Riders Depth Chart/Game Day Tidbits

--The Ti-Cats are 3-0 against Western Division opponents this year. One of those three wins was a Week 1 victory over the Riders at Tim Hortons Field.

-- Cody Fajardo leads the CFL with 15 TD drives led out of 70 possessions - a #1 ranked % of 26%.

--Wiiliam Powell goes into the week sitting third in rushing at 469 yards (pace: 1400+ yds).

--Charleston Hughes needs 4 Sacks to tie Stewart Hill for #8 all-time with 126 and is now 5 back to John Bowman (127).

--Loucheiz Purifoy leads the CFL with a kickoff return average of 30.2 yards per attempt

This Week In The CFL

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL – WEEK 8

Week 8 begins with Toronto hosting the West-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BMO Field. The Argonauts are back home following a three-week road trip across Western Canada. Toronto is looking to split the season series with Winnipeg after a Week 5 48-21 loss at Investors Group Field. The Blue Bombers are coming off their first loss of the season – last week’s 23-15 setback in Hamilton. The Thursday Night Football Concert series continues with Canadian hip-hop artist, Classified. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. On the same night, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will head to Regina to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will be Hamilton’s first of the season without Jeremiah Masoli and Dane Evans will make his second career start. Both teams will attempt to extend two-game winning streaks and Saskatchewan is looking to climb above .500 for the first time this season. Canadian country music artist, Chad Brownlee (a former Vancouver Canucks draft pick) will perform at halftime as part of the Thursday Night Football Concert series. Friday Night Football kicks off at 7 p.m. ET with the Montreal Alouettes playing host to the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Montreal is coming off a bye and is in the midst of a three-game win streak. Ottawa is hoping to snap a four-game losing streak while evening its season series with the Alouettes. Montreal took their first matchup 36-19 in Week 5. Saturday features the season’s first installment of The Battle of Alberta with Edmonton traveling south to take on the Calgary Stampeders. Both teams sit second in the West Division with a 4-2 record. The game marks the first Battle of Alberta with the Esks’ Trevor Harris and the Stamps’ Nick Arbuckle as starters for their respective teams. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET. TSN’s Live Mic game will be Edmonton/Calgary game this week. ESPN2 will air the Winnipeg/Toronto game ESPN+ to air Hamilton/Saskatchewan, Ottawa/Montreal and Edmonton/Calgary games this week. ALOUETTES RISING Montreal is looking for its first four-game winning streak during a single season since 2014 when Jonathan Crompton was starting at QB. A victory would also give Montreal its first four-game home winning streak since the end of 2014. The Alouettes are the only team in the CFL that have reduced their opponent’s net offence week-over-week: Week 1 vs. EDM: 607 yards Week 3 vs. HAM: 526 yards Week 4 vs. HAM: 436 yards Week 5 vs. OTT: 365 yards Week 6 vs. EDM: 320 yards The Alouettes have recorded seven interceptions in their past four games – Greg Reid (3), Tommie Campbell (2), Taylor Loffler (1) and Glenn Love (1). Boris Bede leads the league with an average of 69.6 yards per kickoff and has only missed two field goals this season (10-for-12). William Stanback leads the league with 504 rushing yards. He is on pace for 1,814 and an average of 6.7 yards per carry. He has seven rushes of 20+ yards this season. BATTLE OF ALBERTA The Battles of Alberta will take place on Weeks 8, 12 and 13. This week’s affair will be the 229th time they have played against each other in the regular season. Edmonton is 127-98-3 in the series. Trevor Harris and Nick Arbuckle will be making their first starts in a Battle of Alberta. Since 2012, the teams have played each other 20 times with Calgary taking 16 matchups. The last time that neither Mike Reilly nor Bo Levi Mitchell started the game between the provincial rivals was in 2012. Switching Sides: Notre Dame product, DaVaris Daniels played his first three-seasons with Calgary Stampeders compiling 148 receptions, 2,375 yards and 20 TDs. Saturday will be his first game against his former team. Long-time Edmonton Eskimo, J.C. Sherritt, will be on the Calgary sideline as their linebackers coach. During his eight seasons with the Eskimos, he totalled 507 tackles, 15 sacks and 14 interceptions in 109 games. KICK RETURNS TDS Last week, Ryan Lankford became the second BC Lion to score two kick return TDs in the same game. It was the 19th time in the past 70 years of Canadian Football that the rare feat has occurred, and the first time since 2015. This season there have been 11 kick return touchdowns (2 Punts, 6 Kickoffs and 3 Missed field goals). One more kickoff return touchdown would tie the single season record of seven (1994 and 2003). Loucheiz Purifoy is averaging 30.2 yards per kickoff return. He is on pace for the highest kickoff return average since 2003 (Bashir Levingston 30.4). Brandon Banks has two missed field-goal return touchdowns this season – one more would set a new record. He is currently tied with seven others. QUICK SLANTS PUNT: Richie Leone (51.7) and Jon Ryan (50.2) lead the league in punting average. Only two players have ever averaged 50+ yards per punt in a single season: Jon Ryan (2005) and Lui Passaglia (1983). The record for punting average in a season is 50.6 set by Jon Ryan in 2005. In Week 7, no receivers reached the 100+ yard mark. Derel Walker led all receivers with 85 yards. Calgary defeated Ottawa last week without scoring a touchdown. The last team to accomplish the feat was Ottawa on July 28, 2018 when they defeated Hamilton 21-15.  Ottawa’s Lewis Ward has now recorded 64 successful field goals in a row.  The Blue Bombers’ Mike Miller and Kerfalla Exume lead the league in special teams tackles with 12. Miller needs two more to tie Roger Reinson (174) for 6th all-time. Canadian linebacker Cory Greenwood leads the league with 43 tackles this season. He is on pace for 129 which would set a new club record for Calgary. Last week in Nick Shortill’s fourth career start, he recorded a team-high nine tackles against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Canadian’s best career performance came in 2015 when he tallied 11 tackles against Edmonton. At 210, Hamilton is currently the only team to have scored 200+ points this season; Toronto (75) is the only team that has not yet scored 100 points. Montreal has the fewest 2-and-outs this year (19), while surprisingly, Winnipeg has had the second most (37). Montreal has the fewest sacks this season (4). Edmonton leads the league with 23, while Saskatchewan has 20. Calgary has scored 65 points off turnovers which accounts for 39% of their scoring output. Winston Rose has notched an interception in four consecutive games, and five in total during that stretch. Only two other players since 1994 have recorded a four-game streak of interceptions: Weldon Brown (EDM, 2011) and Chris Thompson (EDM, 2010). Neither player made it to five-straight games. Since 2016, Winnipeg is 36-3 when committing fewer turnovers than the opposition; when they make more, like they did last week versus Hamilton, they are 0-16. Toronto is looking to avoid an 0-7 start. They last hit the dubious mark in 1981. SJ Green needs 45 yards to surpass Hal Patterson (9,473) and move into the Top 25 all-time.

Collaros Is Traded To Toronto

(Riders PR)

Chris Kunitz Calls It A Career

Four-time Stanley Cup-winning forward Chris Kunitz has retired after 15 seasons in the NHL.

Kunitz will join the Blackhawks hockey operations department as player development adviser, assisting with the Blackhawks coaching staff as well as the coaching staff with Chicago's American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs

Kunitz, 39, appeared in 56 games with the Blackhawks during the 2018-19 season that was highlighted by skating in his 1,000th career NHL game on February 14 when the Blackhawks hosted New Jersey.

The Regina, Saskatchewan native played in 1,022 career National Hockey League games with Anaheim (2003-05; 2005-09), Atlanta (2005-06), Pittsburgh (2008-17), Tampa Bay (2017-18) and Chicago (2018-19), recording 619 points (268G, 351A). He skated in 178 career Playoff games, notching 93 points (27G, 66A).

Kunitz won four Stanley Cups over the course of his career (Anaheim-2007; Pittsburgh-2009, 2016, 2017), which was the most among NHL players during his last two seasons.

Kunitz was undrafted and signed as a free agent with Anaheim in 2003. He spent the majority of his 15-year career with Pittsburgh, where he played in 569 career games and recorded 388 points (169G, 219A) from 2008-17. His 169 goals with Pittsburgh ranks ninth in Penguins all-time scoring history.

Internationally, Kunitz helped Team Canada to a Gold Medal in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. He played in six games, scoring a goal in the Gold Medal game against Sweden. Kunitz also earned a Silver Medal with Canada at the 2008 World Championships, where he skated in nine games, recording seven points (2G, 5A).

STATEMENT FROM CHRIS KUNITZ

"On behalf of myself and my entire family, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my official retirement from the National Hockey League.

I feel very fortunate to have been a part of four amazing organizations over the last 15 years. First and foremost, I'd like to sincerely thank the Anaheim Ducks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. Every one of these organizations was the ultimate example, not only to me, but to my children, on what true professionalism should be.

Secondly, I'd like to thank the owners, coaches, trainers, management. Your love for the game, the team and the community was exemplified daily. I am very fortunate to have worked with every one of you.

Finally, to my teammates, thank you for everything. As a young player you taught me to give my very best. Your leadership helped mold me into the player I knew I could be. I was given the opportunity to play with the very best teams and the very best players and I'm grateful for the laughs and the friendships that we shared together. Thank you for making my childhood dream come true."

(Chicago Blackhawks)

Ti-Cats Sign Watford

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Monday the football club has signed American quarterback David Watford.


Watford, 26, appeared in 18 games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018, completing 15-of-32 passing attempts for 168 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while adding 18 carries for 93 rushing yards. The 6-2, 212-pound native of Hampton, Virginia originally joined Saskatchewan’s practice squad in October 2017 after spending parts of two seasons (2016-17) in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Watford split his collegiate career between Hampton University (2015) and the University of Virginia (2011-14). He played 10 games for the Hampton Pirates, registering 167 completions on 315 pass attempts (53.0%) for 2,088 yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 75 carries for 182 yards and three rushing touchdowns. In three seasons over four years at Virginia (redshirted in 2012), Watford played 27 games and completed 277-of-505 pass attempts (54.9%) for 2,593 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 131 rushing attempts for 255 yards with three rushing touchdowns for the Cavaliers.

(Hamilton Tiger-Cats)

Something To "Mitch" About

--I think its safe to say that if it weren't for Ryan Lankford and his game that we would have seen one of the worst games in recent CFL memory from a football team on Saturday night at BC Place.  My god, the BC Lions were bad.  Putrid doesn't even start to describe that effort against the Riders.   Right from the first play, it was evident Mike Reilly was in for another long night. 

Defensively, it was one of the best performances from a "D" we have seen for a while and that includes a Chris Jones "D". 68 yards of total offence from BC?  That's a dirty schoolyard beating boys and girls. 

What stood out to me the most was the play of the offensive line and the way they just "dummied" (in the words of Luc Mullinder) the BC front line.  How many times did you see Dan Clark, Dariusz Bladek and Dakoda Shepley just push the Lions back with William Powell being the beneficiary.  We know how important the run game is as the season wears on and while BC certainly doesn't have the defence that quality teams in this league have, it was an impressive sight to see. 

The evolution of Cody Fajardo continues and while he didn't shoot out the lights, he ran the offense quite well in what was a great game-plan set forth by Stephen McAdoo (where are his critics by the way?). However, I think most will agree that he needs to stop running quarterback draws and getting smoked like he did in the second quarter.   With Collaros already on the injured list, the Riders don't need Fajardo getting put there either. 

Some will say that while the Riders are 3-3, the three wins have come against teams that are a collective 1-12 with that BC win coming over Toronto.  There are tougher opponents down the highway starting Thursday against Hamilton so some questions still might need to be answered, but I think there more signs of optimism than pessimism. 

--When the 5-1 TiCats come to town Thursday, we know they will do so with Dane Evans at quarterback.  What a terrible blow for Jeremiah Masoli, the Ti-Cats and the CFL as a whole Friday night as the Hamilton QB went down with a season-ending knee injury.  If you are counting, that leaves Matt Nichols, Trevor Harris and the beaten-up Mike Reilly as the only starting quarterbacks in Week 1 not to be on the injured list and remember Nichols had to leave a game due to injury earlier this year.   For a league that is struggling where games have not been great, it is not good at this time to have a group of back-up quarterbacks in.  The league needs a renaissance at that position and perhaps Vernon Adams, Cody Fajardo and Nick Arbuckle are leading that renaissance, but not having the number one guys in for a majority of teams is not good for the league as a whole.  

Are the Ti-Cats still a solid contender to win the East now or is it wide open? Arash Madani joked after Masoli went out that the Riders are the Eastern Division champions.  I don't know if we will have another crossover this year and we talk about it every year, but Montreal may be the best team in the East right now, but are they good enough to win the East.  We have a long ways to go before we can even start thinking about that.

While the team did go out and sign former Rider QB David Watford on Sunday, I wonder if there would be any interest in Zach Collaros.  It would give him a chance to go home.  If he was given a clean bill of health, would you pick up the phone if you were the Tabbies and call Jeremy O'Day to see what the asking price would be.  I doubt it considering the $$$$, but you never know. 

--Will a win over Hamilton Thursday shut the critics up who say the Riders haven't beaten anyone or will they just say yeah, they beat a Hamilton team that didn't have Masoli.  Hopefully we will have a chance to find out.   I'll just say this.  Rider fans thought without Bo Levi Mitchell that Calgary would be easy pickins a couple of weeks ago and how that did turn out.  Don't take anything for granted!!

--If anyone was thinking the Riders might get Sam Eguavoen back from the NFL think again.  Eguavoen is wowing them in Miami and could very well be a starting linebacker in Week 1.  I don't think those of us who saw what Eguavoen did during his time here should be surprised by that. 

--Blue Jays fans know their team isn't going anywhere this year and chances are it will be that way in 2019 and 2020 as well, but they are starting to build for the future.  The trades of Eric Sogard and Marcus Stroman on Sunday are proof of that.  Bo Bichette is being called up to join Vladimir Guerrero Junior and Cavan Biggio on the big team.  The foundation that was torn down is starting to come together again.  Patience is key and in an American League East where the Yankees and Red Sox aren't going anywhere, that patience will be tested over the next few years.   With Stroman and Bautista gone, Toronto might be starting to get likable again!!!

--Is it just me or has the Mitch Marner talk died down?  Same with all the other RFA's like Brayden Point, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine.  What's happenin? 

--We are less than 70 days away from the NHL season.

--I do not care if Vince Carter returns to the Raptors. 

--The summer will be half over on Thursday as August will be here.  What happened to June and July? For that matter, what happened to this year.  It has just flown by! 

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

Riders 45 Lions 18

The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive line might be in for a free dinner after helping the team to a dominant 45-18 win over the B.C. Lions on Saturday.

"I owe those guys some pizza or steaks or something," quarterback Cody Fajardo said after the victory.


The Riders (3-3) had 35 rushing attempts on the night, leading to 227 offensive yards and three touchdowns.

Fajardo put in yet another solid showing, tossing for 169-yards on 21-of-26 attempts, including one touchdown.

Where B.C. (1-6) looked listless and disorganized on Saturday, the Riders were strong and confident.

Saskatchewan dominated the game from the outset, with the offence scoring early and often, and the defence keeping B.C. penned deep in its own end.

"We knew it was going to be tough in the trenches," Fajardo said. "We knew both sides of the ball offensively and defensively we had to win both sides of the ball. We knew they were going to come out swinging."

Riders coach Craig Dickenson insisted that the game was closer than it looked, but admitted the victory was a big one.

"Our guys knew if we could come in and win this game we'd get a little bit of a head start on B.C.," he said. "It's a long season. Our guys knew that was a big game and I thought they played well."

Running back William Powell had a solid outing for the Riders, scoring three touchdowns and tallying 146 rushing yards on 21 carries.

His most impressive performance of the night came in the second quarter, when Powell took a handoff from Fajardo and snuck through a scrum before sprinting 42-yards down the field and into the endzone.

The 31-year-old native of Duncanville, Texas, said he had a "decent game."

Fajardo was more effusive, saying Powell was "pretty awesome."

"You know Willie P does what Willie P does," he said.

"Any time you can get the run game going, it helps me as a quarterback, the throwing lanes are a little bit open. Offensive lineman love it when we can run the ball. Those guys really won us the game up front. Just being able at the end of the game to grind out the clock. We were able to drive the field and score."

The defeat marked B.C.'s third loss in a row.

Lions coach DeVone Claybrooks said his squad is playing "bad football" and "self imploding" in their own zone.

"We've just got to get better," he said. "We're going to meet and identify and peel back layers of the onion and look at it and start from ground zero."

Mike Reilly put up 66 passing yards for B.C., completing just 8-of-19 attempts. Late in the fourth quarter, he was replaced by Danny O'Brien, who did not make a successful pass.

Saturday marked the first time this season that Reilly has been replaced.

"I felt like the game was out of reach at that point," Claybrooks explained. "We just decided to go with Danny and get Danny some reps."

The offence simply couldn't get on track in Saturday's game, Reilly said, adding that the Riders were bringing pressure on first downs and B.C. couldn't find connections.

Still, the quarterback doesn't think the offence is deteriorating as the season progresses.

"Sometimes we show up and play pretty well together and other days we can't get on the same page to save our lives," Reilly said. "So I don't think it's that we're regressing. I think it's that we have absolutely no consistency from game to game and even honestly throughout games."

B.C.'s trouble started in the first minute when Reilly was sacked on the second play of the game by former Lion Solomon Elimmian.

A spotty offensive line has been a troubling pattern for B.C. this season. The team has a league-high 25 sacks allowed, including four on Saturday.

Injuries have plagued the O-line, forcing different players to slot in every week, and the change ups have led to a lack of communication, Claybrooks said.

The Lions did have one rare bright spot on Saturday in kick returner Ryan Lankford, who scored a pair of touchdowns with a 118-yard drive on a missed field goal and an 89-yard strike off a kickoff return.

The 27-year-old native of Jacksonville, Fla., said the plays injected some energy into B.C.'s game.

"Any time on special teams that you can score points, those are kind of points you didn't account for almost," he said. "And I think it's always an exciting play. Kind of gets the crowd going, gets the guys fired up. It's always a fun moment to be that guy."

But Lankford said there were still parts of his game that could have been better.

"On a personal level, yeah, it's exciting. But it's a team sport and I didn't do enough to win the game," he said.

The Lions will get a chance to regroup with a bye next week before returning to action in Hamilton on Aug. 10.

The time off will give the team some time to reassess, clear their heads and focus going into the second half of the season, Reilly said.

"We're certainly not in a great situation right now, but there's a lot of football left to play," he said. "But it's only going to matter if we start playing good football."

The Riders will host the Tiger-Cats on Thursday.

NOTES: Riders wide receiver Manny Arceneaux caught a six-yard pass, extending his receiving streak to 103 games. ... Riders offensive lineman Dan Clark played in his 100th CFL regular-season game. ... Former Lions Arceneaux and Solomon Elimmian received hearty cheers from the crowd of 20,950 as they were recognized on the big screen before kickoff.

(CP)