Post-season post: my ode to the season done

It's over. Sniff. Sniff.

It was a heartbreaking end, but you have to admit it's still better than 2011. Okay, that's not much of an accomplishment since 2011 was the type of season most of us would like to use sandpaper to scratch it out of our collective memory banks.

BUT despite the 8-10 record, it there are still some bright spots to remember, ponder, savour and relish over the too-long off season.

Here are my top 10 reasons to look forward to 2013: 

1. Kory Sheets: This guy should be locked up in a contract to wear green and white from now until he no longer has the strength to put on cleats. Seriously. He is an absolute phenom. He finished the season as the CFL's number two rusher with 1227 yards (not to mention another 507 receiving yards) and 11 touch downs. Now that he's got one season in the league under his belt, can you imagine what he'll do next year? Number 1 time, baby! And he's hungry for it, too!

2. Weston Dressler: I have only one piece of Rider gear with a number and a name on it and it's number 7. He is destined for the Plaza of Honour and if he keeps it up he'll likely end up in the Hall of Fame. He led the league with 13 touchdowns this year and racked up an amazing 1206 passing yards. His punt return for a touchdown in August should definitely be on the 2012 highlight reel. And in the losing effort on Sunday, Dress put up 153 yards receiving on six catches. I can not write enough good things about this guy and I only wish he could receive some league awards and accolades because goodness knows he deserves them.

3. Darian Durant: Our fearless and loyal leader. No matter what the haters say, this dude is the real deal. Without Doubles, our chances of seeing a Grey Cup anytime soon are absolutely zilch. His leadership, poise and freaking wicked arm have made him an elite quarterback. In the final loss of the season he threw for 435 yards and four touchdowns. Winnipeg or Edmonton would trade a van full of their grandmothers to have someone like Doubles behind centre.

4. Rob Bagg: I hesitate to include him. At this point... almost two full seasons of professional football lost to injury, it sounds like an impossible feat to come back to being our number two receiver. On paper it looks like a lost cause. And yet, if you follow him on Twitter, this guys is a workhorse. Dude doesn't know when to say die. I am convinced, if he can get back to training camp and get back on the team, he'll be an impact player for the 2013 Roughriders. Trust me people, we haven't seen the last of this guy in green and white. 

5. Taj Smith: Have you seen TSN battle for the play of the year? Taj Smith's entry is outstanding. I can't help but smile every time I think about it. If you can Google it, do it. It's worth finding and watching and watching again. Basically, the ball hits Dressler as he's leveled and bounces off the foot of the defender, then into and out of the hands of another defender and into the hands of Taj who snags it and bolts for the end zone. He gets pushed out of bounds before getting a TD, but he ends up making a huge gain out of a dead play and a potentially nasty interception. It was a heads up play that boggles the mind. One of my favourite plays from this season, was being in the stands and watching Taj break lose down the sidelines in front of us going for a touchdown and the entire stadium losing their mind. Taj will be one of the Riders I keep an eye on.

6: Joe Loebedahn: Okay. I admit it. This guy scares me. Maybe he likes kittens and stuffed animals, but he looks like he could eat them for breakfast. His mid-season addition to our defense was like an adrenalin shot of mean straight. I loved the energy and viciousness he brought to each and every game. His leadership on defense was worth far more than we paid him. His Tweet as the season came to an unceremonious end: I'll be back. I'm pretty sure there are those around the league who shudder at the thought.

7. Dominic Picard: Known as the AngryFrenchman on Twitter, the upgrade in the off season at centre may have been our biggest single position improvement. He kicked butt. And when it came to trash talking, I like that Picard wouldn't suffer fools, as the saying goes. Good on him.

8. Greg Carr: I was almost giddy the day after the lousy loss to those lousy-good-for-nothing Cowtown Stumps, when I saw a tweet pop up on my twitter feed saying Greg Carr would spend the off season working out with Darian. At 6'6" Carr is a tower in the end zone. If he and Doubles get on the same page, defenders are going to have to pack a step ladder and some skates to stop them! He was an absolute beast in the semi-final with 77 yard and two clutch TDs. I can't wait to see what he and Doubles can cook up before training camp.

9. Corey Chamblin: I remember when Corey was announced as the new head coach of the Riders. That presser where he met the media had so much energy, I knew immediately we were in for an exciting year of football. He assembled a kick butt coaching staff that I'm pretty sure is the envy of the league. From the "Big Ticket" to the "Cornish Guarantee" he found ways to motivate and excite his team. I can not wait to see what he cooks up before training camp next year. This off season may be the longest yet.

10. Brendan Taman: An odd choice for this list, I admit. However, I must give credit where credit is due. I have never been a member of the Brendan Taman Fan Club, but once he was unshackled from the Miller-Taman debacle of last year, he seemed to revive a decimated Rider club. Let's admit it... last year at this time the Roughriders team was a smoldering pile of rubble. Taman hired Corey. Corey hired an all-star coaching staff. We picked up LaBatte, Willis, Sheets, Picard... then drafted Ben Heenan. Mid-season pick ups like Taj Smith and Joe Loebedahn showed his commitment to bringing in the best talent he could find.

We've got a ways to go to be sure, but I look forward to what Taman will accomplish in the off-season. And I look forward to what Chamblin and company will accomplish in 2013 to take us to the Grey Cup. As exciting as 2012 was, I have no doubt 2013 will be even better. And I haven't felt this positive going into an off-season since Kent Austin proclaimed a dynasty on the steps of the Leg.

Take comfort, my little green friends. This too shall pass. And we'll all be together cheering hard come next June!

Sigh... only seven months to go...

Cheer long. Cheer loud! GO GREEN!

The 13th man doc: The pain never ends

My thoughts on TSN's 13th Man documentary which aired last night: 

The good:

• Paul McCallum is a far classier guy than I’ve ever given him credit for. (And I honestly never saw an interview after the 2004 loss where he refused to face the rest of the team. Like wow.)
• Best comments from the hour: McCallum in his assessment of how it should feel like a hallow victory for Montreal – winning because of another team’s mistake instead of your own ability.
• The nuns were hilarious. Loved that part! God bless them!
• Best quote from a fan: No one died, but it felt like it. (Close second goes to the guy who said he stood still for five minutes until a fan behind him asked his wife if he was having a stroke.) 

The bad:

• I watched the game-winning field goal for the first time ever. I left a house full of people once I knew the penalty. Took my dog outside and cried by myself.
• No one outside of Ridernation will ever understand the pain of that day. They can make all the documentaries they want about it, they’ll never get it.
• Duval (Montreal kicker) is a jerk. Yes, thank you, for pointing out the final score on your Grey Cup ring, you twit!

The ugly:

• Watching Weston Dressler throw his helmet on the sidelines.
• Most haunting image – Paul LaPolice standing alone on the sidelines watching Montreal celebrate.
• Most disturbing image (not shown): Knowing Darian Durant and Andy Fantuz went to the training room to cry alone for 20 minutes. Got me choked up again just typing that.

I felt a little bit like the director didn’t get it. He thought it would be this great love story between fans and the team, but I wanted more positives out of it. Like how the team took turns in interviews leading up to the 2010 Grey Cup falsely confessing to being the 13th man. And I wish they had spent more time talking about the warm welcome the team got coming back after that devastating loss. And maybe more time talking about how the fans came to wear 13th man as a badge of honour again.

I will admit it is hard to assess how good the documentary was simply because the subject is so emotional for all of us. I thought they could have interviewed more Rider fans, maybe even different Rider fans, but I'm not sure I'm in a good head space to offer up critiques on this man's journalistic ability in creating a documentary on what has to be one sports most memorable and disgusting moments. A hundred Grey Cups could never erase that memory. Or the hurt that comes with it.

Bottom line: It was painful. It was still painful and I won’t watch it again.

Post-game pot: Dominating Montreal

Okay. Yes, I know, I know. We lost the game today by a score of 28-17.

But as is often the case in professional sports, the score doesn't tell the whole story. In week of football that saw two teams fail so miserably in the second half the merciful thing would have been to send everybody home, we showed up with bells on and played until the final whistle.

In Calgary, the Bombers bombed so badly, they're still filling in the crater at McMahon. The final tally was Calgary 44 and Winnipeg 3. Calgary very easily could have had more points. Winnipeg looked like they'd have a tough time finding their own butts without a map. And anyone that puts Buck Glass-jaw Pierce behind that offensive line, should face a lawsuit. My word. If I were Buck, I think I might throw myself down the stairs on the way to practice this week.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton they were down to their third stringer at QB after KJ and Jyles failed to ignite the water-logged offense. Injury was the reason given for the switch up. After QB Nichols was carted away on a stretcher after getting himself concussed (seriously, dude, learn to slide!), ship really starting to take on water. Though KJ found healing and got back into the game, it didn't help. Edmonton got swamped 51-8 by Hamilton.

(And side note to the Ti-cats: you weren't as good as the score indicated. Trust me.)

So then we came to the final game of the week and I have to admit I was quaking in my boots. Montreal was coming off of their own spanking last week and I was pretty sure we'd get taken to the woodshed as they say.

However, that didn't happen. After the Als got off to a quick start and two touch downs, the defense locked it down. And they locked it down good. I'm telling you by the third quarter AC looked pretty... well.. average. I've never seen so many two-and-outs. Our defense kept the mighty Als and their legend-in-the-making QB to just two measly field goals in the second half.

Everybody on defense gets a bit fat booyah from this Rider Chick! Talk about domination! That was just flat out awesome.

Sadly, the deficit was too much for our anemic offense to overcome. Back up QB Drew Willy, getting his first professional start, looked like a back up QB getting his first professional start. And that's not to dog on the guy. He looked like he needs more game time, practice time and just time in general. He's a great quarterback and I have no doubt there are great things in his future. Unfortunately, today was not going to be a win.

Willy threw for 225 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Not a bad effort. If I were grading this, I'd give him a solid C.

All of this to say... don't panic, Rider Nation. This team is good and there are still wins to come this season. We just have to remember we've got rookie players, rookie coaches and a team still trying to gel after the debacle that was 2011. We are light years ahead of that. Watching the CFL routs this week was a very good look at just how bad things were last year at this time.

And to all the Durant-haters out there: Can we finally put the "Play Willy" meme to rest? The dude just isn't ready. With Durant behind centre today, I bet you the farm, we win. Handily. And Montreal would crying in their poutine right now.

Cheer long. Cheer loud. Go GREEN!

Labour Day Classic pre-game post

Just win, already!

The day after

What in the world was that?!

I tried to keep tabs on the score, but I was doing other things. I admit I didn't make any special effort to watch this game. I felt it was going to be an embarrassment at home. And it was.

Sigh.

What's is the deal with this team?

They have the talent. The coaches are top shelf. The guys on the field are the best we could pull together. How is it that they play like they don't know how to play football? It's like the whole scheme is all new to them each week.

This loss hurts. We are in tough. I thought this season was going to be a rebuilding year, but I forgot how painful a rebuilding year can be.

So how do we fix it?

I honestly don't know. Does Durant need to sit out a game or two and give Willy the reins and see what he can do? I'd support that. Not because I don't like Durant, but just because these need something. Some sort of home.

The frustration is mounting and we need a leader to step up and get things moving. But who will that be?

Cheer long. Cheer loud. Go GREEN!

Week 8: Post-game post

Sigh... 

I have to admit I only watched the first half. It seemed the Riders were totally in it. They contained the notorious B.C. running back Harris. Superman Geroy Simon rarely saw the ball and it seemed like the defense was able to get pressure to Lulay. Something not many teams have done this year. Plus, there was the absolutely amazing third down stand on the 1-yard line. I mean I was screaming after they stuffed the Lions who were sniffing for the a TD, but came up with nadda.

Then there were the two BULL calls by the officials. At the half-time break it was Riders: 3 and the Refs: 7.

I try not to slag on the officiating on this blog, because... well... every team could complain about it every game. It's not that the refereeing is always that bad, it's that it probably is consistently going against the team you cheer for at some point in the game. It's like complaining about the weather. Nothing you can do about it, but live with it and get over it.

However, I am making an exception this time. 

First there was a roughing the kicker play... which if you could have seen my face at that moment!

Where were these refs when Congi was molested two years ago? When his knee bent in ways I shudder to think about even still? Explain to me why that WASN'T worthy of the flag and not even touching Paul Can't-Miss-in-Orange MacCallum is. I was furious!

The fury only multiplied when they called the roughing the passer penalty at the end of the series. Since when is landing BESIDE the quarterback a penalty? And all the while Darian Durant gets pasted to the turf on every. Single. Play. And nothing gets called.

I mean... do they have the Lions' logo stitched onto their stupid yellow penalty flags?

But then the Riders did their own dirty work and things really started to unravel. The interceptions piled up and the offense seemed to be stuck in neutral. I'm not even sure I know the final score.

24-5. (I had to look it up.)

Yeah. That was pretty yucky. But here are my thoughts for what it's worth:

1. Our defense is solid. I mean we shut down their running back and for the most part held our own defensively against the defending Grey Cup Champs, playing in their park. Not an easy task.

2. Our offense needs help. I don't know what form that help needs to take, though. They all need a shot of lightning juice or something. And is it our play-calling? I mean... it seems like the opposition knows what we're going to do before we do it. Maybe we need some creativity. Maybe Durant needs to stay on the sidelines for a game. I don't know. 

3. The sky is not falling. And anyone who thinks so can simply go ahead and cheer for Winnipeg. Those poor souls need as much cheer as the can get! As a Rider fan I am aware there will be droughts.

In fact, as a Rider fan I understand there will be times when the team will sniff out every shred of hope, kill it, stomp on it, and set it on fire.

And the sun will rise tomorrow. To a new day and a new opportunity to believe in the possibility of what could happen.

The good news is... we have a good team. They're young. And they need time to gel. Over half of the starters are new. Heaven's I follow the team and I still need to check the roster occasionally when someone makes a play. 

Above all remember, this is the CFL and anything can happen. Remember the team that dropped five in a row to start the 2011 season? That's the defending Grey Cup champs, B.C. Lions.

Keep believin', Rider Nation!

Cheer long. Cheer loud! Go GREEN!

Week 7: Post-game post

Again I apologize. It was a weird week last week with holidays and the family getting sick. Now that I've re-joined the work-a-day world, things seemed to be getting back to a facsimile of normal. So I thought I would share my thoughts on last week's game in Edmonton.

I gotta admit, I hate it when the Riders play in Commonwealth. Pretty guarantee any schmuck behind centre wearing green and gold will light it up against the Riders no sweat.

And in fact, any schmuck did. Steven Jyles had a "career night". Seriously? Did he eat his wheaties that morning? Did they secretly fly in Anthony Cavillo from Montreal? Like what the...?

Meanwhile on our side of the ball, we had a tough time doing... well... pretty much everything. The only way to describe our team right now is a hot mess. Some parts are amazing and wonderful (like Kory Sheets) and others are like... oooookay, let's not do that again, like ever!

From the13 penalties (13!) for 90 yards worth, to the picture perfect Cary Koch catch (for Edmonton), to the very sad Dressler fumble in the fourth quarter, there's so much I'd really rather forget.

The saddest part of the game was watching Picard glumly limping off the field in obvious pain. It looks like he'll be out for the contest in Vancouver this weekend. That is worrisome. Picard has been rock solid at centre.

And receivers need to put some stick 'em on their hands. Catch the stinking balls would ya!

Yet there were a few positives.

Like Kory Sheets rushing for 78 yards and receiving 138 yards.

Nick Graham and Eddie Russ blew the drawers off with six tackles each. Odell Willis and Shomari Williams each snagged a sack.

Durant threw for 401 yards, but that included two interceptions. Sigh. Back to the turnover machine. It's gross and it's gotta stop in order for us to have any prayer of making it past regular season.

The loss leaves the Green and White at 3-3. It's not a reason to panic completely, but something needs to shift, get tweaked or changed.

I'm not smart enough to know what that is and I'm growing concerned that neither is Corey Chamblin. This is the time when I want to see the team pull together and do what we all know they can do.

Of all of our losses this season this is the one that concerns me the most. The two games against Calgary and Hamilton the team at least played well. In Edmonton, it just looked off. Bland and predictable. It might be time to switch up some of the play calling. It really seemed like Edmonton knew exactly what we were going to do before we did it.

My only other thought on the game... Kavis Reed is one angry dude. Seriously, he needs to cut back on the caffeine or something. I don't think it's necessary to freak out on the sidelines all four quarters of every game. Dial it back before you have a coronary, buddy!

But back to the Green machine, I hope they are able to reassemble the parts before Sunday. We're marching into one of the most hostile environments in the CFL at B.C. Place facing the defending Grey Cup champs. We've already beaten them once, but I don't think a win this Sunday will be as easy.

Meanwhile the rest of the league is still reeling from the release of Cory Boyd by Toronto. It's not every day that a team releases the league top rusher. Boyd was signed by Edmonton just hours later. One assumes the rest of the league took a pass. Running back is one position most teams actually have pinned down for the most part. Quarterbacks on the other hand... As bad as things are in Riderville, they could be much worse!

Cheer long. Cheer loud! Go GREEN!