Season opener game. It's a W vs E game, so as always, we root for the E to rob our divisional rivals of 2 points.
SSK:
OL woes are apparent, and they're forced to go 3 IMP OL. Yoshi is back.
Because of that they're forced to start 3 NAT REC! KSB, Busby, Emilus. Meyers/Johnson round out the corps. To me this looks like the weakest corps in a while.
QB-crippling Miles Brown is gone (to CGY). DL still looks decent. LBers look strong.
If I'm playing SSK, I'm chucking it solely to the strong side, which has only Fields (fans hated him in '24), and NAT Campbell at corner. The weak side should be stout with (our!) Sayles and (apparently #2 best CFL player) Milligan.
4 QBs are dressing, which is strange... doesn't that mean they have to take off a DI? They still show 4 DIs (aka DAs), so I'm not sure how this makes sense.
https://www.riderfans.com/filedata/fetch?id=1226626
OTT:
OL mostly the same. QB room missing Masoli (gone somewhere else). Call it a wash.
Gino Lewis will be deadly. Their whole REC corps will be deadly, with only NAT Keelan White at the "token NAT" wide out position being a question mark.
They clearly mark, and will clearly use, the DNA/DNS trick with Adeboboye starting in front of Stanback. Stanback will get near 25 snaps for sure. Nice, and smart, ratio cheat code.
DL mostly the same: should be stout. LB gets Pickett back from injury. With JSK they should be strong.
DB corps gains Henderson, but with only Priester of note there, they would appear to be weak at DB (though Pickett will help unless pinned). If I'm facing OTT, I'm chucking it up a lot, especially that weak side.
https://www.riderfans.com/filedata/fetch?id=1226634
Should be a great game! Both teams look middling. Both have decent continuity. I could see a lot of points being put up, especially by OTT.
Let's go REDBLACKS, let's go!
Go Dru!
Something we haven't brought up yet, with Zach's one year extension, it lines up his and Dru's contracts again. If Zach wants to hang them up after '26, Brown is currently available for '27.
Should be an entertaining tilt!
Watching Riders lose is always a favourite past time.
Go Bob Dyce Go
Techno thanks so much for the deep dive!!!!
Yes...
Good analysis. Thanks.
For Harris' sake I Hope Sask has some quick hitters, or a ground game or something to slow down Ottaw D line.
I assume this will be suitor. Unfortunate.
My 2ยข. Home field advantage helps. Wondering if Regina is still the league capital for late/dirty QB take downs. First two games are sometimes preseason-like and hard to predict.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 05, 2025, 07:54:02 AM4 QBs are dressing, which is strange... doesn't that mean they have to take off a DI? They still show 4 DIs (aka DAs), so I'm not sure how this makes sense.
The Roughriders issued an updated depth chart yesterday - Jack Coan is on the 1-game injured list
Quote from: Jesse on June 05, 2025, 10:47:59 AMGo Dru!
Something we haven't brought up yet, with Zach's one year extension, it lines up his and Dru's contracts again. If Zach wants to hang them up after '26, Brown is currently available for '27.
Dru has no reason to come back to Winnipeg. We chose Zach over him, and Ottawa chose him.
Buck is gone, many of the players he was here with are gone.
Short of Ottawa being a complete dumpster fire, I can't see any reason for Dru to even consider coming west again.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 05, 2025, 05:22:11 PMDru has no reason to come back to Winnipeg. We chose Zach over him, and Ottawa chose him.
Buck is gone, many of the players he was here with are gone.
Short of Ottawa being a complete dumpster fire, I can't see any reason for Dru to even consider coming west again.
did your account get hacked?
Quote from: theaardvark on June 05, 2025, 05:22:11 PMDru has no reason to come back to Winnipeg. We chose Zach over him, and Ottawa chose him.
Buck is gone, many of the players he was here with are gone.
Short of Ottawa being a complete dumpster fire, I can't see any reason for Dru to even consider coming west again.
Money is why he would come
O and Grey Cups lol
Wait, cheaper to live here and also playing the best fans and a packed house
Will it happen, who knows but I would love that
Quote from: blue_or_die on June 05, 2025, 05:31:16 PMdid your account get hacked?
I'd love to see Dru back, but who was the last QB that left the team that gave him a starting job voluntarily.
To think that Ottawa could not offer him the same money we could, well, it is an $SMS league.
Like I said, other than Ott becoming a dumpster fire, or Winnipeg having no QB development success over the next 2 years and still maintaining their GC contender status, I really don't see us being able to sign him.
If he does well this year, OTT will extend him again, they'd be stupid not to. And if he doesn't do well, why would we want him back?
Its just not a scenario I see playing out. Wish we could have, still think we could have stayed with him over Zach and done very well, but that was never going to happen with our management.
Quote from: theaardvark on June 05, 2025, 05:52:24 PMI'd love to see Dru back, but who was the last QB that left the team that gave him a starting job voluntarily.
To think that Ottawa could not offer him the same money we could, well, it is an $SMS league.
Like I said, other than Ott becoming a dumpster fire, or Winnipeg having no QB development success over the next 2 years and still maintaining their GC contender status, I really don't see us being able to sign him.
If he does well this year, OTT will extend him again, they'd be stupid not to. And if he doesn't do well, why would we want him back?
Its just not a scenario I see playing out. Wish we could have, still think we could have stayed with him over Zach and done very well, but that was never going to happen with our management.
If Dru is lucky will play for 10 more years and will likely play for at least a couple different teams but yes Ottawa would be silly to move on from him anytime soon. He will follow the $.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GsnSjJbasAI299F?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gsm2aQkXMAI2F5a?format=jpg&name=large)
Saskatchewan Roughriders to field four new starters for season-opener against Ottawa
By 3Down Staff -June 4, 2025
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will field four new starters when they host the Ottawa Redblacks for their season-opener on Thursday.
Payton Collins, a 24-year-old rookie out of Eastern Kentucky, will start at left tackle as Trevon Tate has been moved to left guard. Collins is six-foot-seven and 301 pounds and allowed only seven sacks on 2,209 collegiate pass-blocking snaps.
The Roughriders have two new starters along the defensive line, though neither are new to the CFL. Mike Rose, who was brought in following his release from the Calgary Stampeders, will start at defensive tackle, while Shane Ray will start at defensive end following a stint in the NFL. Ray won a Grey Cup with head coach Corey Mace with the Argonauts in 2022.
Saskatchewan will have start Tevaughn Campbell at field-side cornerback. The 31-year-old native of Scarborough, Ont. joined the team as a free agent in February after a six-year NFL stint with the New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Campbell played collegiately at the University of Regina.
The rest of the team's starting lineup is comprised of holdovers from last season, including franchise quarterback Trevor Harris, running back A.J. Ouellette, star Canadian receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, defensive tackle Micah Johnson, middle linebacker Jameer Thurman, and boundary halfback Rolan Milligan Jr., the league's reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
The Roughriders went 9-8-1 last season to finish second in the West Division, including a 5-4 record at home. The team tied its first meeting with Ottawa before winning the subsequent matchup at Mosaic Stadium by a score of 29-16.
Saskatchewan placed eight players on the one-game injured list, including quarterback Jack Coan, fullback Albert Awachie, receivers Shawn Bane Jr. and Tommy Nield, offensive linemen Jacob Brammer and Braydon Noll, and defensive backs Jaxon Ford and Kosi Onyeka. Mace had previously indicated that he expected Brammer to start this week, though he will not.
Three Canadian players have officially been placed on the six-game injured list, including offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Philippe Gagnon and defensive lineman Charbel Dabire.
Thursday's game is scheduled to kick-off at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/04/saskatchewan-roughriders-to-field-four-new-starters-for-season-opener-against-ottawa/
Ottawa Redblacks to field six new starters for season-opener against Roughriders
By 3Down Staff -June 4, 2025
The Ottawa Redblacks have set their depth chart for Thursday's season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders boasting six new starters.
Daniel Adeboboye and William Stanback will share running back duties, both of whom are new to the team this year. Adeboboye won a Grey Cup with his hometown Toronto Argonauts last season, while Stanback rushed for 1,175 yards with the B.C. Lions.
The team's two wideouts, Eugene Lewis and Keelan White, are both new to the team. Lewis became the CFL's sixth-highest-paid receiver when he joined the Redblacks in free agency from Edmonton, while White was selected with the third overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft out of the University of Montana.
Darta Lee will start at right tackle in place of an injured Zach Pelehos. The six-foot-four, 313-pound native of Alief, Texas spent some time on Ottawa's practice roster last season but will dress for his first career CFL regular-season game on Thursday.
In the secondary, the Redblacks will start two free-agent additions at halfback with Robert Priester on the boundary side and Amari Henderson to the field. Priester started 10 games for the Argonauts last year, while Henderson started eight with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The rest of Ottawa's starting lineup is comprised of holdovers from last season, including household names like franchise quarterback Dru Brown, receiver Justin Hardy, offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais, defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin IV, middle linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, and strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett.
The Redblacks went 9-8-1 last season to finish third in the East Division but posted a record of 2-7 on the road. The team tied its first meeting with Saskatchewan in 2024 before losing the subsequent matchup at Mosaic Stadium by a score of 29-16.
Players who will start the season on the one-game injured list for Ottawa include quarterback Tyrie Adams, offensive linemen Zach Pelehos and Eric Starczala, defensive linemen Aidan John and Nigel Romick, linebacker Frankie Griffin, and defensive backs Alijah McGhee and Deandre Lamont.
Free-agent acquisition Peter Godber and former second-overall pick Nick Mardner have officially been placed on the six-game injured list.
Thursday's game is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/04/ottawa-redblacks-to-field-six-new-starters-for-season-opener-against-roughriders/
Quote from: gobombersgo on June 05, 2025, 06:14:05 PMOttawa Redblacks to field six new starters for season-opener against Roughriders
By 3Down Staff -June 4, 2025
The Ottawa Redblacks have set their depth chart for Thursday's season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders boasting six new starters.
Daniel Adeboboye and William Stanback will share running back duties, both of whom are new to the team this year. Adeboboye won a Grey Cup with his hometown Toronto Argonauts last season, while Stanback rushed for 1,175 yards with the B.C. Lions.
The team's two wideouts, Eugene Lewis and Keelan White, are both new to the team. Lewis became the CFL's sixth-highest-paid receiver when he joined the Redblacks in free agency from Edmonton, while White was selected with the third overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft out of the University of Montana.
Darta Lee will start at right tackle in place of an injured Zach Pelehos. The six-foot-four, 313-pound native of Alief, Texas spent some time on Ottawa's practice roster last season but will dress for his first career CFL regular-season game on Thursday.
In the secondary, the Redblacks will start two free-agent additions at halfback with Robert Priester on the boundary side and Amari Henderson to the field. Priester started 10 games for the Argonauts last year, while Henderson started eight with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The rest of Ottawa's starting lineup is comprised of holdovers from last season, including household names like franchise quarterback Dru Brown, receiver Justin Hardy, offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais, defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin IV, middle linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, and strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett.
The Redblacks went 9-8-1 last season to finish third in the East Division but posted a record of 2-7 on the road. The team tied its first meeting with Saskatchewan in 2024 before losing the subsequent matchup at Mosaic Stadium by a score of 29-16.
Players who will start the season on the one-game injured list for Ottawa include quarterback Tyrie Adams, offensive linemen Zach Pelehos and Eric Starczala, defensive linemen Aidan John and Nigel Romick, linebacker Frankie Griffin, and defensive backs Alijah McGhee and Deandre Lamont.
Free-agent acquisition Peter Godber and former second-overall pick Nick Mardner have officially been placed on the six-game injured list.
Thursday's game is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT.
https://3downnation.com/2025/06/04/ottawa-redblacks-to-field-six-new-starters-for-season-opener-against-roughriders/
Amazed Gino Lewis fell from #1 to #6 highest paid receiver, I thought he was still #2.
Calgary is deep at RB
Quote from: theaardvark on June 05, 2025, 05:52:24 PMI'd love to see Dru back, but who was the last QB that left the team that gave him a starting job voluntarily.
To think that Ottawa could not offer him the same money we could, well, it is an $SMS league.
Like I said, other than Ott becoming a dumpster fire, or Winnipeg having no QB development success over the next 2 years and still maintaining their GC contender status, I really don't see us being able to sign him.
If he does well this year, OTT will extend him again, they'd be stupid not to. And if he doesn't do well, why would we want him back?
Its just not a scenario I see playing out. Wish we could have, still think we could have stayed with him over Zach and done very well, but that was never going to happen with our management.
I actually don't disagree with anything you said (although there's an argument to be made against it for sure), but this doesn't sound like you lol.
Did ards get hacked? lol
Or is AI writing his posts?
Might start a poll and take side bets
Winner gets chips and dips next week
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 05, 2025, 12:53:52 PMShould be an entertaining tilt!
Watching Riders lose is always a favourite past time.
Go Bob Dyce Go
I couldn't agree more. I always say I have 2 favorite teams, the Blue Bombers and whoever is playing the riders.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on June 05, 2025, 07:54:02 AMSeason opener game. It's a W vs E game, so as always, we root for the E to rob our divisional rivals of 2 points.
SSK:
OL woes are apparent, and they're forced to go 3 IMP OL. Yoshi is back.
Because of that they're forced to start 3 NAT REC! KSB, Busby, Emilus. Meyers/Johnson round out the corps. To me this looks like the weakest corps in a while.
QB-crippling Miles Brown is gone (to CGY). DL still looks decent. LBers look strong.
If I'm playing SSK, I'm chucking it solely to the strong side, which has only Fields (fans hated him in '24), and NAT Campbell at corner. The weak side should be stout with (our!) Sayles and (apparently #2 best CFL player) Milligan.
4 QBs are dressing, which is strange... doesn't that mean they have to take off a DI? They still show 4 DIs (aka DAs), so I'm not sure how this makes sense.
https://www.riderfans.com/filedata/fetch?id=1226626
OTT:
OL mostly the same. QB room missing Masoli (gone somewhere else). Call it a wash.
Gino Lewis will be deadly. Their whole REC corps will be deadly, with only NAT Keelan White at the "token NAT" wide out position being a question mark.
They clearly mark, and will clearly use, the DNA/DNS trick with Adeboboye starting in front of Stanback. Stanback will get near 25 snaps for sure. Nice, and smart, ratio cheat code.
DL mostly the same: should be stout. LB gets Pickett back from injury. With JSK they should be strong.
DB corps gains Henderson, but with only Priester of note there, they would appear to be weak at DB (though Pickett will help unless pinned). If I'm facing OTT, I'm chucking it up a lot, especially that weak side.
https://www.riderfans.com/filedata/fetch?id=1226634
Should be a great game! Both teams look middling. Both have decent continuity. I could see a lot of points being put up, especially by OTT.
Let's go REDBLACKS, let's go!
thanks for the GDT and the great insight Tecno.
Looks like the Riders trying to give Toronto an attendance scare as they get the flag out for the anthem in game one.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on June 06, 2025, 12:52:51 AMLooks like the Riders trying to give Toronto an attendance scare as they get the flag out for the anthem in game one.
yup, yikes, not exactly what riders fans like to brag about.
Very classy tribute for Chase and the Stegall family in Regina
Good job by the athem singer.
Building looks roughly 40% full. Wth RiderNation. Go support your team!
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 06, 2025, 01:11:33 AMBuilding looks roughly 40% full. Wth RiderNation. Go support your team!
The 13th man has turned in the "13 fans".
Ugh rough start in the time count penalty to start. Get yer **** together.
Brown looks sharp to start.
Crumb JUST gets it. Lol
Dru getting a nice clean pocket on each down so far.
TOUCH DOWN RBs
Well executed!
Riders look like they're in Labour Day sag mode early this year.
Mmm "Rollies" looks tasty. Great marketing, lol
Hahahahaha this is the great looking first quarter of the season so far.
Riders woof. lol
Nice strip by Frye. That has got to be a turnover.
Less of a fumble and more of a strip. Great play.
Bad miss by Ward. Alford looks good.
Picton would look good in a Bomber jersey. Pry him away from his home team would be epic.
AJ in concussion protocol
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on June 06, 2025, 01:42:10 AMAJ in concussion protocol
wow, missed that. That took very little time. Hope he is ok.
Now Milligan down to. Ouch, rough start for them Riders.
Ouelette still out. Can't be good.
Riders are having 2024 bomber injury bad luck
But Ouellette is just not durable.
Acclaimed RB DL not doing much so far...
Booo
RB D looks weak. No pressure in the pocket. WRs wide open.
Riders Bertrand Hudon appears to be more than adequate replacement for oulette
rbs taking a lot of ill timed penalties
Quote from: Pete on June 06, 2025, 02:14:05 AMrbs taking a lot of ill timed penalties
bobby dyce may not be the answer as HC
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 06, 2025, 01:50:59 AMNow Milligan down to. Ouch, rough start for them Riders.
until tonight i thought his name was Roland not Rolan
Pretty weak half by Ottawa after that first drive.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 06, 2025, 02:20:15 AMbobby dyce may not be the answer as HC
His teams seem to always do this a lot.
terrible clock management
Quote from: Jesse on June 06, 2025, 02:25:33 AMPretty weak half by Ottawa after that first drive.
sask d woke up. brown didn't have much time in the 2Q
Redblacks defence is not very good so far. No coverage and bad tackling. Add in taking bad penalties on top of everything else.
I wasn't that impressed with the Riders but this game looks like it's theirs already.
Riders D looked better as game went on
They were getting good pressure against RBs vaunted O-line
Harris looked decent as well other than the interception and the under throw at the goal line. Nice half for Emilus other than the strip, although he's doing it against a pretty bad secondary.
Hard to know if Riders are truly good or the RBs are making them look that way.
Quote from: The Zipp on June 06, 2025, 02:20:15 AMbobby dyce may not be the answer as HC
He never was, the guys a gomer
RB D is great at getting gashed in the pass and run game.
Harris is just shredding the dead blacks defense
Even there effort level looks to be suspect. What a joke. Sean Burke can't find talent either.
Ottawa looks the same as every other year, they keep making personnel changes and seem disjointed. The main constant is Dyce
Redblacks defence is terrible
Feels like that's game
Kian Schaffer baker out for the game.
redblacks defense looks dreadful, no pass game or consistency on offense, penalties too. yikes
Quote from: markf on June 06, 2025, 02:54:21 AMKian Schaffer baker out for the game.
wow Riders getting super killed in the injury department.
Bad throw Brown on 1st down, nice one on second down.
Another stupid penalty post TD. Ottawa lacks any discipline.
Ottawa is lucky if they had called Lewis down at the one the penalty would have moved them back to 3rd and 16
RB kick coverage is non existent. Dyce's apparent specialty. Hmm
Bertrand Hudon looks awesome.
Ottawa can't tackle worth poop.
Haha I went out and now I'm back and this game isn't as fun it looks like
That is game.
Bertrand looks awesome. Plus it helps the OL is destroying the RB DL.
Does Suitor ever get any new material?
Ottawa was bad for penalties last season as well.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on June 06, 2025, 03:15:18 AMHaha I went out and now I'm back and this game isn't as fun it looks like
Yup, it's your fault. You left for to long.
RB nasty list...
Terrible discipline issues (100 yard worth with 18 mins to go!)
Can't tackle
Effort issues
Can't cover a receiver
DL getting bullied
No run game
Brutal kick coverage
Brown looks good though, lol
I think Glen Suitors senses have faded even more.
Redback's can still come back but they need to step up on all sides all sides of the ball.
Good start on D with a 2 and out.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 06, 2025, 03:18:16 AMYup, it's your fault. You left for to long.
RB nasty list...
Terrible discipline issues (100 yard worth with 18 mins to go!)
Can't tackle
Effort issues
Can't cover a receiver
DL getting bullied
No run game
Brutal kick coverage
Brown looks good though, lol
Game on for this last 3 minutes though!
Dru Brown always seems broken.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on June 06, 2025, 03:09:18 AMRB kick coverage is non existent. Dyce's apparent specialty. Hmm
Dyce has no specialty, he's a ho hum nice guy who lets his players play an undisciplined game. He's a joke as a head coach
Nice comeback attempt.......That was a Good start to the season.
Entertaining game
Sask OL held in there, lost another starter
Ottawa silly to keep Brown in after injury
Hope he is ok
Both teams look good
Ottawa lost their safety, could hurt them with so many changes
Quote from: kkc60 on June 06, 2025, 02:54:41 AMredblacks defense looks dreadful, no pass game or consistency on offense, penalties too. yikes
New secondary they will come around
No pass game...?
34/41 413
Nuff said
Penalties yes
Quote from: dd on June 06, 2025, 04:06:51 AMDyce has no specialty, he's a ho hum nice guy who lets his players play an undisciplined game. He's a joke as a head coach
.357 HC record says the end is coming soon for Bob. Wondered who their DC was, why it's unheralded William Fields, most likely will remain that way. Recipe for disaster, 100% turnover in the secondary!
darn - had to go to sleep so missed the end..
obviously too early to be firing HC's but I think Dyce may be the first casualty of the season (i know it's just one game - we can speculate though)
Quote from: The Zipp on June 06, 2025, 10:29:11 AMdarn - had to go to sleep so missed the end..
obviously too early to be firing HC's but I think Dyce may be the first casualty of the season (i know it's just one game - we can speculate though)
I also went to bed, but the outcome didn't seem in doubt.
I wanted Duce and Ottawa to be successful, but we can't say that they're giving up too early or that he hasn't had enough time. This was a prove it season for them and if they can't pull it together...
Riders defence looked legit. Trevor Harris didn't look like the all star difference maker he's being made out to be. If Ouellette predictably injured early, but that's a good thing for the Riders as he's massively overrated.
Generally, both teams look like they'd be lucky to be the 3rd place finishers in their respective divisions.
Losing four starters in the first game of the season can't be good.
I think Oulette and Milligan were held out for concussion protocol. Not sure what the status of their LT and receiver ( Baker ) will turn out to be.
They started the season with 11 players on their IR. This won't help and it's never a good thing to see players injured.
" Emilus hauled in all eight passes thrown in his direction for 133 yards and a touchdown, which was scored in the end zone in double coverage. The Canadian pass-catcher averaged 16.6 yards per reception, including his longest of 33 yards."
Nice game for him.
Is Ottawa's secondary a bit on the weak side?
Ottawa defensive coordinator is William Fields
"On May 1, 2024, it was announced that Fields had been named (Argo) defensive co-coordinator in addition to retaining his duties as secondary coach. In his first year in this role, he helped the Argonauts to victory in the 111th Grey Cup game."
He Did a good job in The Grey Cup. He'll probably get the Ottawa defence going.
Shouldn't judge too harshly in week one but it looks like the same old Ottawa team. Way too many undisciplined penalties and they lost a very winnable game. Dru Brown limping around at the end of the game doesn't inspire confidence.
Riders looked like you'd expect for a team that's going through injury trouble early in the season. They found a way but probably shouldn't expect to win a lot of games with that level of execution.
a win in the first game of the season is still a win. Takes the first couple weeks into the season to see what teams are really made of. So 1 - 0 is a good way to look after trying to break of the rust and loosing 4 more starters. I might have to start learning all the new kids names for this year, if players keep dropping.
This is from last season
" The Ottawa REDBLACKS suffered a frustrating loss on Monday afternoon, falling 19-12 to the Montreal Alouettes.
The game was always within reach, but seemingly every time something positive happened for the visitors, a blow knocked them off the rails, whether it was a sack, turnover, or big penalty."
The don't ask how, just how many...
Within one score very late in the game, if your starting QB can go, he goes. We know that.
SSK concussion protocol room getting a workout. Not just starters, but some pretty important starters out...
Does Kadeem Carey get a call now?
OTT has an up and coming QB and maybe the best WR corps in the league, Brown went 34-41 for 413 and 2 Tds, 0 Ints. 26 yards rushing. I guess they know what they need to work on.
Bobby Dyce is a great guy on the sidelines, but I think he has the same issues his predecessor Lapo had, he's been promoted to his level of incompetence. Receivers coach, STC, he's great. 20 penalties says "not a head coach".
I think he'd be great here under MOS.
Riders have a good pass rush but Dru Brown needs to be more mobile, he's basically a pocket passer and he gets caught flat footed whenever a D-lineman breaks through. Condell needs to put him in motion and not present him as a stationary target, he won't last a season if he continually gets run over.
- I figured out what AJ stands for: Always inJured. Riderfans must be up in arms. It's the same story every season since leaving TOR. Time to go back to wrestling, where the hits are fake.
- Either SSK DL is beast, or OTT OL is stinky. Or both. Dru had no time after the 1st Q. So many untouched rushers, so many OL whiffs.
- Our OL will have to play their A game when we face SSK this season, and we'll have to be very balanced with the run.
- OTT had at least 2 great chances to win, but they couldn't keep Dru clean.
- Didn't help that OTT didn't have a run game (didn't even try). Haha, maybe that's because Rick Campbell is there now.
- SSK relies so heavily on the short game, as always.
- SSK is still the holding capital of the CFL. ST holding big time. Screen pass holding like crazy. Gotta shed the holds when playing SSK.
- I was right: strong side SSK DBs are weak, and most of OTT DBs are weak. This is how you attack those teams.
Quote from: Blue In BC on June 06, 2025, 01:33:15 PMI think Oulette and Milligan were held out for concussion protocol.
Later on Brit said both were "upper body injury". I'm not sure if they count "brain injury" as "upper body". I guess?
Oullette did appear to have his bell wrung and was woozy when he first got up. Which is strange as it didn't look like a bad head hit.
if you want to see this game in a condensed version - no ads, no replays except for big plays. every play is shown in under 45 mins,
https://youtu.be/4CgzwM93bls?si=_L8SLkSzQGKL3m5Y