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Wait ‘til Next Year???

Jul 18, 2016 | 4:11 PM

In 2015 the Rider season was over by half time of the first game. In 2016 it may have lasted until half time of the third game.

This might be considered progress.

The Riders 40-27 loss to the BC Lions is being rationalized by saying the ankle injury to Darian Durant, which may keep him out one, two or three games, took the momentum away from the team that built up a 23-10 half-time lead and then faltered in the third quarter with back-up Mitchell Gale.

The problem with that is, it ignores the defense folding like a cheap suit in the second half, leaving Trevaughn Campbell at one point covering two BC Lions while the Riders blitzed BC quarterback Jonathan Jennings, as if they didn’t have another frickin’ idea about how to slow down the BC offense.

This reminds me of when Richie Hall left to become the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos and we hired Gary Etcheverry, a mad scientist sort of defensive coordinator who had Kitwana Jones lined up as a defensive end even though he is shorter and lighter than I am.

Etcheverry used all sort of interesting alignments and assignments for the defense because the defense was not very good and if he could confuse them long enough, then maybe Jerrell Freeman would be able to make a play.

The constant blitzing by the Rider defense leaving the defensive backs on an island, or in Campbell’s case, trying to cover an archipelago of BC receivers, was a throwback to those days. Perhaps it is also an admission that the talent the Riders don’t have isn’t enough so if they throw enough blitzes at the opposing offense, then maybe something would stick.

I used to play defensive back and linebacker. There is no worse feeling in the world than lining up and seeing two receivers opposite you and looking around to see there is no help and whichever receiver you chose to cover, the other will kill you.

So, while Rider fans may have breathed a sigh of relief at the news nothing is broken in Durant’s ankle, the reality is nothing the Riders will do at quarterback will matter Friday night when Ottawa comes to town because the problem is now on the defense.

It was frustrating and funny watching the Riders attempt to throw BC off.

The Lions ran the ball with former Rider back, Anthony Allen getting a touchdown and then tossing the ball to Jenkins who scored on a six yard run.

Now if Jennings picked up 429 yards passing, imagine what Trevor Harris, with Chris Williams and the rest of the Ottawa receiving corps, can strafe the Riders for on Friday night?

If I was going to pick my CFL fantasy draft team, I would go with Harris and Williams. Based on the performance of the Rider defense, 500 yards passing by Ottawa is not out of the question.

The Riders suffered through injuries which will become clearer, somewhat, on Tuesday.

Brendon LaBatte went down with a likely concussion after his helmet was kicked off his head (I may be exaggerating somewhat, but it was an ugly situation) and then Shamawd Chambers went out with a hamstring and the Riders had to jury rig their roster to accommodate the Canadian ratio.

The Lions did what I expected when Mitchell Gale went in for Durant and the Riders fooled around with their offensive line.

In situations like that, Jones’ insistence on players showing versatility comes into focus because if you don’t have that ability to plug and play players, then you are screwed when it comes to injuries.

So assuming that Durant isn’t back for three games, Gale assumes the starter position, GJ Kinne gets the back-up and Jake Waters will handle the clipboard.

The Riders revolving door at backup quarterback makes it interesting if the Rider offense will get some continuity, but this is the route the Rider brain trust has decided to take and whether it works or not, well, I figure if the Riders don’t show some results by Labour Day, it will be easy to tune the team out as it concludes its farewell season in Taylor Field.

A bit of a perfect storm is developing as the Riders look to move into their new digs, with the expected price increases, and a fracturing of the community that has developed in Taylor Field. Some people will not be able to afford the price increases and others from out of town may question why drive four hours to Regina, spend three to four hours at the game, and then drive back, for a team that doesn’t do anything other than blitz and leaves one defensive back to cover two receivers.

And, as I write, I see the Riders signed Canadian receiver Kris Bastien, who was formerly with the Riders and was traded to Winnipeg before they cut them loose, feeling confident with their Grey Cup winning receiving corps. Chambers has a problem with injuries and if the Riders signed Bastien, then the injury to Chambers must be pretty significant. Which again raises the ghost of Chris Getzlaf who was cut because they felt his foot injuries made him too much of a risk.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the season is over…yet.

The Riders are playing much better than last year’s team, but I think this will be a growing experience and if the Riders are fortunate, they can make it a 6-12 season. The lack of familiarity with the defensive system will doom the Riders, and if Jones is the coach he thinks he is, there comes a point where you have to adapt to the players you have and produce a system that they can understand.

If Jones wants to go it his way for the rest of the season, then the Riders will have to show substantial improvement next year. Otherwise, we may have just been screwed again by Ed Hervey, the GM of the Edmonton Eskimos.

So after going 3-1 after three weeks of 1-3 predictions, I am feeling as confident as Chris Jones in my selections this week.

Calgary goes to Winnipeg, Satan’s playground, and in a situation like this, it’s like choosing between the Zika or Ebola viruses.

Winnipeg is convulsed with rumors that Mike O’ Shea’s job is on the line, but I would think Ricky Walters’s job should be gone first as the GM. It seems Drew Willy, the latest saviour from Saskatchewan that Winnipeg imported at quarterback, is probably suffering from PTSD from the hits he has taken and this has rattled his confidence in himself and his offensive line. Willy won’t play better unless he knows his offense line will block for him, and that just isn’t going to happen on a consistent basis in Winnipeg.

I think Winnipeg should hang on to O’Shea for the rest of the season and then choose wisely, not having to pay O’Shea for anything beyond December. As much as Winnipeg represents the worst in human nature, like it or not, it is a part of the CFL and we need a moderately successful franchise there that can go another 25 years without a Grey Cup. I have been trying to convince Oatsy Boatsy to throw his hat in the ring for a director spot, but as he points out, Winnipeg’s board is an old boy’s network representing the worst of human nature that fans knows more than football people.

Calgary should have beaten Ottawa, and then again, maybe not, hence the tie, but Calgary needs to put some space between itself and Winnipeg and Saskatchewan.

Calgary is assuming the nature of Dave Dickenson, unassuming and prone to concussions, but if Calgary can beat Winnipeg in Winnipeg that would be a big step forward.

This will be a tight game because I get the impression the Bombers like their coach, but as I have discovered in dating, just because you really like someone, doesn’t mean you will get what you want. Calgary wins this one and continues the stretch of visiting teams winning 26-21.

On Friday we have Ottawa coming to the City that Rhymes with Fun and the early line is that Trevor Harris breaks 500 yards passing. Darian Durant will likely be out for three games leaving Mitchell Gale, GJ Kinne and Jake Waters in charge. This is not the Riders big problem.

Their problem is their defense, which is hilarious considering that Chris Jones is supposed to be a defensive genius. However, when you ask a defensive back to cover two receivers with no help, the problem is not necessarily the talent level of the players.

The Riders precarious Canadian content got bolstered a bit with the signing of Kris Bastien because it looks like Showman Chambers will be out for a while.  The Riders are looking at a more extensive remodeling than expected and suddenly 6-12 doesn’t seem so far-fetched. However, I am taking Trevor Harris and Chris Williams in this game as Ottawa easily handles the Riders 34-25.

Hamilton goes to Edmonton on Saturday and the Tiger-Cats are riding high over their win against Montreal, which was like a mercy killing for Montreal. I’m not sure that is enough to anoint the Cats as Grey Cup contenders, but they are going to Edmonton who has a great offense, but a defense and penalty problems that are the result of a rather large chip on their shoulders.

With Edmonton, they make games interesting, but considering they should be 0-2 at home, I am gambling that Hamilton will continue the trend of visiting teams dominating and they should beat Edmonton 28-24. This is nothing more than a leap of faith.

Finally on Monday we have Montreal at Toronto and after the crappy attendance for the last game, it seems that a two game winning streak on the road is not enough for Argo fans, but I suspect the swift kick to the nether regions from the prices announced for the Grey Cup game sparked a who cares approach. Kevin Glenn may be back, he may not, but at this point I don’t think it matters to Montreal who are imploding under Jim Popp.

Popp may have started coaching, but as the great philosopher Clint Eastwood once said, a Man has got to Know His Limitations.

Jim Popp hasn’t reached that point of enlightenment and so Toronto wins 24-19 in from of 3200 fans on a ridiculous night.