Perhaps I am guilty of blind faith. I still think the Saskatchewan Roughriders are a very good football team. I still think there is enough veteran presence in that room that hasn't forgotten about what happened last year and are motivated to change that result this year. Ken Miller has not forgotten how to be a good head coach, and I think Darian Durant is a good quarterback. I also still believe he has the best receiving group in the league. Even though a third of their defence left to the NFL or to retirement, I still am not of the opinion that this team has suffered the way some think they have.
However, I also didn't think this football team could look so pathetic on the offensive ball for a second time this year. In fact, one could argue they looked worse against Winnipeg on Sunday than they did in Edmonton. How does a team that talented get two measly points? 2!! Yes, every team has one of those games each year, but good teams shouldn't have a second. The train has derailed. Why? With Calgary coming into Mosaic on Friday, there is no time to do a lot of soul-searching. Actions must be taken. This will be a difficult few days for Ken Miller and days that will be more difficult if they get waxed Friday night. The fanatic Rider supporter could turn into the fickle Rider supporter in a big hurry.
What to do?
1. It is time to get a new return specialist. Dominique Dorsey simply can't do the job. Just when Rider fans think this guy can't sink any lower on the ratings scale, he does. His effort in the first half was pathetic. His botched kick return giving Winnipeg the ball after they scored to make it 7-0 was the big play of the football game as far as I'm concerned. The guy couldn't catch a cold on Sunday. When Weston Dressler came in, he didn't have any luck either. That makes you think its not Dorsey and the return scheme, but regardless, Dorsey can't go back to field kicks anymore. Throw Dressler or Lance Frazier or Rob Bagg or Hugh Charles back there, but Dorsey can no longer be the return man.
2. Ask some questions of the offensive line. Say what you will about Darian Durant's performance, but when you are running around like a jack-rabbit, you can't do what you want. There are fronts in this league better than what Winnipeg has, but one would think this group was the be-all, end-all when it comes to d-lines in this league. If this continues, Darian will get hurt and then all bets are off.
3. Is there no faith in Ryan Dinwiddie? With Durant getting beat up the way he was and the score out of reach, why is he still allowed to go in the game. If the coaching staff doesn't think Dinwiddie is the guy, then he must be removed from the equation with either Cole Bergquist moving in or perhaps (and I can't believe I'm saying this--yes Mr. Vanstone I have seen the light) call Kerry Joseph as he can be used to mentor a quarterback whose confidence must be shaken if not stirred.
4. What is happening to this team on the road? A bad start in Montreal followed by bad games in Edmonton and Winnipeg. What is being done now that wasn't being done before?
A message of some sort must be sent. When it was over, Miller told Carm Carteri that “I’m going to rely on the character and leadership that the guys have in the locker-room to get this thing back to where it should be and that we are all on the same page when Calgary comes to town.”
That may not be enough! This is Miller's rockiest stretch since he became head coach. Like I said, I still believe in him. It is up to him to pull this team out of the funk they are experiencing, I, and many others, will be watching very carefully to see what does or doesn't happen.
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As much as the Riders disgusted me, the Seahawks pleased me. After throwing an INT on the first play of the game, I thought I was in for a double dose of frustration. NO! Seattle overcame some San Francisco problems in the red zone and somehow came out of the first half with a 14-6 lead even though they had only run 15 plays. They just kept coming at the Niners eventually beating them 31-6.
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I have said before that Arash Madani of Sportsnet might be the best Twitter guy out there when it comes to sports. He said today in the wake of the Calvin Johnson incident that Jake Ireland must have replaced Mike Pereira as the NFL director of officiating because the Lions got robbed. At first, I thought the right call had been made, but having looked at it again, I can't believe they not did give the Detroit receiver the touchdown and the victory. That was worse than the crap Bill Leavy gave to the Seahawks at Super Bowl 40 (the scar isn't going away). Will the NFL acknowledge a mistake was made and apologize to the Lions. If they do, it won't give them the win, but still.
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Chris Johnson is showing why he is the best RB in the game today.
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I love seeing the Cowboys lose, but should they not have gotten one more play after their last play touchdown was taken away by a holding penalty.
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NBC pulled a fast one on me. After trotting Sugarland out to sing the NFL on NBC theme song Friday, I thought Faith Hill was out. I was sure the people at "The Today Show" said Sugarland was performing the song this year. I was wrong. Faith was back Sunday night. She was sounding good and she was looking great! I can't find the video, but I'll try to find it and put it up.
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What the hell was Randy Moss trying to prove?
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Are the same people that took the Bengals to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, the same ones that took Edmonton to win the West.
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Speaking of Edmonton, it looks like Eric Tillman is back in the CFL as GM of the Eskimos with official word coming either very soon or once Touchdown Atlantic is over. I will (and have) offered my congratulations to E-T.
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After reading Rob Vanstone's Sunday Sun column, I am convinced that if the Dos Equis guy is known as "The World's Most Interesting Man" then Vanstone should be "The World's Most Pathetic Man". Some at the LP will agree.....Rob might be one of them.
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It didn't take me long to remember how annoying Deion Sanders is.
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Can a cross-eyed teacher control her pupils?
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Get out there and start the week. Have yer elbows high and your chinstrap tightened. Its going to be one of those weeks.
9 comments:
Pathetic, disgusting, and embarassing. The Rider offence is a disgrace to pro football. 2 points? 2 points!!??
The Riders are in for an avalanche of criticism this week, and they will deserve all of it.
Mitch is right, Dorsey cannot be returning anything. He is a total dud.
Either we're thinking alike or you've been checking my facebook status Mitch !
What an ugly loss.
The Riders will be fine but we need to regroup and take a look at adjusting our game plan and some of the players.
Time for Miller and the coaching staff to hit the whiteboards.
Please admit a mistake was made and release Dorsey. If you are not going to admit this mistake, bench him.
Has Geno played two worse games in his career than what he has over the last week? Has time finally caught up to him.
I agree with you on Dinwiddie. Durant is getting killed out there so let someone else go out there when the verdict has been decided.
Nice start by the Cowboys NOT! That Barron guy is worse than Charles Thomas!
I though a game could not end on a defensive penalty, so the offense would get another shot but on an offensive penalty the game ends.
wow is the nation ever pissed !! i dont mind them losing so much as looking like a pee wee team ! last week i was picking the the stamps to put 40 up on the riders now im thinking 60 and up
Interesting theory on Dinwiddie. Why have him if they don't want to put him out there?
Chris G
When will Tom Higgins and Mark Cohon admit that the officials in this league are terrible and are dragging the overall product down. Lost in the shuffle of that game was how horrid the officiating crew was. Not knowing what down it is, ticky-tacky calls, taking forever to call a TD that is obvious to everyone. What are they doing and what are they being told?
Kevin
The downfall of the Riders can be placed at the feet of Jim Hopson. Nuff said.
Clark
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