton McKenzie and Maurice Lloyd, while defensive captain and team leader Eddie Davis has yet to decide on his future on whether or not to retire. Even with all these lost players over the years, the defense has managed to stay one of the best units in the league. So why should this year be any different? The big difference going into this year is that the Riders no longer have the luxury of having the best defensive coordinator in the league running the squad. Richie Hall is now the Eskimos head coach and will leave a big hole in the Rider coaching staff. Hall is notorious for getting the best out of his players and constantly turned "nobodies" into "all-stars". Many experts believe the defense will struggle this year without Hall's guidance. Losing all the players this year will not be the only obstacle for the Riders to overcome. There is plenty of reason for hope though. First, Gary Etcheverry is a very qualified replacement for Hall at defensive coordinator as he has eight seasons of coaching experience in the CFL under his belt already. Also, Tillman and Miller have a line-up full of depth, as was evidence last year throughout the unusual rash of injuries the team endured through. Position by position the defense still looks exceptional. The defensive line will be stronger. A healthy John Chick coupled with a newly acquired AFL stand out Joe Sykes should provide a pass rush that was missing last year. In the middle, Scott Schultz will be solid as always, while sophomore Keith Shologan should be ready for a bigger role with the team. At linebacker, even with the losses of Anton and Mo, the squad is looking really impressive. On strong side Sean Lucas is just hitting the peak of his potential as he led the team in tackles last year. In the middle, Reynauld Williams will get his shot as a starter as he was great as a backup last year. At weak side, Kitwana Jones finally gets a chance to prove how good he can be at linebacker after playing a year under-sized at defensive end. In the defensive backfield, young guys will be counted on to step up. James Johnson is gone and Eddie Davis may not be back. Lance Frazier and Omarr Morgan will be the leaders of this group, while the other three positions are up for grabs. Tillman and Miller know how to build a winner and will go into the season well equipped with plenty of depth to give this defense the weapons to be a league elite again. LET'S GO RIDERS!!! Bleeding Green, Matt |