July 8, 2016

Game Day Preview – Riders at Eskimos

Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-1) @ Edmonton Eskimos (0-1)
The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium
Edmonton, Alberta
8:00pm (CST) Kick Off

TV: TSN 1/3/4, ESPN2
Radio: Rider Radio Network (Pregame Show begins at 5:00pm)
CKRM 620am – Regina
CJGX 940am – Yorkton
CFWD (Cruz FM) 96.3fm – Saskatoon
CJNB 1050am – North Battleford
CJNS 102.3fm – Meadow Lake
CKBI 900am – Prince Albert
CKBI 92.5fm – Big River
CKBI 95.9fm – LaRonge

Estimated temperature at Kick off: Partly Cloudy 20C (68F)

 

Hi friends! Who would have thought the second game of the season for both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos would prove to be so crucial? With the BC Lions coming out of the gate 2-and-1, Winnipeg picking up their first win last night in Hamilton and Calgary being one of the favourites in the CFL West, to fall to 0-and-2 to begin the season is not good for business.

A lot has been made of the Eskimos wanting to prove something to their former Grey Cup winning coaching staff during the Riders 25-11 preseason loss a month ago in Edmonton and that has carried over a bit into this game. Sure the Eskimo players want to go out there and hammer on Head Coach Chris Jones and the staff, but think about what former Esks Otha Foster, Kendial Lawrence, Thaddeus Coleman and Korey Jones want to do to their former ‘mates. That make this type of argument moot, but sure makes for radio “hot takes”. 

There are so many juicy story lines to this game like seeing Chris Getzlaf in Green and Gold, more than half of the Rider defence playing in just their second CFL game and the Riders starting three Americans on the offensive line for the first time for as long as anyone can remember and so much more!

What is going to be fun to watch is to see what the next step will be for the Riders this weekend. There were many positives in their 30-17 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium last week:

  • Darian Durant throwing for over 300 yards and a touchdown in his first game back in almost a calendar year
  • Naaman Roosevelt with a 100 yard receiving game
  • Curtis Steele showing he can be a very productive, every down running back
  • A.C. Leonard with two sacks and three tackles in his first ever regular game on defence
  • Greg Jones leading the way on defence with seven tackles
  • The defence as a whole allowing a CFL early season low in net offence of 241 yards

 

There were some things also to improve on, most importantly the big mistakes. Three plays were the difference in the loss to Toronto; a 57 yard Larry Taylor punt return to the Rider six yard-line, a 56 yard Vidal Hazelton touchdown catch and run and a fumble return touchdown by Matt Black. Erase that, different ball game. 

What was also concerning was how the offence looked on third down, combine the Bryant Moniz fumble for a touchdown with Darian Durant coming up short on a very easy 3rd down gamble in the first quarter, it was not a good start to the short yardage team.

The battle between the Rider offence and the Eskimo defence will be truly one to watch. Edmonton had a very tough start in defensive coordinator’s Mike Benevides first game of the season against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. They let up almost 600 net yards in their 45-37 shootout loss. They will be a lot better, as will the Rider offence, it will be a treat to watch.

 

Three things to watch tonight:

  • Durant versus Reilly: With the injuries to both of the star quarterbacks over the past few seasons, this is only the fourth time that they have stood across the field from each other. Durant has won all three previous match-ups. Mike Reilly has won four straight against the Riders (defeating Brett Smith, Kerry Joseph, Tino Sunseri and Drew Willy over this span).
  • Rider defensive backs against Eskimo receivers: Every CFL fan knows how dangerous Edmonton receivers Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker are. Add Chris Getzlaf, Nate Cooehorn and John White out of the backfield will make for a very difficult night for the Rider defensive backs.
  • John White: We focused on him on “Chalk Talk” with Luc Mullinder earlier this week. He too is coming off a season ending Achilles rupture before the 2015 year even began and was superb in the Eskimos loss to Ottawa in week one. Of note, his best career game came against the Riders in 2014 with 192 yards along the ground in week 14 of that season.

 

Fast Facts:

  • This will be Darian Durant’s 100th career start and is 22 yards away from the 25-thousand-yard career passing mark
  • Durant’s 300-yard game last week was the 30th in his career
  • Durant is 7-8 all-time against Edmonton.
  • Rob Bagg is a touchdown away from 40 in his career
  • Kennedy Estelle and Armanti Edwards are playing in their first career CFL game
  • The Riders have 17 players that are either in their first of second CFL season while Edmonton is much more veteran laden group with only nine in their first or second year.