Official 2012 Prophecies

Twas the day before the season and questions abounded

Would the Riders be good or once again get pounded?

Coach Chamblain was preparing the players with care

Not that we could see, since we’re not allowed in there

Tons of fireworks were nestled in the uprights with care

Since last year a reason to fire them off was rare

When who comes this way with thoughts on 2012?

Tis I the Rider Prophet… into my prediction will I delve

The anger and disappointment from last year’s gong show

Still hangs in the air and fills Riderville with woe

We’re all anxious to move on, and get back to winning

And replace cursing with rejoicing and grinning

A massive house cleaning took place within Mosaic’s walls

Young whiper snappers have replaced our old balls.

We cut some dead weight and got younger on both sides of the ball

Though Taman’s still here… guess I can’t win them all

Gone Fantuz, Gone Geno, it seems such a pity

But there have been good departures like Lucas and Dinwiddie

There’s optimism and renewed energy in the air

Though it remains to be seen how this new team will fare

On O it will be up to Durant to bounce back

Unlike last year, offensive weapons we don’t lack

We get Getz and Dress who are dangerous indeed

We’ve got Harper to add size and Moss to add speed

Rob Bagg is back and that’s the biggest news of all

He’ll be in contention for top Canuck if we just get him the ball

1000 yds for Dressler, 1000 more for Bagg

Less yards for Getzlaf but the most TDs will he snag.

The new fangled offense has stuff we’ve forgotten about my friends

What’s this? An O-line that doesn’t need Depends?

An RB running off tackle? A centre who can snap?!?

Did I doze off in a dream?!? Am I having a nap?!?

This is all real you haven’t been dozing

With Coach Sweet in the mix out run game will be imposing

Unfortunately the D has me a lot more concerned

For some reason I see us getting repeatedly burned.

Odell should help provide us something we lack

A tangible hope of getting a sack

That’s assuming he stays healthy and decides to stay sober

And assuming he doesn’t get homesick come October

A front four will be better, they won’t make me curse

We tried Mullinder and Murphy last year, not like we can get worse

At LB on the edges, Kromah and Brackenridge we will be fine with

They will continue the proud tradition of great LBs by Coach Smith

In the middle, however is where things start to get scary

Shomari in that spot makes me very wary

He’s lacking the experience though he’s got the physique

For the first little while the middle will be weak

But he will get better and be steadily improved

Though fans will be calling for him to be removed

The secondary is the weakest link of them all

A tough road lies ahead for Coach Richie Hall

Chamblain will want aggression, he will want mean

But it will take the DBs a while to adjust to the new schemes.

Patrick will surely return to all-star form

Eddie Russ getting burned may become the norm

Some DBs will be benched and new guys get a shot

And that is when things will improve a lot

We will struggle out of the gates and end up 2 and 4

Please don’t suck again! the fans will implore

It won’t always be pretty but the team will keep fighting

Chamblain will be making adjustments and ship will be righting

Come the highly anticipated Labour Day clash,

We will have an even record and no longer be trash

We’ll knock out Buck Pierce and win the big game

Next week at Banjo Bowl we come up lame

An up and down season, win one then lose

Our biggest winning streaks will come in no more than twos

We won’t always be gracious in our defeats

Didn’t like beer cans BC? Wait until we throw seats

A 9-9 season is what I see in store

Which will be just good enough to sneak in the playoff door

A third place finish so it’s off to face the Stamps

Donning our white jerseys with logos fit for tramps.

Tate may not be Burris but he’ll choke like he was

A big day for the defense will seal the win and create a buzz

Then the bandwagon will keep heading west

For a date with BC, the CFL’s best

The game will be closer than most expect 

We’ll go up early but the lead won’t protect

The Lions will move on but will not repeat

We will hold our heads high but suffer defeat

After a disastrous 2011, we will come a long way

But it will take this team time to go all the way

Though a 9-9 finish may be disappointing to some

The foundation will be laid but the best is yet to come

So as I end this prophecy, thus shall be proclaimed

“Riders make us proud… or at least less ashamed!”