GDT OTT @ SSK 8pm Thu Jun 5, 2025

[Jesse]

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.

[blue_gold_84]

Losing four starters in the first game of the season can't be good.

[Blue In BC]

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.

[markf]

" 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.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

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.

[jayrock]

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.

[markf]

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."

[theaardvark]

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.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

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.

[TecnoGenius]

- 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.

[TecnoGenius]

I 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.

[The Zipp]

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