Something To "Mitch" About

Picture: Saskatchewan Roughriders 

--We are at the midway point of the CFL season.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders are second in the West at 6-3 after winning their 5th in a row on Saturday night with Cody Fajardo as the starting quarterback.  That's just what we thought right? 

I don't think there are many in Rider Nation who thought this football team would be where it is after nine games especially when you consider the off-season turmoil with Chris Jones leaving, Jeremy O'Day being promoted, Craig Dickenson taking over as head coach and Zach Collaros returning as the starting quarterback before being injured three plays in giving way to Fajardo.  Would the Riders be 6-3 under Collaros? That's a question that can't be definitively answered, but a play that garnered so much negativism in Rider Nation, and for good reason, may have been the biggest play of the year as we saw what Fajardo can do.   That was evidenced again Saturday against a bad Ottawa team. 

Fajardo didn't light it up, but he did what he had to both throwing and running the football.  He got everyone involved and with an offensive line that is really playing well (take a bow Dan Clark and Dakoda Shepley), he got the job done.   

Defensively, this team is starting to come together. Its nowhere close to being where they were last year and it probably won't be, but they are in the upper echelon of the league when it comes to that side of the football as far as I'm concerned. 

--As Rob Vanstone pointed out Saturday, the four TD's scored Saturday night give the team 25 offensive TD's which is what they had for all of 2018. It's the same offence Stephen McAdoo had last year, but the attacks on him have disappeared as the touchdowns have come.  Was last year an indictment as to how bad the QB play was, the fact there were young receivers learning the game that are flourishing now or was it something else.  Speaking of those young receivers from last year, has anyone heard how Jordan Williams-Lambert is making out with the Bears.  I haven't heard anything from their camp about him.  I would have to think he will be on his way back, but I don't know. 

--If there is one thing this team has to improve on going into the second half of the season it is penalties.  16 for 186 is simply too much especially at the midway mark of the year/   Edmonton lost to Winnipeg because of penalties on Friday.  You can't giftwrap those yards and expect to be successful. 

At the midway point of the season, who would your award nominees be? Mine would go as follows 

Top player-- Charleston Hughes 

Top defensive player -- Hughes (but Derrick Moncrief is a close 2nd) 

Top Offensive Lineman -- Dan Clark 

Top Canadian -- Cam Judge 

Top Rookie -- Dakoda Shepley 

Special Teams Player -- Loucheiz Purifoy 

--If the Riders are to beat the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic, they will have to find a way to shut down Willie Jefferson.  Good luck with that!  I don't know if I have seen a defensive player have a game like what Jefferson had in Edmonton Friday.  He was everywhere and did everything except score a touchdown.  I would love to know if Jefferson, who is a Chris Jones guy, had any desire to return to Saskatchewan once Jones left.  It seems as if he didn't, but did the Riders feel they would be better off with Micah Johnson or did they start chasing Johnson because big Willie had no desire to return with Jones gone.  Whatever the answer is, Winnipeg has benefitted more than the green-and-white.

--A tweet Saturday night suggested a fan was kicked out of Mosaic Stadium for "cheering too loud".  I have to think there is more to this story. If there isn't, someone has some explaining to do.  If anyone should have been kicked out, it should have been the person who started the wave in the 4th quarter.

--Like many of you, the Andrew Luck retirement caught me off guard.  If Luck is tired of playing the game because of what it has done to his body, you can't blame him.  Those who booed him in Indianapolis should be ashamed of themselves.   That display was disgusting.  Sorry if the hopes of your team get in the way of someone's life or if your fantasy team is now screwed.   We are seeing this with more and more players. It shouldn't surprise anyone anymore if someone decides to walk away.   The only question I have is why do it so close to the regular season.  Was he told something by the Colts medical team to make the decision at a time that is very awkward for the organization?  He had to know this announcement would put the team behind the eight-ball.  It does sound though as if he had been honest and forthcoming with them so perhaps they knew and are confident in Jacoby Brissett. 

--The MLB Players Weekend has come and gone.  Hopefully, the white and black jerseys teams wore this weekend are gone too.  Those were fugly!  How could anyone read what was on the back of the white jerseys?  They looked like ice-cream guys. 

--Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay probably had a restless night. His team was beaten 34-16 by the Saskatoon Hilltops at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.  The Thunder had a chance to score in the first half only to fumble at the goal-line.  They had a chance to end a Saskatoon drive with an interception in the endzone, but the Saskatoon receiver did a great job of playing defensive back by hitting the what looked to be unsuspecting Thunder player resulting in the ball hitting the turf for an incompletion instead of a turnover.  That was followed by a Hilltops TD and then on the last play of the 3rd quarter, a Saskatoon DB picked off a pass and went 100 yards .  Those three plays were huge in the grand scheme of things. 

--Brooke Henderson had a country watching Sunday much like she did a year ago at the Wascana.  The only difference was this time the Canadian couldn't win the CP Women's Open.  I'd rather watch Brooke do her thing than Tiger do his thing. 

--Who is going to be the better player in the next five years.  Vladdy Guerrero Junior or Bo Bichette? 

--What's happening with the Mitch Marner, Brayden Point, Kyle Connor, Patrick Laine etc. etc signings? There was a story on the weekend saying Brock Boeser was looking at 4 year, 28 million dollar deal from Vancouver.  That may have to be signed before the dominos start to fall.  If Boeser is getting 7, I can't see Winnipeg keeping Connor and Laine.   Has the Jets window closed? 

--There is talk the Raptors should retire Kawhi Leonard's jersey when the LA Clippers come to Toronto on December 11. Can you really retire the number of a guy that played just one season with your team even though the team won the title?  I think video tribute and adulation is all Kawhi will get. 

--Congratulations to the Saskatoon Rattlers for winning the first ever Canadian Elite Basketball League title on their home floor.  The first year of the new league seemed to go over well.  Will there be expansion going into year 2.  If so, I hope Regina can land a team.  That would be some good basketball to watch 

--That's all I got.  Have a great week! 

Riders Use Big First Quarter To Win 5th Straight

Raise your hand if you thought the Saskatchewan Roughriders would be 6-3 at the midway point of the CFL season at the start of the season.

The Riders will end the first half of the season as the hottest team in the CFL as they made it five straight wins Saturday night with a 40-18 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

The defense had not been able to create turnovers through the first eight games of the season, but that changed on a muggy night at Mosaic Stadium as five turnovers resulted in 24 points with three of those turnovers coming in the opening 15 minutes as Dominique Davis threw interceptions to Nick Marshall, L.J McCray and Derrick Moncrief on their first three possessions leading to 17 points and control that would not be given up.

Head Coach Craig Dickenson said it was the start he wanted.

"We wanted to get the crowd involved." Dickenson said. "We had a great start and we had all the momentum until they got that big touchdown ( a 75 yard touchdown pass to Dominique Rhymes) over (Elie)Bouka and that got them back in the game.  We went in at halftime with a 12-point lead and it felt like we were down.  I thought in the second quarter we were sleepwalking a little bit.

William Powell ran for 70 yards and two touchdowns while Cody Fajardo threw for 241 yards and a touchdown while running for another.

The Riders will now get ready for their annual September back-to-back games against Winnipeg starting with the Labour Day Classic on September 1 at 1.   While the games between the two Western Division rivals always create some atmosphere, the stakes will be high as the Bombers are a CFL best 8-2 on the season.

NOTES:

• Fajardo has gone almost 230 minutes without throwing an interception
• Brett Lauther returned to the lineup after missing several games and was three of four on field goal attempts with one of the field goals being from 49 yards out
• The four offensive touchdowns scored by the Riders gives them 25 which is what they had for the entire 2018 season
• The Riders had 16 penalties for 186 yards

Leschyshyn Looking For Leadership Role In VGK System

Jake Leschyshyn has been with the Golden Knights from the start.

The fifth-ever NHL draftee selected by the team in 2017 has learned the ropes over the past three years and said he's ready to take on more leadership responsibilities with the team. Leschyshyn is part of a Vegas Born prospect pool and he wants to take the next step as a professional hockey player.

"I remember being one of the first-year guys at camp and really looking up to older guys," said Leschyshyn at the Vegas Golden Knights 2019 development camp. "I think now that I'm in that position I've got to take advantage of it."

Given the season he had last year, Leschyshyn is well-equipped to give advice to his younger teammates. He started out the season with the WHL's Regina Pats but was traded in November to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

"That was something I learned a lot from. I knew at some point that a trade might happen in my year, and at some point in my career, so I'm lucky it happened now because now I know how to deal with it," said Leschyshyn. "If it ever happens in the future, I'll be comfortable with it. It was good to go and see a new city and become a part of a new team."

While with the Pats, he collected 32 points (16 G, 16 A) in 24 games. He finished out the regular season with an additional 49 points (24 G, 25 A) with the Hurricanes. In seven playoff games, he notched another 10 points (6 G, 4 A).

"That new group really pushed me to become better, I think," said Leschyshyn. "There's a lot of good players on that team and great coaches. I was very fortunate."

With his WHL season in the history books, Leschyshyn boarded a plane destined for Chicago, where he met up with Wolves teammates Nic Hague, Cody Glass, Ben Jones and Jake Bischoff for playoffs. While he didn't tally any points, he got the invaluable experience of two AHL playoff games under his belt.

"It was good. I finished the year off there and I was fortunate to get a few games in. I was happy with how things went," said Leschyshyn. "They're a great group of guys there and it's unfortunate that we lost in the finals, but the team played the best they could and nobody left any regrets."

(Golden Knights/NHL.com)

Riders Depth Chart/Game Day Tidbits

--The Riders come in on a 4-game win streak and look their first 5-game run since midway through 2014. 

--Ottawa has dominated Saskatchewan having won the last 4 games, the most recent 3 by margins of at least 12 points. 

--Cody Fajardo has a current streak of 93 pass attempts without an Interception and his 4 in total came in just 2 games. 

--The REDBLACKS have just 3 Offensive TDs in their last 79 possessions over the last 6 games. 

--The Riders have had 28 two-and-outs this season.  That is the lowest in the CFL.  Edmonton went into the week 2nd in this category with 35. 

This And That

--After seeing what happened in Winnipeg Thursday night, is there anyone out there who is still ticked the Packers and Raiders didn't play at Mosaic.  What a s**tshow that was.  Field problems meant they played on an 80 yard field with no kickoffs and second-stringers starting while the guys you wanted to see like Aaron Rodgers stood on the sidelines with a ballcap on.  Very Winnipegish!  How did this problem suddenly come up at the last minute.  They didn't think this would happen and they didn't find it when the field was created to NFL dimensions. 

Thanks Winnipeg! Winnipeg, Alberta that is!

--The Calgary Stampeders aren't happy with CFL officiating after their overtime loss to Montreal.  Don't let the fact you blew a large lead late play into the equation at all.  It is laughable to hear the Stampeders talk about officiating after the many breaks they have been given over the years. If someone can truly show me evidence Vernon Adams Junior was not over the goal-line late in the 4th quarter than we can talk.

Still with the Stamps, after spending a few days in Calgary if there are billboards or anything advertising them or the Flames for that matter, they weren't in areas where I was.  Marketing 101 people...marketing 101.  I saw some ads on Global Calgary but that was it!

--With Matt Nichols now going down, could those two games between the Eskimos and Riders at the end of the season be games that determine who finish first.

--I have nothing against Roy Shivers, but I am tired of this constant campaign to get him in the Plaza of Honour.  Just do it so we can stop talking about it.  Roy did start the turn-around that this team has experienced back in the day. There is no denying that though and even the Roy-haters must admit that.  He was perhaps an infamous Paul McCallum shank from being the GM of a Grey Cup winning team.

--With the way the Alouettes are playing, could we see another Montreal-Saskatchewan Grey Cup at MacMahon Stadium on the 10 year anniversary of ------well you know the rest of the story.  By the way, the CFL was nice enough to let us know in game notes that leading up to last Saturday's game in Calgary, the Alouettes had not won at MacMahon since that game.  SIGHHHH

--The Riders will have caught another break by not playing Matt Nichols in the Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl.  They have not had to take on Jeremiah Masoli, Adams or Nichols this year due to injury.  Injuries are a part of the game.

--Methinks we are finally going to see if Chris Streveler is capable of running a CFL offence or not. For someone who is going to be a free agent at year's end, this will be his chance to sink or swim.

--The Leader-Post's Rob Vanstone asked a great question this week.  How on earth did the Ottawa REDBLACKS score 44 against the Riders earlier this year.  What a putrid squad they are in the Nation's Capital.  That being said in what has been a weird year in the CFL, I wouldn't walk into Mosaic Saturday night thinking you are going to see a one-sided contest.  The Riders should win, but I'll say it's by 10 or less.

--To no one's surprise, the Pats are going to get in the outdoor fun in August by playing the Calgary Hitmen on the day after the Heritage Classic.  It will be a great afternoon and weekend at Mosaic, but I can't be the only one asking why the Pats aren't playing another Saskatchewan-based team.  I think we all knew this was going to happen so why didn't or couldn't the schedule makers have Moose Jaw, P-A or Saskatoon here.  At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, but its a question to be asked,

--MLB's Little League Classic where a major league game is played in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in front of a small crowd consisting of those participating at the Little League World Series is a great idea.  It reconnects the youth with the present-day.  It will never happen, but would I love to see the Riders play an exhibition game at Leibel Field with kids and parents of Regina Minor Football being the beneficiaries.  One can dream though!

--Antonio Brown might be worse than Terrell Owens and that is saying a lot. How many players have played over the years with different helmets.  They can, but he can't.  Yeesh!

--Many of you have been to Banff and Canmore so I won't talk about time spent there and how great it is.  It is fascinating for this prairie kid to drive into and spend time in the mountains though when all you normally see is flat-land.  I can't imagine being a full-time resident in those places though trying to hammer out a living when the "touristy" prices are in effect for everyone.  Perhaps the pay is better than one would think, but it is expensive for items when there.  It is a beautiful spot to spend time in though and it is a great place to people-watch.

--The Regina Red Sox fell short to Okotoks in the WCBL Final.  Some questioned the fact they put out someone on the mound to start Game 1 who hadn't started a game all season, but at the end of the day, Okotoks was the better team.  With the league having to make sure all of its players get back to their schools and some having to leave early, it puts a damper on things when some of both teams best players weren't around for the final, but what can you do.  There have been many suggestions, but the fact remains you only have so long to play so many games.

--We're less than two weeks from NFL season starting.  Have you had your fantasy draft yet? Are you in a Survivor pool?

--That's all I got.  Have a great week!

This Week In The CFL

Just like that, we are nearly done the first half of the season.

Friday night football kicks off Week 11 with the Blue Bombers in Edmonton playing for first place in the West Division. Edmonton is undefeated at home this season (4-0) and is looking to make it three straight wins following victories over Ottawa and Toronto. Winnipeg is similarly hoping to extend a three-game winning streak after defeating Calgary and BC. With Matt Nichols sidelined, the Blue Bombers turn to Chris Streveler to continue the momentum. Kick off is at 9 p.m. ET.

Saturday features a double-header with a pair of interdivision games. First at 7 p.m. ET, Ottawa travels to Regina to take on the Roughriders. The REDBLACKS are in pursuit of a season series sweep of Saskatchewan after a Week 2, 44-41 win, but the team is 1-6 since and have lost two in a row. The Roughriders however, are 5-1 over that same stretch and are riding a four-game winning streak.

The 10 p.m. ET game takes us to Vancouver where the Lions will host the East Division-leading Tiger-Cats. BC will look to avenge a one-point loss to Hamilton in Week 9, while collecting its first home victory this season. Dane Evans is in search of his third victory as a starter, which would push the Tiger-Cats’ win streak to three.

Sunday bring us to Moncton, N.B., for the 2019 edition of Touchdown Atlantic between the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts. The game marks the fourth regular season contest game to take place in Moncton and the first since 2013. The surging Alouettes are coming off their first victory at McMahon Stadium since 2009 – a thrilling come-from-behind, double-overtime affair which is already garnering consideration as the Game of the Year. Toronto will be facing its first East Division since Week 2 when they played host to Hamilton. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. ET.

TSN’s Live Mic game will be Hamilton vs. BC this week.
All four games this week will be on ESPN+

WARD’S STREAK ENDS

• On Saturday, Lewis Ward’s streak of consecutive made field goals ended at 69 – a pro football record.
• Week 10’s miss came from 31 yards. Ward’s only other miss was from 48 yards in his first career game. He is a career 74-of-76 (97.4%) with a personal best of 53 yards.
• Ward’s streak began on June 28, 2018 in Calgary and lasted until August 17, 2019 in Ottawa – a streak of 27 games spanning 415 days.
• A breakdown of his field goals:
  • < 40 yards: 47
  • 40+ yards: 22
  • 50+ yards: 4
  • Average: 32 yards
• Last season, Ward was named Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

REACHING FOR 1,000

• Through 10 weeks of the season, a dozen receivers are on pace for 1,000+ yards, including five with the potential to reach 1,400+ yards: Brandon Banks (1,522), Bryan Burnham (1,486), Ricky Collins (1,482), Greg Ellingson (1,466) and Reggie Begelton (1,408).

• The remaining receivers on pace for 1,000+ yards include:
  • Shaq Evans (1,366)
  • Derel Walker (1,213)
  • Kyran Moore (1,107)
  • Bralon Addison (1,088)
  • Armanti Edwards (1,059)
  • Dominique Rhymes (1,052)
  • Lemar Durant (1,038)
• Five teams are on pace to have two 1,000+ yard receivers:
  • BC Lions (Burnham and Durant)
  • Edmonton Eskimos (Collins and Ellingson)
  • Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Banks and Addison)
  • Saskatchewan Roughriders (Evans and Moore)
  • Toronto Argonauts (Walker and Edwards)
• At this pace, Winnipeg and Montreal will not have a receiver with 1,000+ yards.
• Last season, nine receivers topped the 1,000-yard mark.
• On the rushing side, six players are on pace for 1,000+ yard seasons:
  • Andrew Harris (1,638)
  • William Stanback (1,579)
  • C.J. Gable (1,417)
  • William Powell (1,186)
  • John Crockett (1,103)
  • John White (1,012)
• Last season, only three backs eclipsed 1,000 yards.

TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC

• Sunday’s game will be the fourth installment of Touchdown Atlantic and the first since 2013.
• The previous three Touchdown Atlantic games:

DATE	SCORE
September 26, 2010	EDM 24 – TOR 6
September 25, 2011	CGY 36 – HAM 55
September 21, 2013	MTL 26 – HAM 28

• Three players in the 2019 edition of Touchdown Atlantic took part in the 2013 affair: Montreal’s John Bowman and Toronto’s S.J. Green and Bear Woods – all were members of the Alouettes at the time.
• Montreal has two players who attended St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, N.S.: Henoc Muamba and 2019 CFL Draft second-rounder Kaion Julien-Grant.
• Notable past performances at Touchdown Atlantic:
  • Passing: Kevin Glenn 16-of-23, 276 yards, 3 TDS (2011); Josh Neiswander 26-of-36, 294 yards, 2 TDs (2013)
  • Rushing: Jon Cornish 9 car, 84 yards (2011); Avon Cobourne 15 car, 84 yards, TD (2011), Calvin McCarty 10 car, 84 yards, 2 TDs (2010)
  • Receiving:  Marcus Thigpen 6 rec, 139 yards, 2 TDs (2011); Duron Carter 9 rec, 112 yards (2013); Nik Lewis 8 rec, 95 yards (2011)
  • Defence: Elliot Richardson 4 DT, 2 INTs, 1 FF (2010); Chip Cox 8 DT, 2 sacks, 1 INT (2013); Kevin Eiben 9 DT (2010)

QUICK SLANTS

• Only two weeks have not featured a kick return TD: Weeks 3 and 10.
• Last week ended a streak of six consecutive weeks of kick return TDs with 15 in that span.
• The Lions are on pace to allow 72 sacks – that total has only been surpassed once in the last 26 years: in 2005, BC allowed 74 sacks. Through nine games, Mike Reilly has already been sacked 36 times – the third most in a single season of his career.
• Last week, Greg Ellingson posted his second game of the season with 170+ yards. Of his 10 catches, six converted second downs, giving him 19 on the season to lead the league.
• Ottawa’s DeVonte Dedmon owns the highest punt return average (15.4 yards) and kickoff return average (33.1 yards). He has 1,216 all-purpose yards on the season.
• Reggie Begelton had four TD receptions last week against Montreal. Milt Stegal last accomplished the feat in 2005.
• Montreal came back from an 11-point deficit last week to beat the Calgary Stampeders. It marked their largest comeback since 2014 when the Alouettes overcame a 14-point deficit against Hamilton.
• Toronto rushed for 139 yards against Edmonton last week – it was their first game with more than 100 rushing yards as a team, led by Brandon Burks’ 43. The Argonauts have yet to score a rushing major this season.
• Saskatchewan is coming off a bye this week. In the past two seasons, the Roughriders are 3-0 following a bye week.
• With Matt Nichols injured, Chris Streveler will start for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Last year, Streveler started against the Edmonton Eskimos in the season-opener and finale, going 0-2 while passing for four TDs. He is 1-3 in four career starts.
• Trevor Harris currently has the lowest interception percentage in CFL history at 2-in-361 attempts (0.55%); the record is (0.8%). His TD to Interception ratio is 6.5:1 – also the highest in CFL history.
• Brandon Banks and Vernon Adams lead the league with eight touchdowns followed by William Powell at seven.
• Jon Ryan leads the league with an average of 49.9 yards per punt, which would sit third all-time. He holds the record for highest punting average over a season with 50.6 in 2005.
• Justin Medlock leads the league with six punts inside the 10-yard line.
• Boris Bede is averaging 69.4 yards per kickoff, which would surpass his own record of 69.0 in 2017.
• Tre Roberson and Winston Rose each have 6 interceptions, 109 return yards and one TD.

CFL and CFLPA Discuss Weather Protocol

– The Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) met to discuss the new weather protocol that was put into effect when an electrical storm forced a delay and, ultimately, the stoppage of last weekend’s Montreal- Saskatchewan game. We agreed the result of the game was the proper outcome according to the protocol, which is part of our new collective bargaining agreement.

However, the CFL fully acknowledged that communication with the players association should have been better during the process, and those communication issues were fully discussed and resolved between the parties. 

Finally, we discussed whether we should now revisit and possibly amend the protocol. It was agreed that the most prudent course of action is to assemble all the relevant stakeholders — team and league executives, players association representatives, general managers, coaches and officials - in the off-season to reassess the protocol. Therefore, no change to the protocol is anticipated for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Randy Ambrosie Commissioner, CFL

Brian Ramsay Executive Director, CFLPA