as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, SK, September 4, 2016 Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-9) @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-4)
Investors Group Field – Winnipeg, MB
2:00pm (CST) Kickoff
TV: TSN 1/3/4
Radio: Rider Radio Network (Pre-game Show begins at 11:00am)
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 20C (68F)
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” – George S. Patton
This may not be rock bottom, but it sure feels like it. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers winning the Labour Day Classic in front of a packed house at Mosaic Stadium ended an 11-game Rider winning streak at the Classic and dropped the Green and White to 1-and-9.
There isn’t much time for the Riders to catch their breath before they tackle the even more daunting task of the return affair with the Bombers at a sold-out Investors Group Field tomorrow afternoon.
What to do to begin the climb out, well, draw from the positives.
Begin with the offence. Darian Durant was solid with 399 yards through the air with a touchdown to go along with a rushing TD. The key was that he hit seven different receivers and the trio of Caleb Holley (121), Naaman Roosevelt (97), and Ricky Collins Jr. (97) being just six total yards away from all having 100-yard games.
It got me to thinking when the Riders last had three 100-yard receivers in one game. The first that came to my mind was the season opener in 2010 when the Riders knocked off the Alouettes 54-51 overtime.
The Riders came close in that game with the trio of Weston Dressler (154), Rob Bagg (121) and Andy Fantuz (80). Fun fact: that was Durant’s best game as a pro with 481 yards passing and five touchdowns.
Then it was time to do some research. Without too much digging there were two games that stuck out:
August 13, 1992 when the Riders knocked off the B.C. Lions on the road in Vancouver 46-43. Kent Austin had a record breaking day with 558 yards passing with Ray Elgaard (187), Don Narcisse (108) and Jeff Fairholm (106) all having 100-yard games. Milson Jones also added an 87-yard receiving game as well.
October 23, 1993 when the Riders edged out Calgary at Taylor Field 48-45. Austin again with an all-world game, passing for 546 yards and three scores. Ray Elgaard (154), Jeff Fairholm (129) and Byron B.K. Williams (112) all broke the century mark receiving.
It’s nice to know that some of the first pieces of the rebuilding process are in place with Roosevelt, Collins Jr. and Holley.
Other positives:
– The increasing level of play of the Rider defensive backfield.
– The Rider special teams have been on point returning the ball and defending the return.
– Offensive line has done a solid job keeping Darian Durant upright.
Now to the Labour Day Rematch. What we will see is a lot more Andrew Harris.
The Bombers biggest free agent acquisition this past off-season was lethal in the first two Bomber drives and the final drive but had barely any touches in between. You know he will touch the ball more than 19 times running and catching this game.
The Riders need to do better in the red zone. Darian Durant had an interception deep in Bomber territory last week, while Tyler Crapigna missed a pair of field goals that he has usually been true from.
***Side Note***
I know a lot has been made about the officiating last week, but if the Riders didn’t make the three mistakes mentioned above, it would have been a totally different football game.
Officiating quirks happen at all levels of football and in different areas of the game:
– The CFL trying to iron out the pass interference and the challenging of said calls or non-calls.
– The NFL is still trying to figure out what a catch is. This has been a point of contention in the NFL for years. See Calvin Johnson against the Bears in September 2010 or Dez Bryant in the 2014 NFL Playoffs.
– The NCAA has a few bugs to iron out in their targeting the head rule. It’s where the defender targets the ball-carrier’s head on a tackle. If a flag is thrown for targeting, the play is booth reviewed to see if the player will remain in the game or be kicked out.
This is just to give some clarity on the fact that there are and will always be some ambiguous rules in football that seem easy, but are made difficult.
So…back to the game. If the Riders can get off to a good start and limit the mistakes, it would be a couple of huge leaps towards their first road victory of 2016.
Fast Facts:
School Ties:
– Naaman Roosevelt (SSK) and Drew Willy (WPG) 2006-08 at the University of Buffalo
– Justin Capicciotti (SSK), Matthias Goosen (WPG) and Derek Jones (WPG) 2010-11 at Simon Fraser
– Greg Jones (SSK) and Johnny Adams (WPG) 2009-10 at Michigan State
– Matt Webster (SSK) and Brendan Morgan (WPG) 2010-13 at Queen’s
– Kacy Rodgers (SSK) and Shayon Green (WPG) 2010-13 at The University of Miami
– Ivan Brown (SSK) and Rory Kohlert (WPG) 2007-08 at the University of Saskatchewan
– Nic Demski (SSK) and Teague Sherman (WPG) 2011-12 at the University of Manitoba
Bombers with Rider ties:
Drew Willy (2012-13), Weston Dressler (2008-15), Ryan Smith (2014-15), Chad Rempel (2014), Jermarcus Hardrick (2015), Keith Shologan (2008-13), Brandon Tennant (2015), Clarence Denmark (2016 TC), Paul LaPolice (coach 2007-09), Richie Hall (1988-91 player, 1994-2000/11-14 coach), Bob Wylie (2009 coach), Avon Cobourne (2014-15 coach), Todd Howard (2014-15 coach), Tony Missick (2015 coach)
Riders with Bomber ties:
Graig Newman (2014-15), Ivan Brown (2015), Mike Scheper (2014 coach), Markus Howell (2000-04/10 player, 2011-15 coach)
– The last Rider road victory against a Western opponent? September 7, 2014 in Winnipeg.
– Winnipeg has 21 of their 46-man roster in their first year while the Riders have, 33 of their 46-man roster in their first year.
– Twelve Bombers have started in all 10 of their games this season while the Riders have just six (Roosevelt, Coleman, Foster, Cox, Jones & Irvin).
– The Riders have had 83 different players play in a game this season, Winnipeg, 63.
