Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. -Arnold Bennett
Bennett, a prolific British writer from the early 1900’s used the quote to describe the maelstrom of change during the era. Though not nearly as important as the political and social upheaval of the early 20th century, it does describe what the Saskatchewan Roughriders are going through right now.
From the middle of the 2015 season when Corey Chamblin and Brendan Taman were relieved of their duties with the Football Club, to the hiring of Chris Jones and his staff, the release of a myriad of fan favourites, a frantic free agency period and an 0-and-2 start to begin the season, it has been a heart wrenching eight months for Rider fans.
This team will turn the corner very soon, but even when that happens, there will still be a few setbacks and pitfalls. After the regularity of impressive wins and consistent drives to the Grey Cup (2007-2013) we all will be talking about living through a stretch of play from Week 11 of the 2014 season to now where the Green and White have put together a combined 4-25 record.
Where will it begin? It already has, and where many thought it would take some time…on offence. With Darian Durant at the helm, the Riders have looked impressive with back-to-back 300 yard passing games while only giving up a single sack.
Even with the positive, there have been drawbacks and two have been glaring: fumbles and short yardage plays. Fumbles have killed drives and turned into instant points for opponents that put the Riders in big holes.
Then there is the short yardage plays on 3rd and less than a yard. All of this culminated in the final play in last week’s overtime loss in Edmonton where Darian Durant was stopped on a 3rd and short dive. This put an end to a frantic come-from-behind effort from the Green and White and dropped their record to 0-and-2.
Why does this happen? I usually say, ‘that’s football’ and that is rarely satisfactory for fans because you want a solid reason. The fact is, there are many reasons for each of those plays: bad exchange between centre and quarterback, bad drive by the offensive lineman, quarterback takes a poor gap, the opposing defensive line gets a great surge or even guesses the snap count. To happen all in two games, well…that’s football!
All that brings us to the B.C. Lions and their first of two regular season visits to Mosaic Stadium. They are a surprising 2-and-1while riding the best defence in the CFL. This will be an unbelievable test for the Riders to grab their first win of the 2016 season.
Here is the quick hit list of what the Lions defence has done in three games:
– Adam Bighill and Solomon Elimimiam are doing their thing combining for 37 combined defensive tackles.
– Third year defensive end Andrew Bazzie is near the top of the sack race with three.
– The Lions defensive line has 11 sacks.
– They have given up only three touchdowns (1 rushing, 2 passing).
– Opponents have scored just over 15 points per game (15.3).
They have needed their defence because their offence led by quarterback Jonathan Jennings has been pedestrian at best.
Jennings was replaced late in the third quarter last week by CFL vet Travis Lulay in the Lions loss at home to the Toronto Argonauts.
His first three drives in the second half before being pulled were:
– back-to-back sacks
– interception
– 2-and-out with a sack
Jennings is getting the start and his leash may be very short, but with Lulay waiting in the wings, the Lions are going to be in pretty good hands.
This all leads to an intriguing match-up between a struggling Lions offence facing a Rider defence trying to find their identity and a rolling Rider offence taking on a stout Lions defence.
This is going to be a dandy at Mosaic Stadium tonight!!!
Fast Facts:
– Pound the rock? – There have been just a pair of 100 yard rushing games through the first three weeks and three games of the season, both by former Riders; Jerome Messam in week two against Winnipeg (137) and Anthony Allen last week versus the Argos (107). Why are teams not running the ball as much? Passing games are so efficient there is no real direct need for a grind it out running game. Also, the proliferation of spread offences across all of college football in the U.S. and Canada has bled its way into the Canadian game where the bigger field plays right into that offensive game plan.
– No Pac-12 – The Saskatchewan Roughriders 46-man roster heading into tonight are a kaleidoscope of football divisions and levels. What is missing? The Pac-12! Every Power Five Conference (ACC, SEC, Big-12, B1G10, and Pac-12) is represented but the major U.S. West Coast schools. I bring this up because the greatest Rider of all-time, George Reed hails from current Pac-12 Washington State!
– Welcome to the Rider Nation! – Jake Waters, Alex Ogbongbemiga, Dillon Grondin, Josiah St. John and Cedric McKinley are all on the Rider 46-man roster for the first time.
– 2016 Draft – Two players from the 2016 CFL Draft (Josiah St. John and Alex Ogbongbemiga) and a 2016 Supplemental Draft pick (Kevin Francis) are on the roster for today’s game.
– Rise of the Jr.’s – Dan Clark (Regina Thunder), Graig Newman (Saskatoon Hilltops) and Dillon Grondin (Windsore AKO Fratmen) all came from CJFL teams and throw in Ogbongbemiga who played the majority of his post-secondary football career with the Calgary Colts, the Riders are finding some great Canadian content from the Junior ranks.
