Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-6) @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-4)
Tim Horton’s Field – Hamilton, ON
5:00pm (CST) Kickoff
TV: TSN 1/3/4
Radio: Rider Radio Network (Pregame Show begins at 2:00pm)
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 Kickoff: Partly Cloudy 28C (82F)
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
Hi friends! Change has been the most consistent change over the past few seasons. British philosopher and Zen Buddhist, Alan Watts sums up how I am rolling with everything that is happening with the Riders on-field roster from week to week.
The core stays the same on offence: Darian Durant, Dan Clark, Rob Bagg, Naaman Roosevelt, Ricky Collins Jr., Thaddeus Coleman and (it’s nice to say) Josiah St. John.
On defence: Otha Foster, Greg Jones, Justin Cox, A.C. Leonard, Jonathan Newsome, Ed Gainey and Corvey Irvin have been the most consistent faces.
The majority of the rest have been a various rotation of players with various skill sets, body types and backgrounds. This week is no different.
Let’s begin with the players that we are welcoming back and that bolster the Rider special teams: kicker Tyler Crapigna was en route to an all-star season before he missed the last two games, Matt Webster returns to the lineup after sitting since week one and Nic Demski missed last week and will return to return a few kicks and contribute to the offence.
Ese Mrabure is back in the defensive line rotation at tackle with the release of Kolonji Kashama this week.
The key returning player is actually making his first ever CFL start, Matt Vonk. He was a regular in the Rider offence last season as tight end in the jumbo package. Tonight, in front of friends and family in Hamilton (he was born in nearby Burlington) Vonk will make his first pro start at guard.
Vonk is big for the Riders for two reasons: first, he is a player they have been developing the last two years and he will finally be able to show what he can do against one of the top defensive fronts in the CFL. Secondly, he will replace American, Marcus Hall at guard to give the Riders a few more options in their import ratio rotation.
Now to the five players new to the Rider lineup today. The easy one is CFL veteran Jeff Hecht. He will be a fantastic addition to the Rider special teams and when he becomes familiar with the defence, a solid contributor to the Canadian rotation.
Defensive back Demetrice Morley is a CFL veteran who hasn’t seen CFL action since 2013.
There are three players making their first ever CFL start. Kacy Rodgers is a former University of Miami Hurricane who spent last season on the Edmonton Eskimos practice roster.
Joe Craig is a speed demon from the University of Memphis who spent last season giving the NFL a shot.
Finally, Caleb Holley. He is the long body the Riders may be looking for at the field-side wide receiver position. The Anchorage, Alaska native spent a couple of seasons on the Buffalo Bills practice roster before playing the last two years (including this year) in the AFL.
All of this change is something we will have to get used to for the rest of the season as this football club continues its turn-around. Some of these players will come-and-go, some will make their mark in a couple of games and then a few will become the future stars of this Football Club in the near future.
We can’t go anywhere without mentioning the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Kent Austin led team theoretically hasn’t changed much since they took to the Mosaic Stadium turf in the 2013 Grey Cup.
They pass the majority of the time on offence led by up-and-coming CFL star, Zach Collaros. He made his first start of the season last week in their 45-36 loss to the B.C. Lions. Collaros came out flat in the first half and the Ti-Cats found themselves down 32-12 at the half. Collaros found his stride in the second half and almost led Hamilton to a come-from-behind victory.
Defence is solid again with their front seven guiding the way. Former Rider, John Chick is having another great year with five sacks, second year defensive end Adrian Tracy is having a breakout season while Rico Murray and Simoni Lawrence are turning in all-star performances at linebacker.
Finally, the x-factor with Hamilton will always be the top returner in the CFL, Brandon “Speedy” Banks.
To win tonight, the Riders will have to hold true to the overly used cliché and be great on all three parts of the football game.
Have fun Rider fans and cheer hard!!
Fast Facts:
College Ties:
Jeremy Lewis (Ham) and Kacy Rodgers (Sask) at the University of Miami
Spencer Watt (Ham) and Justin Capicciotti (Sask) at Simon Fraser
Terrence Tollver (Ham), Drake Nevis (Ham) and Michael Ford (Sask) at LSU
Landon Rice (Ham) and Nic Demski (Sask) at the University of Manitoba
Mathieu Girard (Ham) and Gregory Alexandre (Sask) at the University of Montreal
Aaron Crawford (Ham) and Jeff Hecht (Sask) at Saint Mary’s
Brett Maher (Ham) and Major Culbert (Sask) at Nebraska
Mike Daly (Ham) and Spence Moore (Sask) at McMaster
– Rob Bagg is three catches from 300 in his CFL career.
– The Riders have had leads in four of seven games this season.
– The Riders have let up seven big returns (five punt, one kickoff and on FG) while having just one big return of their own.
– Of the Riders 10 touchdown drives, none have been longer than 90 yards. Last week’s red zone touchdown broke a three-game red zone shutout streak.
– This will be the second time that Darian Durant and Zach Collaros have faced each other with Durant and the Riders winning 31-10 on June 10th of 2014 at Mosaic Stadium
– Naaman Roosevelt and Caleb Holley were teammate with the Buffalo Bills
