Riders ’09: Game 4

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I’ve been behind on these reviews the past two weeks–somehow they’re more fun to write when we win.  It’s not even like I’m a fairweather fan–if you know me, you know this.  I don’t mind watching a loss, so long as it’s a good loss.  Last game against Edmonton wasn’t one of those–unless it goes on to serve us well in the weeks to come.  Big picture can change everything, you know.

So what needs saying that hasn’t been said in a hundred other places?  Not likely anything, but it’s my blog and I’ll re-hash if I want to.

  • I know football is a game of momentum.  But 22-0, and then getting hammered 38-10 afterward–that’s hard to swallow.  I’m sure the players would say it themselves with more force than I ever could as a fan.
  • Are Coach Etcheverry’s little tricks just that?  After dominating for sacks in the first two weeks, we’ve hardly Calvillo and Ray the past couple weeks.  Have we lost our edge that quickly?
  • I’d take Jamie Boreham first overall in any “punter fantasy league”.  I don’t know if he’s the best punter, but he’s definitely the best hitting punter.
  • How much are we missing Makowsky and Johnson and Smith?  The run game has yet to look impressive this season.
  • Can Darian Durant be a true starter in this league?  Last year, he had me thinking, “Yes.”  I still think that, but it’s with some hesitation.  I know–patience.  And trust me, I’ve been preaching patience to everyone I hear ripping him.  For his sake and ours, I really hope he has a better week in Calgary, which is not an easy place to have a better week.
  • Still on offense, we’ve GOT to get some first downs.  Even the best defense in history would need a break sometimes.  If we’d have won last week, it would have boggled minds around the world when they looked at the first downs, yardage, and time of possession.  We’re not desperate for big plays; we’re just desperate for some plays.  And in a row would be good.
  • Dressler is still money in the bank.
  • I’d love to see Cates break open a can of something in Calgary.
  • Durant didn’t seem to have any trouble hitting Rob Bagg–best receiver of the day by a long shot.
  • I love Stu Foord as much as the next fan, but he’s not a starting RB or returner.  Some fans will not like that dose of reality.
  • Did you know we haven’t scored a single point in a third quarter yet this season?  One fan was raising a question to me about whether our coaches are making adequate half-time adjustments.  I think I’ll leave that question to answer itself thus far.

I’m hoping for a better showing in Calgary, but I admit that I’d put my money on the Stamps if forced to choose.  Green guys, go prove me and the rest of the doubters wrong.  It’s time to light someone up, and no one lights up better than Henry and his buddies.

Surprising Skaters

Totally copy-catting here.  Wade put me on to a video I was actually privately looking for but had no idea how to find.  The answer?  Visit Wade’s blog.

Or watch here, as you say, “Thanks Wade.  You’re the man.”

Praying to a God I Don’t Believe In

That’s the thought-provoking title of this photo from here.

Riders ’09: Game 3

riders

Well…

There’s usually some pleasure to saying, “I knew that was going to happen,” but not so much this time.  Let’s review the obvious lessons we’ve learned this week:

  • Montreal is currently the team to beat in the CFL, no question.
  • Despite the loss, our defense continues to come up with big plays at big times.  Montreal isn’t a turnover-team, but we forced them into a few.
  • Sacks are not a given, and the Montreal O-line may be the best there is this year.
  • Ben Cahoon’s catch in the fourth quarter (I think) was a thing of beauty.  Yes, I’m speaking of the one that he caught on the other side of the defender’s helmet.
  • Darian Durant isn’t Anthony Calvillo, but if he keeps learning, he’ll be all right.
  • Wes Cates isn’t 100% yet, but it was nice to have him back in the lineup.

We’ve got 15 games to go to get to begin peaking.  Hopefully, this past game serves us up some significant lessons and valuable experience with which to move forward.

Next week: Let’s welcome Richie Hall back to town… rudely.