Montreal Alouettes (4-11) @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-10)
Mosaic Stadium – Regina, Saskatchewan
2:00pm (CST) Kickoff
TV: TSN 1/3/4/5 (Rod Black and Duane Forde)
Radio: Rider Radio Network (Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri)
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: Rain 7C (44F)
“If my teams win, my press will be good. If we lose, the press can’t help me anyhow.”
– General Robert Neyland
With the deep Tennessee roots in the Rider coaching staff, It seemed appropriate for General Robert Neyland to set up Saturday’s battle with the Montreal Alouettes.
Neyland won four National Championships as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers and his name now adorns the 102,455 seat stadium in Knoxville.
And, it’s probably how Head Coach, Chris Jones feels about the media. They were like sharks in the water when the Riders were struggling, now with the Green and White on a four game winning streak, they see how and why Jones did what he did.
This week, the Riders will face another team going through a tumultuous time. The Alouettes offence will have a very different look after the events earlier in the week.
Montreal released dynamic but enigmatic receivers Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford. Meanwhile quarterback, Vernon Adams, will make his first ever professional start.
Carter and Stafford will be replaced by second year CFLer Tiquan Underwood (Hamilton) and veteran Marcus Henry (Edmonton, Ottawa).
This leaves a huge gash in the Alouette receiving core, but is addition by subtraction to the locker room. It will be a daunting task for Vernon Adams to take on a Rider defence that is finding its stride late in the season.
Adams is an intriguing player and has many of the qualities that have made Darian Durant one of the best quarterbacks in the CFL over the past decade.
There isn’t much to compare the two professionally and the bulk of Adams’ college career was played at Eastern Washington in the FCS division of the NCAA.
So, let’s put Adams’ lone year in the FBS with the Oregon Ducks (where he was a fourth year graduate transfer) and Durant’s senior season with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
A few more caveats before we proceed: Adams played a high tempo read-option/spread offence in a pass-happy PAC-12 and Durant a pro style in the ACC with a lot of stout defences.
Adams in 2015 with the Oregon Ducks:
Passing:
168/259, 2,643 Yds, 26 TDs, 6 INT, 179.1 Pass Rate (college calculation)
Rushing:
83/147 Yds. (Sacks are included as rushing yards in the NCAA)
Durant in 2004 with the North Carolina Tar Heels:
Passing:
142/223, 2,238 Yds, 17 TDs, 9 INT, 135.1 Pass Rate
Rushing:
81/188 Yds
Other than the touchdown passes, the stats are eerily similar. Both are the same size and weight, can run the ball when needed, have soft feet in the pocket and quick releases.
If Montreal can get anything near the production Durant has given the Riders over the last eight seasons, they will have finally found the replacement to future Hall of Famer Anthony Calvillo.
As for Saturday afternoon the potential rain should not affect either pivot. Durant has seen absolutely everything at Mosaic Stadium, while Adams played his whole career in the soggy Pacific Northwest.
What worries the Riders the most is the front seven that the Als will present. It’s something Luc Mullinder covered before the loss in Montreal (their pass rush) and this week as well (run defence) in Chalk Talk.
It’s a veteran group with perennial all-stars John Bowman, Kyries Hebert, Chip Cox and Jovon Johnson. Defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe is one of the best in the CFL and can dial up almost anything in every type of formation imaginable.
It was on full display in the Riders 41-3 loss in Montreal three months ago. They were a +3 in the turnover battle, held the Riders to just 211 yards passing and under 300 yards in offence.
Last week, Montreal also held the CFL’s leading rusher, Jerome Messam to 49 yards.
But, this is a different Rider offence they found their stride running the ball (Joe McKnight’s 150 yards last week) and continue to be efficient passing the football.
It’s going to be a fun afternoon as the Green and White look to continue to roll as the season edges towards it’s sunset.
Go Riders!!!!
Fast Facts:
College Ties:
– Jean-Samuel Blanc (MTL) and Gregory Alexandre (SSK) Université de Montréal
– Gabe Knapton (MTL) and Korey Jones (SSK) University of Wyoming
– B.J. Cunningham (MTL) and Greg Jones (SSK) Michigan State
– Chris Ackie (MTL) and Ese Mrabure (SSK) University of Wilfred Laurier
– Nicholas Shorthill (MTL) and Tyler Crapigna (SSK) McMaster University
– Welcome to Rider Nation Randy Chevrier and Andrew Lue.
– With Lue and Chevrier, the Riders will have dressed 93 different players this season.
– Lue will be the 56th different starter.
– Vernon Adams will be the first rookie starting quarterback the Riders have faced this season.
– Darian Durant is four passing touchdowns from surpassing Kent Austin for second all-time with the Riders.
– A pair of former Riders are on the Alouettes 46-man roster: S.J. Haidara and Tyree Hollins.
– This will be Rob Bagg’s 120th career CFL game.
