Official Game Day Thread - Sask. at Winnipeg, May 24, 2025

[blue_gold_84]

I am curious as to what everyone thinks about the Riders this year? From what I have read on various sites and articles they appear to be somewhat improved this year. I have not followed much in detail but some of the neutral sites seem to think they may be the ones to beat in the West. What do you guys think?

I recall similar commentary prior to the season in 2024. And 2023. And 2022. And 2021.

The "improved on paper" narrative seems to be a common one for the Riders, IMO.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I recall similar commentary prior to the season in 2024. And 2023. And 2022. And 2021.

The "improved on paper" narrative seems to be a common one for the Riders, IMO.

I think you have to give Mace credit for improvements they've made, they are making some smart off-season moves and will likely be better this year than they were last year, as will the Stamps and the Elks.

[blue_gold_84]

I think you have to give Mace credit for improvements they've made...

They finished one game above .500 (9-8-1) last season due in large part to an ugly skid of seven straight losses. And then got absolutely embarrassed in the West Final.

Credit would be given in the event they improve on that mediocre record. Until then, improvement on paper has the same weight as the paper on which it's written, IMO.

[blue_or_die]

Lots of battles and/or gameplay to be interested in tomorrow.

DL - logjam of rotational DTs, how Vaughters does (although won't know that until live fire)

OL - RT and LG. I predict Randolph and Eli, with Wallace as 6th

Rec - Lawler and Wilson vacancies = Wheatfall, Mitchell, White battles. I'm irrationally confident in all of them so looking forward to that.

QB - speaks for itself given the game 1 situation

LB - Wilson and Ayers for WIL (although I want to see Ayers win the starting job and use Wilson for packages); keeping up with the Jones' in the middle

DB - Can we "replace" Ford or do we need to hide someone there with minimal exposure?

I haven't had time to keep up with camp unfortunately so I feel very out of the loop, so I'm happy for some pleasant surprises and some riddles perhaps solved tomorrow.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Blue Bombers Depth Chart

Pregame Preview

Roughriders Depth Chart

Here we go!

Dylan Mitchell behind Wheatfall. Sterns positive reviews translating into what looks like a rewarding spot on depth chart one.

Looks like we've cleared out safety to get a good look at Parker vs Allen. Appears to be a legit dead heat competition there.

Bonds at boundary corner. Ayers in tough. I'm not sure what to make at Wilson at the top of Will. Don't love it. Jonathan Jones at MLB is surely not the reason we signed him?

Randolph at RT will be an interesting watch. Eli and Wallace too.

Note on the Riders: The A team is coming.

[Blueforlife]

Here we go!

Dylan Mitchell behind Wheatfall. Sterns positive reviews translating into what looks like a rewarding spot on depth chart one.

Looks like we've cleared out safety to get a good look at Parker vs Allen. Appears to be a legit dead heat competition there.

Bonds at boundary corner. Ayers in tough. I'm not sure what to make at Wilson at the top of Will. Don't love it. Jonathan Jones at MLB is surely not the reason we signed him?

Randolph at RT will be an interesting watch. Eli and Wallace too.

Note on the Riders: The A team is coming.

Wilson if healthy will have a whale of a year.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Wilson if healthy will have a whale of a year.

His last good season was in 2019 and that was, not coincidentally, his last healthy season. You've been saying that quite literally for the past five years.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Here we go!

Dylan Mitchell behind Wheatfall. Sterns positive reviews translating into what looks like a rewarding spot on depth chart one.

Looks like we've cleared out safety to get a good look at Parker vs Allen. Appears to be a legit dead heat competition there.

Bonds at boundary corner. Ayers in tough. I'm not sure what to make at Wilson at the top of Will. Don't love it. Jonathan Jones at MLB is surely not the reason we signed him?

Randolph at RT will be an interesting watch. Eli and Wallace too.

Note on the Riders: The A team is coming.

Wouldn't put any stock in a pre-season depth chart, it hardly means anything during the regular season. Confirms they are on the roster, position and pecking order to be determined on the fly!

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Wouldn't put any stock in a pre-season depth chart, it hardly means anything during the regular season. Confirms they are on the roster, position and pecking order to be determined on the fly!

Agree that things will change but disagree that it doesn't mean anything. There's logic being applied.

[Jesse]

Agree that things will change but disagree that it doesn't mean anything. There's logic being applied.

Yup. I personally think we've been told the starting OL.

[blue_or_die]

Here we go!

Dylan Mitchell behind Wheatfall. Sterns positive reviews translating into what looks like a rewarding spot on depth chart one.

Looks like we've cleared out safety to get a good look at Parker vs Allen. Appears to be a legit dead heat competition there.

Bonds at boundary corner. Ayers in tough. I'm not sure what to make at Wilson at the top of Will. Don't love it. Jonathan Jones at MLB is surely not the reason we signed him?

Randolph at RT will be an interesting watch. Eli and Wallace too.

Note on the Riders: The A team is coming.

So it'll be like playing a B team

Also, forgot about Sterns in my post above for the rec sort-out.

[Blueforlife]

His last good season was in 2019 and that was, not coincidentally, his last healthy season. You've been saying that quite literally for the past five years.

I am happy if he plays half the year.  We are in a great situation if he plays 3/4.  If he plays all the games, he is a top contributer imo.  Just like Jeffcoat, while injury prone, worth the risk.  We have depth behind him, non issue handled internally (good mix of vets, cdns, prospects in camp).  I am allowed to be hopefully he breaks the trend and yes you are allowed to be worried about it.  Not likely he plays all the games but don't write him off before the season starts.  Similar situation with Kane for the Oil, worth the wait.

I disagree that 2019 was his last good season.  That's his last full season and yes, his best.  Everytime he is on the field, not rusty and healthy he is a beast.  A game changer.  Can't all be iron men.  2023 very good stats in ten games.

He is a joy to watch.  If he get seriously nicked early my tune changes on a dime. 

Like I said if healthy, he will have a a whale of year.  I am going under the assumption he plays 3/4 of the games and is healthy for the big show.

[Waffler]

Note on the Riders: The A team is coming.

We are starting mostly vets too. That makes sense to look good for the home fans but why is Sask doing it?  I am convinced Mace wants to send an early message. Much more usual to start the newer players that you want to look at on the road as Edm is doing against their rival in Calgary.

[Pete]

Wouldn't put any stock in a pre-season depth chart, it hardly means anything during the regular season. Confirms they are on the roster, position and pecking order to be determined on the fly!

yeah and O'Shea will always list the vet as the starter even if he's not expected to get the majority of reps

[ModAdmin]

Game Preview: Preseason #1 | SASK at WPG

Preseason 1: Roughriders at Blue Bombers
The Basics

Kickoff: Saturday, May 24th, 3 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium
TV/Streaming: CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB

....The club has starter openings at the following starting positions:

Left guard (Liam Dobson): The Blue Bombers are looking for a replacement here for the second straight year after Liam Dobson left for Hamilton over the winter, one season after he replaced Geoff Gray.

Tui Eli, Gabe Wallace and Micah Vanterpool have all been getting work there in camp as the coaching staff mulls over keeping the job Canadian with Eli or Wallace, or going to three Americans up front in Vanterpool, Stanley Bryant and either Eric Lofton or Kendall Randolph at right tackle.

Receivers (two spots — Kenny Lawler, Pokey Wilson): There will technically be three changes to this crew with Drew Wolitarsky joining Lawler in Hamilton — along with Wilson now with the New York Jets — although Kevens Clercius had replaced an injured Wolitarsky for a chunk of last year.
Nic Demski, Clercius and Dalton Schoen are locks to start and what happens through the two preseason games will be massive with a ton of pass catchers all in the fight here.
Returnees Keric Wheatfall, Myron Mitchell and Kody Case have all had excellent camps and they're joined by CFL vets Reggie White, Jr., Dillon Mitchell and Jerreth Sterns along with some impressive newcomers like Jaylen Hall, Keilahn Harris and Bryson Daughtry. That's a lot of bodies for just a couple of gigs.

Cornerback (Tyrell Ford): Bridges — as indicated above — appears to be the leading candidate to line up opposite Terrell Bonds. Tay Gowan has been out there, too, along with Russell Dandy, Trey Vaval and Isaiah Avery. Bridges' familiarity with the defence and his versatility would seem to have him in the lead

Safety (Brandon Alexander): With B.A. now a guest coach in camp before transitioning to a role as an Amateur Football Ambassador with the club the defence needs a new set of eyes in the last line of the defence. Jamal Parker, Jr., who missed last year with a knee injury but who had become a regular at the end of 2023, has been getting a lot of reps at the spot, along with newcomer Cam Allen....

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/05/23/game-preview-preseason-1-sask-at-wpg/