Inaugural post!

This is the inaugural blog for Rider Talk. So thanks for checking it out!

I’ve been a Rider fan all of my life and seen it all. I’ve been there through the brutal era which included 747 Adams, JJ Barnagel, and the Nealon Green experiment. And yes, I was there at the 2009 Grey Cup. FYI, it wasn’t the too many men penalty that lost the game. We gave it away in the
second half by thinking we had it won.

But, I’ve also been there when the Riders started to put things together , make the playoffs in 1988 after an 11 year absence leading to the Grey cup win in 1989! I still remember watching Fairholm (while being interfered with) catch that bomb from Austin and run for a score and nothing was better than watching my beloved Riders take the Grey Cup over the Bombers in 2007.

The Riders are in my blood and will be forever. I, like most Rider fans, live and die by this team. The passion runs so deep not because they are the only professional team in the province but rather out of wanting to stick it to everyone else for putting us down for so many years. People say Rider fans are the worst in the league because they take it too far. Well, quit saying that we’re banjo pickin inbredsl. We love this team and have a chip on our shoulder brought on by all the doubters and those that laughed at us during the lean years.

This blog was started so I can share my thoughts on the team and the direction we are going. So with that said, I hope you enjoy my thoughts on Canada’s team.

I’ve settled down from the loss to Toronto yesterday, partly because Montreal is handing it to Calgary. Nice to see Burris back to his old ways – 2 fumbles and 2 pics. The game is not yet over but Montreal knows how to finish. After all they won’t repeat what happened in week 1 against the Riders.

Watching the game against Toronto, you could just see we did not have it together. Toronto takes the ball down the field on the opening drive against our “bend but not break” defence. Why doesn’t the defence change their mantra to “shove it down your throat” defence instead? Maybe then we
wouldn’t have to bend so much? The D has been much better  over the second half of the season but they should not give up over 300 yards against Toronto. Toronto only has Cory Boyd, C Boyd and Boyd.

The offense was totally thinking about Calgary, not Toronto. When their first possession went 2 and out, I knew we were in trouble. I was proven right when we continued to miss the blitz pick up, the hot pattern, no Clermont (who was a stud the previous week) or even use the suspect run game. I
like Cates and am very concerned about the lack of run yards. I know he has 15 touchdowns but he should because we keep getting the ball to the 1 yard line. That said, he needs 20 touches to do anything.

DD was OK and I wonder if the ankle injury was a problem as he did not run until the second half. But in light of the offense’s lacklustre performance, we were still in the game. The D was able to stop Toronto more often than not and was causing turnovers. What killed us were special teams.
What I can’t understand is why we were not ready for the fakes considering Toronto really needed the win. I don’t blame them for taking the risks as their defence was not having an issue with our offense. In the second half it seemed like we really could not move the ball and their defence controlled the line of scrimmage and forced us into minimal yards and punting situations. So I can
completely understand why Toronto would take the risk deep in their end. They saw it, I saw it! We had no jump so we were ripe for the picking. What I don’t get is how Daly cannot see it. He did a very good job preparing the ST to cover Owens (I was worried on every kick with that guy) but did nothing to ensure Toronto did not make a big play like the 2 awesome fakes and the blocked FG.

Barin Simpson said that they had practised for the direct snap but yet failed to execute. Other teams are paid to make plays but when you know it is coming!!! Come on! Everyone in the building new it was coming!

I find it ironic that after the game, players are interviewed, take ownership and say all the right things. But I’d like to see the coaches (not Miller, I’m tired of listening to him) like Daly take the mic and own up to his lack of execution as a coach and how he let the team down.

Can’t wait for the first place showdown next week!