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| Dec 29/09 |
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2009 in Review It's been a month since the Riders' heartbreaking loss in the Grey Cup and it still hurts. I'm not going to lie, I still think about the game everyday. The only way to justify the outcome is to tell myself that "It just wasn't meant to be". Still it's hard to accept and I imagine it is a feeling I never will forget. 2009 is a season most likely remembered for that one game and monumental collapse, but a lot went on this year and most of it was positive for the green and white. The Saskatchewan Roughriders entered the season with many questions yet to be answered. Who would emerge as the starting QB? Who was going to play WR? How would the defense play without Richie Hall, Mo Lloyd, Anton McKenzie, etc? These questions have been answered by a team and organization that has proven itself to be top notch. 2009 saw the Riders start slow and leading up to the bye week they were a team that could either crumble or fight through the adversity and come out on top. The team took the latter option propelled by the leadership of veterans, the emergence of Darian Durant, the creativity and mentorship of the coaching staff, and the depth of our Canadian talent. After the bye week - where Durant remained in Saskatchewan to polish his game and represent the team at such events as a minor football camp in Melville, SK - you could see the team coming together. Durant and his receivers were getting on the same page. The defense started to figure out Etcheverry's complicated but genius defensive scheme. And the green and white began to fully believe in themselves. The 2009 edition of the Roughriders went on to accomplish great things. The team battled through injuries on the o-line and in the receiving corps and still found ways to win The Riders successfully beat Calgary all four times they faced them this season QB Darian Durant established himself as a top four QB in the league DE Stevie Baggs led the league in sacks DE John Chick was named the CFL's Outstanding Defensive Player Saskatchewan finished 1st in the West for the first time in 33 years The Riders won the Western Division Final They performed admirably in the Grey Cup The Roughriders established themselves as a top franchise in the CFL All in all I would say it was a pretty successful season for the green and white, especially considering that most analysts expected the Riders to miss the playoffs at the start of the season. Looking ahead to 2010 I feel that Hopson, Tillman, and Miller have put this team in a good position to compete for a championship every year. The Riders have risen my expections as well as my excitement. Here's to a successful 2009! Go Green, Bert |
Nov 24/09 |
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The Task at Hand It was a night like no other on the prairies as the Saskatchewan Roughriders cemented a spot in the 97th Grey Cup with a bigtime win over the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Division Final in Regina. The atmosphere was electric! Over 30'000 fans clad in green and white and carrying thundersticks. The noise was deafening at points in the game as riderpriders got as loud as ever. Hennnnnnnnnry! Hennnnnnnnnny! The fans contributed to several procedure calls and taunted Burris all game. Even moreso hectic on the Stamps QB was the Saskatchewan defense and the scheme drawn up by Gary Etcheverry. The Riders had blanket coverage all game and constant pressure on Burris, forcing him to make poor decisions in the pocket. Reynauld Williams was a monster out there while Chick, Baggs, and the rest of the boys dominated the Calgary offense in almost every way. On offense, the Riders played nearly mistake-free football. Darian Durant was over 70% passing and threw 3TD's to the "Canadian Air Force". Fantuz, Getzlaf, and Bagg were precise in their route running and were continually finding the open spots on the field. Equally as important in the win was the play of the special teams. Jason Armstead has become Mr. Clutch for the Roughriders as he took back a 75 yard return to start the second half, before throwing a 42-yard pass to Rob Bagg later in the third quarter. And Sakoda's punting was spectacular. His hangtime and distance led to Saskatchewan being able to get down field and win the field position battle. It all led to an impressive win and even more impressive party into the Regina night. The Riders played great and are the West Division champions in 2009! That being said, Celebration time is over! Saskatchewan now has to focus on the task at hand. The Riders now move on to face the 15-3 Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup and Saskatchewan is a huge underdog going into the contest. The Riders will need to be better than during the season. They need to be better than the west final. They need to be playing their best and executing at 100%. Defensively the Roughies will have to limit the big play potential of the Als. Calvillo likes to start the game by throwing quick timing routes to his receivers and mix it up with alot of play action. The key for the Roughriders will be disrupting the timing between Calvillo and his receivers. Saskatchewan needs to hit the Montreal pass catchers on the line of scrimmage as well as getting pressure on the Montreal pivot. But the green and white have to be careful not to get over-aggressive on defense so to prevent the big play from happening. If need be, let Calvillo nickel and dime you and then shut him down when it matters most. Durant and the offense on the otherhand, need to be aggressive. They need to dictate the play, keep everyone involved and use the weapons that we have to control the clock and scoreboard. Montreal has the best defense in the league but they do have weaknesses. Among them is knack to give up deep passes. But I also think that the Riders need to balance the passing game with a healthy dose of Wes Cates. Give Wes the Ball in creative ways and let him carry the team to glory. Most importantly... no turnovers! The green machine has done a good job of holding on to the ball recently and need to continue the strong play. Of course special teams will play a major role in deciding the victor on Sunday. Every Saskatchewan player needs to be on the same page. Armstead needs to give us good field position and our cover teams need to limit the talented return game of the Als. Congi and Sakoda need to play mistake-free ball in the kicking game to increase the Riders chances for victory. Saskatchewan is a good team. A win will make them great. They have the skill, determination, desire and perseverence to beat the Alouettes. It's now time to put up. Let's go Riders! Bring home the Cup! Go Green, Bert |
Nov 18/09 |
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Bring on the Stamps The wait is almost over. Thirty-three years in the making, our time has come. After earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in three decades, Saskatchewan is ready to host the Western Final at Taylor Field. The opponent... Calgary. Calgary poses a tremendous challenge for the Riders. Their offense has the firepower to score at any moment if your defense isn't executing. The key for the Riders defense will be to dictate the tempo of the game. Punish the receivers, throw off Burris' timing, and above all stop the zone read play that of which Reynolds and the Stamps make their living. The Calgary defense is a different challenge for the guys in green. Calgary has a talented group of pass rushers and their secondary has been aggressive in the last gave. Saskatchewan needs to take advantage of this aggressiveness and use it against the Stamps. Durant needs to make quick reads on the blitz and the Riders' offense should utilize Cates in a lot of misdirection plays. And finally, the battle up front on the line of scrimmage needs to be won by the Riders if they hope to move on to the Grey Cup. 30 000 thundersticks will be handed out to the sold out crowd, so it's a guarantee that the place will be rocking. Ridernation will need to be on top of their game in order to get to the next level. The hype has been built. The teams are ready. It's time to lay it all on the line. Bring on the Stamps! Go Green, Bert |
Nov 9/09 |
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Yeahhhh Baby!!!!!!!! If you haven't heard, Saskatchewan beat Calgary on the weekend to secure 1st place in the West for the first time since 1976! That's 33 years! The Riders were able to accomplish the feat on a solid team effort through and through. The defense was able to hold Calgary and their offence to 1 TD in the game, while the offense did their duty putting up 21 first half points and never looking back. Special teams played a flawless game and the Riders out-coached and executed better than the Stampeders. Darian Durant had a whale of a game, coming through when the Roughriders needed him most. He threw for almost 300 yards and 2 TD's in the face of tremendous pressure (both figuratively and literally). He was able to evade the rush, that seemed to be getting to him constantly, by moving his feet and finding the open receivers. But the most key ingredient in Durant's game was the amount of turnovers he committed.... ZERO. That is the type of football he has to play if the green and white hope to make it to the Grey Cup this year. The playcalling was good on both sides of the ball, with screens and quick passes called to negate the blitz on offence and perfectly timed blitzes and good coverage packages on defence to keep Burris on his heels. Enough cannot be said about how well the defence played to hold the Stamps to only one major in the game. The key to this was fundamentals. The Riders almost never missed an assignment and they tackled correctly, exemplified by Chris McKenzie several times as he filled in for Eddie Davis. All in all it turned out to be a great day for everyone in Rider Nation, but the work has just begun... Saskatchewan can take a couple days to relish in their first regular season 1st place finish in 33 years, but then they have to focus on the present and make sure they're ready for Edmonton or Calgary come the day of West Final. 1st place is great but it means very little if you don't use the home field to your advantage. The green and white have to be prepared to battle in a more difficult game on November 22nd. The way this team has battled through adversity and come together, I know they will be ready for whomever they face. There is something about the 2009 edition of the Riders that makes you believe. They have the heart, they have the desire, and they have the right mindset to be successful. It all comes down to execution. The Roughriders will be ready to play a full 60 minutes come playoff time and Taylor Field is gonna be rocking. Rider Nation cannot wait. Go Green, Bert |
Oct 26/09 |
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Strength from Within Wow what an amazing two weeks it has been! First off going into Calgary and coming out with a 44 point tie was a great accomplishment for the Riders considering the things that went wrong in that game... penalties, the inability to stop Calgary's offense, "the call"... But Saskatchewan showed resiliency, scoring a TD+2pts in the final two minutes of the game and 2 TD's in OT to come out with the tie. Durant and Fantuz had monster games with the rest of the team contributing with a solid effort. The Roughriders followed that up with a gutsy come from behind OT win in front of the faithful at Taylor Field. The Riders were once again able to overcome adversity and found the inner strength to bounce back from negatives to create positives. The Green + White once again scored a TD+2pts in the final minutes to send the game to overtime for a second straight week. This time however, the Riders managed to put up 3 points and then proceed to intercept the ball during the Lions' posession to promptly end the game. Other than proving that many of the Roughrider faithful are vulnerable to heart attacks, these two contests showed that Saskatchewan is a team to be reckoned with and a true contender for top spot in the West. Furthermore with these two showings, Darian Durant has emerged as a clutch quarterback in the CFL. Durant proved that he can put the team on his shoulders and carry them to the glory land. Time and time again vs Calgary and BC Durant responded when the Riders needed it most. He was able to overcome interceptions, penalties, and point deficits to lead the Roughies on several game-changing drives in the dying minutes of the contests. Darian handled the pressure like a seasoned veteran, even when being forced to run in the pocket. He was poised and intelligent, making the right reads at the right time. The whole Riders offense came together and would not let their team fail. Durant's performance is a microcosm of this Riders team. From the top down, the team works very hard and believes that they have the skill and determination to win the game. It is this strength from within that makes Saskatchewan a dangerous team who can threaten any opponent at any given time. Go Green, Bert |
Sept 27/09 |
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Home and Home Split The Riders came up big in Edmonton and salvaged a home-and-home split with a 23-20 victory over the Eskimos. It was an ugly win, but a win it was. With the wind blowing and rain pouring down the Riders showed resiliency and determination in managing to claw their way to victory. The green and white made just the right amount of adjustments from the previous game to pull out a victory. The running game was an important factor in determining the winner of both games. In the first game Edmonton was able to establish a running attack early opening up playaction opportunities for the Eskies passing game. The Riders on the other hand were unable to mount any sort of running attack, limiting their ability to move the ball. The rematch was a different story with the Roughriders being the team with a solid running game while the Eskimos were held in check except for one long play. Saskatchewan's ability to make the adjustment on the ground gave them the chance to win the game. And it couldn't have come at a more important time for Saskatchewan. Edmonton had already won the season series with the Riders and were threatening to sweep. A loss would have meant the Riders would be a game back of the Eskies, but the Riders would have actually needed two wins to surpass the Eskies in the standings. Instead the Roughies sit tied for top spot in the West along with Calgary with 7-5 records. The victory means that the Riders are still in control of their own destiny and can finish first in the west if they continue to improve. Saskatchewan plays four of their last six games against western division opponents. They play BC twice, Calgary twice to go along with Toronto and Hamilton. Realistically the Riders need to win at least 3 of their West Division games if they hope to finish first. Two wins against Calgary would go a long way in securing home field advantage in the playoffs. It won't be an easy road, but the Riders have all the tools to get it done. The team is getting healthy, Durant looks more comfortable behind center every game, execution is improving in all facets of the game, and the guys in green are showing great signs of will and determination. It's gonna be a fantastic six weeks that is going to be a hell of a lot of fun to watch! Go Green, Bert |
Sept 17/09 |
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Rising from the Crop The first half of the CFL season is usually a crapshoot where teams are unpredictable. Some bad teams start out hot. Some good teams start slow. And some teams send mixed messages. Around Labour Day all that changes. The creme starts rising to the top and the poor teams are put in their place. That's what happened during the yearly home-and-home series between our beloved Roughriders and the much hated Bombers to the East. Saskatchewan pummelled the Bombers in the two game set, outscoring them by over 50 points. Execution was the main difference between the two teams. The Bombers executed poorly and turned the ball over way too many times to be successful. The Riders on the otherhand proved that they can execute plays and make teams pay for their mistakes. Good teams execute, poor teams don't. Saskatchewan successfully shutdown the one-dimensional Blue Bombers by stopping the run and forcing Michael Bishop to throw the ball. People in Saskatchewan know how Bishop plays so it was funny to see it happen to the otherside. Bishop is not accurate between the yardage of 10 and 35 yards. He makes errand passes and poor decisions that lead to turnovers. Rider DB's and LB's like Kornegay, Lucas, and Morgan took advantage of the Bishop factor and gave the Riders offense great field position at times. Another huge series was had by returnee, Jason Armstead. I gotta admit I was a bit skeptical when the Riders signed him, but he has proven me wrong so far. Armstead has been good returning the football and has even thrown a touchdown pass!. The TD was aided by the fact that Andy Fantuz made an outstanding reception for the score. Speaking of Fantuz, it was nice to see him back on the field after an extended period off with the hamstring injury. More of the same types of performances from him should silence the talk surrounding his contract status and all of the drama surrounding it. There is no doubt that we are a better team with #83 on the field and I hope that situation gets settled quietly before it becomes a distraction. Darian Durant continues to grow as a QB in his first season as a starter behind centre. You can see him getting more comfortable reading defenses, knowing when the rush is coming, getting on the same page with his receivers, and making solid decisions most of the time. Durant will continue to get better as the season rolls on. Keep it up DD! Now that the Riders have completed a relatively easy 4 game stretch, they must kick it up another notch for the next few games. Saskatchewan has a real opportunity to create some space between themselves and other teams in the west. The Riders cannot afford to make many mistakes against the Edmontons and Calgaries of the CFL. The green and white will have to continue to work as a team with every player executing properly on every play. And the coaches need to keep the players motivated and on an even keil. Now is the time to step up. Now is the time for Saskatchewan to rise to the top on the way to the post-season. The green and white cannot be content with their success. They must continue to strive to be the best. Go Green, Bert |
Aug 17/09 |
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Where has the 3rd Quarter Gone? Saskatchewan improved their record to 4-3 and grabbed a share of 1st place in the west with a resilient 33-23 win over the Hamilton Tigercats. The weather was ugly in Regina as the wind and rain pounded Taylor Field. To spite the weather, the Riders came out with a spirited first half. The defense was on fire, holding Hamilton to 0 first downs, 0 points, and an unheardof -11 net yards of offense in the first half. The offense was also doing their part, putting up 23 points in the opening 2 quarters. There was marked improvement in play calling by Paul LaPolice(although I did see Ken Miller with a play list and headset on). There was creativity in utilizing the run game, finding different ways to get Cates the ball and Durant was effective when he used his legs to move the chains and avoid pressure. The offensive line looked as good as I have seen them this year. They were pushing the d-line 1-2 yards off the ball, opening up big holes for the running game and did an admirable job of protecting Durant in the pocket. The defense played outstanding for the whole game, minus 2 or 3 big plays by the Ticat receivers. The D-line was outstanding getting pressure on the Hamilton QB's and shutting down dangerous running back Cobb. The secondary did a great job of covering receivers and practiced solid fundamentals when tackling. It was nice to have John Chick back on DE to compliment Stevie Baggs on the other side. And how could one not notice the play of Keith Shologan on both sides of the ball as he pulled in a TD reception in the first quarter. This brings us to the glaring problem with the Riders this season, the lackluster performance in the 3rd quarter. Through 7 games this season Saskatchewan has only managed to score 7 points in total while alowing well over 50. The Roughriders problem comes at them from all angles... the offense has too many 2 and outs, the defense has trouble limiting drives, and the field position battle is severly hindered by poor special teams. You can't crack down on one player more than the other. Durant is making bad passes, receivers are dropping balls, and the play calling has been mediocre at best. On defense, there have been mental lapses and poor tackling at times. On special teams there hasn't been much good to watch. Our return game has been non-existent, blocking is poor, and penalties have resulted in horrible field position for the guys in green in the 3rd quarter. So what is the solution? I don't know if it's the players or the coaches, but the team has to figure out a way to come out in the 2nd half the same way that they do in the 1st half. There needs to be more emotion and execution by the Riders' players and more motivation by the coaching staff. It has to be a complete team effort. When one of the three groups(offense, defense, special teams) of the team are struggling, the other two have to pick up the slack. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO BE FIRED UP IN THE 3RD QUARTER OR ELSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG SEASON. Go Green, Bert |
Aug 9/09 |
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Still Work to Do The Riders went into BC Place high on emotion from the previous last minute win in Calgary. They left with bruised bones and egos after being dismantled by the Lions in the second half. A blown call by the officials gave the lions 7 points and all of the momentum going into the half. The Riders could not rebound and came out flat in the third frame. The loss leaves the team with many questions and much more work to do. Once again the Riders had a solid first half, with the defense forcing 3 turnovers and the offense putting up fourteen big points on deep passes. I don't know what happened at halftime, but the whole Riders team came out flat. The defense was run over once again. It is becoming apparent that other teams in this league have figured out our pressure defense. Newsflash to Etcheverry... if your not getting pressure on the opponent's QB when sending 6-7 or 8 guys, then switch it up and try to stop the run and those short passes that teams are beating you with. The offense wasn't any better either. Constant two and outs in the third left the defense on the feild way too long. What is the problem on Offense? The Roughies had poor play by their special teams resulting in horrible field position for the majority of the second half. Add to that an inept offensive line and mediocre play calling and you have a perfect storm for a brutal offense. Everyone knows that our o-line is going to be weak because of the injuries sustained to key players there. There will be pressure on our QB. There won't be large holes for RB's to run through. So how do you win games when your o-line leaks like a seive? The answer is through pro-active playcalling. Get some creativity! You can't run the same handoff to Wes Cates 5 yards deep and expect him to break 5 tackles and make big yardage. You need to get him the ball in different ways. Bring in a lead blocker. Why do we have Szarka on our roster if we only use him in short yardage situations. Throw screen and shovel passes to eleviate the pass rush. Move the pocket, run fakes, bootlegs, etc. I think you get what I mean. Offensive Co-ordinator Paul LaPolice has to recognize that Darian Durant is not a pocket passer. He is most effective, like Kerry Joseph, when he gets his legs moving. Just look at all the big plays he made versus BC on the run. Durant found Bagg, Walker, and others downfield when rolling and/or scrambling. I am impressed by the young QB's decision making while on the run. He knows when to thread the needle to the receiver, take off and run, and when to throw the ball away to prevent a sack. I bet Durant has avoided 10 sacks this season by throwing the ball away at the last second. Steven Jyles on the otherhand does not make those good decisions as is evident by him holding on to the ball way too long in the 4th quarter in BC. A Final Thought 1/3 of the way into the season, the Roughriders are 3 and 3 and are tied for first in the CFL West. We've had great games and poor games. The fans need to calm down because there are lots of games to play yet. The players need to focus on getting better. The coaches need to focus on adjustments. And Ken Miller and Co. need to stick with their plan of developing their young QB's. Mistakes will be made, but so will successes. You have to have the confidence in your young gun-slingers to make the right decisions. A QB does not become great in 6 games or even 12, just look at Anthony Calvillo in his early years. Durant has intelligence and potential. Let's let him realize it. Here's to a 4-2 second third of the season! Go Green, Bert |
Jul 29/09 |
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Running Away Blowing a 22 point lead at home has not left many in riderville with good moods. Saskatchewan started off with a bang, only to fizzle in the 3rd quarter. The Riders were unable to move the ball and couldn't stop the Eskimos in the third frame. The Reason? The running game, on both sides of the ball. Saskatchewan's running game was non-existent in the loss to the Eskimos. The young o-line was dominated by Edmonton's front four leaving Wes Cates with a poor average in his 2nd game this season. Cates was not helped out by the totally unimaginative play calling by o-coordinator Paul LaPolice. The way the plays were being called, I thought Marcel Bellefeuille was back on the Riders sidelines. It was almost a given... 1st and 10=shotgun handoff to Cates with no lead blocker. The Result Durant and the Riders were consistently left with 2nd and 8 or 2nd and 9 situations. Edmonton just had to sit back and play pass defense. When your team is one dimensional they can't win in the CFL. Granted Durant has to make more completions to open receivers, but it is tough when you have people in your face mere seconds after snapping the ball. I called out Jamie Boreham last week and this week he kicked much better. His average was in the high forties, which is where it should be if he wants to be a top tier kicker in this league. The problem this game was the coverage and the tackling. On both special teams and defense there were countless missed tackles and blown coverages for much of the second half. The Good... Saskatchewan and Darian Durant minimized turnovers Rob Bagg and Stu Ford played amazing! Lance Frazier picked off Ricky Ray and took it all the way to the endzone for 6 pts Saskatchewan improved on their previous blowout loss vs Mtl by scoring 25 more points The Moral Football is the ultimate team game. All members of the team need to be in-sync mentally and physically to lead your team to victory. A team must have all 3 facets (offense/defense/special teams) going for 60 minutes. Saskatchewan is improving and will be better next game. They are a team and will win/lose as one. Go Green, Bert |
Jul 21/09 |
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Put in Our Place There was a buzz surrounding the game between the Riders and Als on Saturday. The hype was quickly shutdown by Montreal as they put the wood to the Roughriders at Taylor Feild. I was hard pressed to find anything good to talk about after taking in that shalacking on the weekend, so I will start with the things the Riders need to improve on. They must first and foremost take care of the football. 5 turnovers is too many in a football game. It is imperitive that players like Hugh Charles, Steven Jyles, Jason Clermont and Darian Durant protect the football when they are in vulnerable situations. The players also have to be better prepared mentally for every play. Fumbling the ball on the 2 yard line is inexcusable for Jyles and the O-line, while being young, cannot take as many holding calls as they did on Saturday. There were more than 3 instances where the Riders had a big play negated by holding calls. Another issue was the punt returning by Eric Morris. Morris needs to run north/south instead of east/west. Punt protection needs to get better as well. Every game this year the Riders have had a kick blocked. Those are game changing plays, and that cannot happen if the Riders want to be successful. Speaking of punting, I am advocating for Luca Congi to handle those duties. Jamie Boreham did not have his best game as a Rider vs the Als, but that is not the reason why I think he should be solely for kickoffs. Boreham's punting average has been consistently the worst in the CFL. He has a career average of around 40 yards, which is mediocre at best. Boreham's control of the ball is also suspect as he has troubles aiming the ball down the sidelines. Luca on the otherhand has proven that he has the leg and the ability to punt the ball accurately downfeild. It is a small change but would make a big difference in the feild position battle for the guys in green. There were a few bright spots for Saskatchewan though. The defense played well early and forced several turnovers. The Riders had solid coverage on the Als receivers for most of the game except for a couple monumental breakdowns where the receiver was left so wide open he could have walked into the endzone. Special teams did a good job of blocking kicks and containing Montreal returners. All is not lost for Saskatchewan. The Riders are still in 1st place in the west and 2nd overall in the CFL. The Roughies have simply been reminded that they have alot of work to do to become a championship callibre team. We will see if they rebound this week vs the Eskimos and I think they will. Go Green, Bert |
Jul 12/09 |
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Still Perfect No one really new what to expect from the green machine coming into week two. In week one, the Riders outplayed the Lions in a sloppy and turnover filled affair. The defense looked outstanding but questions lingered about Saskatchewan's offense. Week two was somewhat of a different story as the Riders fought back from an early deficit, gained control in quarter 2, and dominated for the rest of the game. Once again the Roughrider defense was the story as they forced 5 turnovers(2 INT, 2 Fumble, 1 Punt Block). Stevie Baggs schooled veteran O-lineman Rob Murphy all day. This kid is just flat out exciting to watch. He brings it every play and makes the whole d-line better. The Riders had trouble stopping the run early, but righted the ship in the 2nd quarter as they held T.O. behind their 30 yard line the whole quarter. UNHEARDOF! The one blemish in an otherwise outstanding game for the defense was their lacksadasical play in the final 7 mins of the game. The Argos moved the ball at will and scored 2 TD's on deep balls to make the score respectable. Granted the game was already out of reach. But you can't just coast to victory. You have to be the best on every play. That's what makes a championship team! Overall good performance by the defense. They will have to be even better next week against high-powered Montreal. The Riders offense played well in Toronto led by Darian Durant's 18-28, 3 TD, performance. Hugh Charles was markably better as he and the rest of the Riders minimized mistakes on offense. Durant only made two or three poor throws and managed the game nicely getting the ball to his playmakers. Two perfect deep throws to Dressler and Fantuz particularly caught my eye as Darian looked-off the safety, then proceeded to toss the ball to a wide open receiver. One cannot congratulate the Riders' offense without recognizing the effort of the o-line. Saskatchewan was without Gene Makowsky, Belton Johnson, and Wayne Smith (arguably our best three linemen). Youngsters filled the void as Best, O'Meara, etc. played great allowing only 2 sacks and creating big holes for the running game. Coach Bob Wylie is amazing to have gotten these guys to gel in such a short period of time. The only concern on offense is the health of Jason Clermont. Clermont was used sparingly in the win as he left the game with an apparent back injury. Let's hope he gets better quickly as the green & white could really use his leadership as they get set to take on one of the best defenses in the CFL, Montreal. Game Notes: Luca Congi looked good hitting 3 of 4 feild goal attempts and hitting the upright with the other. Special teams has shown marked improvement this year and will continue to get better every game. The only blemish was a blocked feild goal attempt in the first half Eric Morris is a great return man for the Riders. You heard it here first... He will score a return TD this season. LB Sean Lucas has carried on his stellar play from last season with a solid game. Canadian CB Donovan Alexandre has been consistent in his position and made a huge hit in Toronto on Saturday. Go Green, Bert |
Jul 5/09 |
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Comedy of Errors It wasn't a pretty way to open the season, but it sure was an exciting victory for the Riders on Friday Night Football in Saskatchewan. The Riders ended up making one fewer mistake than BC and it was enough to give them a 28-24 win in front of 30'000 riderpriders. The game was an ugly one for both offenses with turnovers gallore creating momentum shifts at every turn. The Riders were firing on all cylinders in the first half. Darian Durant had control of the offense marching the ball with ease and making smart decisions. As the game went on however, the Riders lack of running game was exposed and Durant tried to force a couple of throws to receivers resulting in costly turnovers. The roughies did manage to put together some quality drives in the second half led by deep balls to Fantuz and Dressler. But Saskatchewan were held to field goals after the break. With three interceptions many people were questioning Durants decision making. It was nice to see though that Ken Miller showed confidence in the young QB and let Darian battle through the adversity. I will be the first to admit that Durant did make some very bad decisions that left points on the field and cannot be tolerated as the season goes on. That's where I can see Darian excelling. Durant will watch the film and improve from week to week. We have to remember that this was only his 5th start in the CFL career - a career in which he is 5-0 by the way. During the game, the Saskatchewan QB made some excellent decisions that many overlook. Durant was avoiding pressure with some well timed jukes, he prevented several sacks by throwing the ball away when everyone was covered, and he was going through his reads(sometimes checking down to the 3rd or 4th receiver) for the majority of the game. It was only when Durant locked in on one receiver that he got into trouble. Durant will be fine and will be better as the season rolls on. Any questions about the Gary Etcheverry defense were answered with the performance of the Riders on Friday. Saskatchewan's defense played as well as I have ever seen a defense play. Etcheverry sent pressure on just about every play keeping QB Buck Pierce guessing with a different player bringing the heat on every down. The Riders front seven had a whale of a game racking up an unheardof 9 sacks and 8 turnovers. Stevie Baggs looked like a young Fred Perry running all over field making tackles, getting sacks, and forcing fumbles. Newcommer Keith Shologan recorded the first two sacks of his career and the rest of the front seven was dominant. The defensive secondary looked great led by Omarr Morgan with two interceptions and a forced fumble. Canadian corner Donovan Alexander did not look out of place defending against some talented Lion pass catchers. The only weakness on the defense appeared to be against the run game where BC had most of their success. There were times where BC caught Saskatchewan over-persuing creating big gains for the Lions squad. When rating the overall performance of the team, you have to be excited as a Riders fan. The defense will be difficult to play against for any opponent this season. The offense moved the ball successfully and will be in good shape if they eliminate the costly turnovers. Dressler, Fantuz, and company will keep the green machine rolling with the ball this season. Special teams needs a little work in the punting game, but the return game looks like it has potential with Eric Morris handling the returning duties. What I've learned as a Roughriders fan over the past few years is that Ken Miller's team is just that, a TEAM. The Riders play hard for themselves and for eachother. In a league where any team can win on any given night. No matter how ugly the game, the better TEA M will be the one coming out on top. With their effort, the Riders more often than not, will be that team this season. Go Green, Bert |
Jun 24/09 |
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2009 Season Preview When the dust settled after pre-season, the Riders have provided some answers to the lingering questions of the off-season, but several key injuries also raised some concerns. The second year of the Ken Miller era in Saskatchewan has started with a bang already with questions about quarterbacks, defense and injuries. The current regime has remained cool and collected as they waited for players to mature into their roles and as they've dealt with two early season losses to the o-line. Questions remain... Can Darian Durant lead this team to victories? Are the injuries to Gene Makowsky(knee) and Wayne Smith(achilles) a sign of a repeat of last year's injury nightmare for the team? Can a new defensive coordinator Gary Etcheverry fill the shoes of the departed Richie Hall while missing two thirds of the starting linebacking core from next season? These and many more questions will be answered starting on July 3rd as the Riders kickoff their 2009 season against the lions. Offence Darian Durant gets the nod as starting QB for the green and white and he has the full support of the team and coaching staff. Durant will realize early that if he wants to win, all he has to do is get the ball to the playmakers. Saskatchewan is blessed with the best offensive support group in the league. Clermont, Dressler, Fantuz, and Cates will do the heavy lifting. It will be interesting to see wether Johnny Quinn or Eric Morris step up to be the deep threat the Riders need to be extremely dangerous. Durant simply needs to minimize turnovers and the offense will be seeing alot of the green zone this year. Defence The Departure of Richie Hall and Linebackers Maurice Lloyd and Anton McKenzie would be enough to destroy other defenses in the CFL. The Riders will be hurting early on without those guys, but Saskatchewan's defense is anchored by several veteran players who will right the ship by week 4. Eddie Davis, Omarr Morgan, and Scott Schultz will be coach Etcheverry's greatest assets in implementing his new scheme. The Roughies will be looking to those players for leadership as they operate a defense geared mainly toward the pass. This strategy puts increased importance on the revamped D-line to get pressure on the QB's and shutdown the run game. Look for the Riders to get a whole lot more sacks this season from their front four. By season's end, Saskatchewan's defense will once again be feared by opposing offenses. Key additions: SB Jason Clermont Key losses: LB Maurice Lloyd, LB Anton McKenzie, WR Matt Dominguez, DB James Johnson, D-Coach Richie Hall Players to Watch: QB Darian Durant, LB Renauld Williams, DL Keith Shologan, WR Eric Morris, WR Johnny Quinn, DL Stevie Baggs Prediction: Saskatchewan's defense will have a mediocre start as they learn the new system. The offense will hit a few speed bumps but will excel as Durant relies on his talented entourage to rack up the yards. The Riders will once again be hosting a home playoff game this year, but with only a 10-7-1 record. Sadly the Riders will bow out in the west division final and Eddie Davis will say farewell to the CFL as a player. Go Green, Bert |
May 31/09 |
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Questioning the Regime Saskatchewan has been said to be a team with 1 million general managers. People across the province and the entire nation always know what's best for the team in green. This off-season has been like any other under the Hopson/Tillman regime. The Riders have made a series of tough football decisions that have left some fans screaming foul and others left shaking their heads. But is there adequate reasoning to question the moves made by the Riders' brass. This off-season saw the departure of key members of the 2008 edition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Richie Hall went to Edmonton as a head coach. This was unavoidable as Richie deserved a shot at the top job. Last year's starting middle linebacker, Maurice Lloyd followed coach Hall to Edm. Another unavoidable departure as Lloyd pretty much had his mind made up that he was heading elsewhere in 2009. The departure of LB Anton McKenzie to BC ruffled a few feathers of some Riders fans. Their argument was that the Riders put too much energy into trying to sign Lloyd who was going to leave and didn't show enough respect to McKenzie who felt a little shafted from the Riders. Others, myself included, were upset with the trading of youngster WR Adarius Bowman and 2007 Grey Cup MVP DB James Johnson to Winnipeg and fan favourite DE Kitwana Jones to Edmonton for a no-name QB. After a couple weeks of reflection I have come to the conclusion that the Riders will be competitive this year and the moves made by the front office are in the best interest of the football team. Eric Tillman and Joe Womack have been very good in their evaluation of players and of needs of the team. Each off-season they try to shore up weaknesses from the previous season while tempering player departures with key acquisitions. Last year Saskatchewan got rid of QB Kerry Joseph and DE Fred Perry to name a few. Yet they still ended up with a 12-6 record and hosting a home playoff game for the 2nd consecutive year. Who's to say this year will be any different. Sure we lost Lloyd, McKenzie, Bowman, etc., but we gained Clermont, McGrath, and a wealth of Canadian talent. There are still some holes in Saskatchewan's defence and many lingering questions surrounding the team, but I have complete faith in the people making the decisions in the organization. Those who still question the Riders' brass need only to look back at the last couple seasons where the current regime has been in charge. 2-years, 24-12 record, 2 home-playoff games, 1 Grey Cup... The proof is in the pudding. Go Green, Bert |
Apr 3/09 |
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It's a three-way! There has been more action in Riderville in the last couple days than there is in a Las Vegas hotel room. The Riders pulled off a couple major trades and signings over the last couple days. The first was a surprising move that sent WR Adarius Bowman and prospects to Winnipeg for all-star OL Dan Goodspeed + future considerations. Goodspeed was instantly delt to Hamilton for Canadian OL Jordan Rempel and a 2nd rd draft pick this year. Then, the Riders proceeded to sign highly touted Canadian OL prospect Jonathan St. Pierre on Friday. St. Pierre was the Riders' 2nd rd draft pick in 2008, a pick they grabbed up in the Fred Perry trade with Edmonton. With these moves, it is obvious that Saskatchewan is trying to load up on Canadian talent on the o-line and in the draft. The Riders now have an amazing crop of young and talented non-import offensive linemen and are set in that position for the longterm. The Riders now have 6 Canadian o-linemen who are 30 years old or less. Many people argue that football is won and lost in the trenches (and I agree). But with the departure of Adarius Bowman, one has to wonder, who is going to play wide receiver in Saskatchewan this year? Adarius Bowman is a player who can develop into a superstar in this league. He is big, fast and talented. Last year in Saskatchewan he had an inconsistent season riddled with injuries and dropped passes. Was that enough time to determine that he is a bust and trade him away? You only have to look back to Andy Fantuz's first year to see that rookies with lots of potential can have trouble in their first CFL season. Now I know that just because Fantuz rebounded and became a great receiver doesn't mean Bowman will follow in his footsteps. However, he could have very well became a solid replacement for Matt Dominguez. No More. Saskatchewan will look to another newbie at WR this year. Be it Gerran Walker or someone else, the Riders will be relying heavily on the slot-machines(Fantuz and Clermont) to pick up the slack. Matt Dominguez's health is still too much of a question mark to pencil him back onto the roster, so the Riders will go with another young wide receiver with talent and potential. The question then becomes: are the Riders willing to wait long enough until that potential is realized? Go Green, Bert |
Mar 14/09 |
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A Few Thoughts What to do with Free Agent QB's and a new league? I just want to put my thoughts out toward a couple stories that have been making news lately. The first is some fans calling for the Riders to make an effort to sign high profile free agent quarterbacks Casey Printers and Kevin Glenn. The Riders don't need them. Both are or were talented players, but both have downsides that out-weigh their potential benefits to the team. Casey Printers is a former CFL MVP. He is young, has a rocket arm and can make plays... with his legs. Where he falls apart is his attitude. Printers has been a cancer in the dressing room in Hamilton and he has a tendency to try and do everything himself on the field instead of trusting his teammates. Kevin Glenn on the other hand was well liked by his peers in the Winnipeg dressing room. The former Roughrider still has friends who play with the green and white and would not cause a rift behind closed doors. Glenn is also a former CFL Eastern Division MVP with a lightning quick release. But Glenn too has some glaring negatives that make him less desireable for the Riders. Kevin Glenn is strictly a pocket passer with no ability to run the ball. He has averaged just over 100 yards rushing per season, greatly limiting the ability for a diversified attack by the offense. If a QB can't run, it means that extra pressure is put on the runningback to make plays. If teams anticipate the quick passes and key on the RB, it is hard to do alot with a stagnant passer on offense. Also Glenn is a band-aid. He gets injured every year and is not dependable behind center. He has been inconsistent throughout his career with a TD:INT ratio of about 5:4. The Riders need someone who is smart and mobile. They don't need Kevin Glenn. Another big story of the last couple days has been the announcement that there will be a new football league in the USA starting in October. The United Football League will have teams in four cities and will look to draw professional players away from the AFL, CFL, and NFL. To me this league is rediculous. It is competing directly with the NFL and will be crushed. I don't think it will be a threat to the CFL in terms of luring away players and coaches. The UFL is gambling on the NFL owners locking-out the players in 2011 and is hoping that the players will jump ship to the new league. With the AFL recently folded as well as the departure of the NFL Europe, there are plenty of professional football players looking for work. Players and agents are smart enough to recognize that the UFL is an experiment, just like the XFL, AFL, NFL Europe, and USFL. Some players will give the new league a chance, while the majority will continue to persue careers in the CFL, a league with a history of competition and success. Go Green, Bert |
Feb 21/09 |
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Goodbye "Seek & Destroy" It is evident in 2009, more than ever, that football is a business. It is a change business. Only a few days into free agency, the Riders team looks drastically different. A team that had 19 potential free agents entered February 15th with a laundry list of signings yet to be completed. With Eric Tillman on administrative leave from the Riders, Saskatchewan was not able to secure several key players before they hit the open market. The biggest of whom were the allstar linebacking tandem of Maurice Lloyd and Anton McKenzie. Lloyd's departure was pretty much a foregone conclusion as he was talking about receiving "respect" which is player speak for financial compensation. The evil empire of the CFL, Edmonton Eskimos, answered the call by putting up big dollars to secure one of the most lethal middle linebackers in the league. The Roughies weren't able to match the offer so they will have to deal with Lloyd from the otherside of the field for the next few years. McKenzie, on the other hand, took advantage of the salary cap space that the BC Lions opened up prior to free agency. Anton signed another large deal after renagging on a verbal agreement with the green & white. McKenzie may have been upset at the fact that the Riders were not extending him the same type of financial offers that were extended to Mo Lloyd. Another divisional rival plucked one of the Riders greatest weapons, and we will see if it comes back to bite the Riders in 2009. Saskatchewan also parted ways with offensive linemen Glen January and Steve Morley, safety Scott Gordon, and DB James Johnson via trade with Winnipeg. WR Matt Dominguez was released, but may be back with the Riders with a restructured contract and a clean bill of health from the doctor's office. The Riders added Moose Jaw native, Joe McGrath, to the offensive line. McGrath is a quality starting tackle who was the Eskimos nominee for outstanding lineman in 2006. Saskatchewan also traded for Canadian LB Aaron Wagner from the Argos. Wagner should be a solid special teams player and also see some spot duty on defense. The departure of Lloyd and McKenzie leave a gaping hole in the middle of Saskatchewan's defense... or does it? The Riders still have Sean Lucas, Renauld Williams, and Kitwana Jones to fill in the linebacking corps. Lucas is one of the best coverage and tackling LB's in the game. Williams started four games with the Riders last season at linebacker for McKenzie and the defense didn't miss a beat. Jones played defensive end last season, but he is a natural linebacker and will be more comfortable and dangerous in those shoes. That being said, you can't just plug in new players to replace the allstars departed. The depth, leadership, and energy that L & M provided for the defense will have to be redeveloped with the new corps anchoring the defense. One positive aspect to the free agency moves has been Saskatchewan's ability to free up salary cap space. The departure of Lloyd, McKenzie, January, Johnson, and Dominguez leave the Riders with close to half a million dollars that they can use to secure players in the future. With a relative rookie at quarterback the team is in development mode this season and this free agency period may end up paying dividends for the Riders in the near future. Go Green, Bert |
Feb 2/09 |
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Uncertainty One thing we know for sure with the Tillman regime in the front office is that change is not only accepted, it's expected. Another offseason in riderville has produced an abundance of change already and there is more yet to come for the team who went 12-6 in last year's regular season. Saskatchewan ended 2008 by making two gigantic personnel moves. First releasing scapegoat QB Michael Bishop and then by signing recieving stalwart and Saskatchewan native Jason Clermont. The signing of Clermont leads one to believe that either DJ Flick or Matt Dominguez will not be back with the green and white next season. Then the Riders lost D-coordinator Richie Hall to Edmonton(head coach), O-line coach Mike Gibson to Hamilton(o-coordinator), and D-line coach Ron Estay to retirement. And those might not be the only Riders not to return in 2009 as free agency is looming and the Riders still have a laundry list full of players left to re-sign. The big question in Saskatchewan is will Hall's departure lure some of our A-list free agents to Edmonton? Free agency starts in mid-February and the Riders have yet to sign any of their starting linebackers from last season. Eric Tillman would like to have all three (Lloyd, McKenzie, and Lucas) back, but the reality of sports tells us that going 3 for 3 might be wishful thinking. Mo Lloyd seems poised to test free agency and if that happens, the Riders will not be able to outbid teams like BC and Toronto for his services. In my mind, Tillman should focus on signing Sean Lucas first as he is one of the most underrated LB's in the league and then go after McKenzie. Having already resigned LB Renauld Williams, if the Roughies can hold onto two of the big three, they will do well in 2009. Also yet to sign with the green machine is most of the offensive line from last year. Filling out our o-line has to be a priority for Mr. Tillman as it is expected that Saskatchewan will start a relatively young and inexperienced QB for the bulk of the season. It will be important to re-sign Makowsky, and Abou-Mechrek to go along with recently re-signed OL Belton Johnson. With QB Darian Durant and FB Neal Hughes re-upping as well, the Riders look like they will have a solid offense in the upcoming season. This leads me to coaching. Saskatchewan will have a new look regime on the bench this season with still some questions left to be answered. Gary Etcheverry has replaced Richie Hall and has yet to fill out the rest of his defensive staff. On offense, the Riders continue to look for a new o-line coach and many experts believe that they should also try and find a QB coach to help develop the young quarterbacks. Ken Miller will need to make these decisions quickly so that potential free agents can see the direction that the team is headed. No free agent wants to head to a team whose direction is cloudy and uncertain. With a couple weeks left before free agency in the CFL, the 2009 Riders are still a big question mark. Will any or all of the linebackers re-sign? Will Etcheverry be able to be a sufficient replacement for Hall? Will Ken Miller round out his coaching staff with quality assistants? The next two weeks will play a big role in clearing up some of the uncertainty in Saskatchewan. There is, however, one thing Eric Tillman has taught us... Change is imminent. Go Green, Bert |