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Riders 36 – Stamps 21
It’s
a good thing this blog is in written format because my voice still isn’t
recovered completely yet from Friday night. What a way to open things up at
Mosaic!!! A killer entrance, a jacked up crowd over 35,000 strong and a big big
win against a tough rival.
I
won’t lie, I spent a lot of the first quarter cursing like a sailor. The O
couldn’t get much going. The D looked like Cortez had brought his defense from Hamilton
last year. But then both sides started to show signs of life in the second
quarter and even though we were down a TD going into half I was starting to
feel not bad. I was expect a tough as nails fight in the second half that would
come down to the wire. I was not expecting a complete domination of both sides
of the ball in the second… fortunately that’s what we were treated to. Which
was a good thing after we were forced to endure an incredibly poorly thought
out half time act. Seriously who approves these decisions?!? Let’s give a rowdy,
drunk, Friday night crowd SaskExpress. They will clearly appreciate their youthful
exuberance.
But
back to football, traditionally we are not a great team at half time
adjustments but Friday whatever they talked about in that lockerroom couldn’t
not have been more perfect. 22-0 in the second half. Calgary just had no answer
for what we were doing on both sides of the ball.
Mainly
it was Korey Sheets who they did not have an answer for. He ploughed over the
Stumps for over 100 yards in the 2nd half alone. He just simply
would not be stopped (especially on that TD where everyone but him thought he
was done). It’s nice to once again be one of those teams that when we have the
lead can just put the rock in our feature back’s hands and close out the game.
It
was a stark contrast to the Stamps who are used to doing that but saw us render
Cornish uncharacteristically ineffective. He was in good company though as the
Stamps didn’t really move the ball in the second half at all. At least this
time Cornish didn’t express his frustration by taking off his pants (I’m
guessing a few Rider fans expressed their happiness that night by doing so but
I digress). Secondary tightened things up including Prince Miller who shook off
his rookie raping to turn in a decent performance (which we needed given the
absence of Maze and Thomas).
So
much of what worried me heading into this game turned out to be for not. Our
small outside LBs were not a liability. Ben Heenan (and the OL as a whole)
showed well against Charleston Hughes. The Stamps weren’t able to eliminate
Sheets. It was great to see. It was also great see a team other than us shoot
themselves in the foot late in the game as the Stamps did with a Too Many Men
and then Unnecessary Roughness penalty to extend a key drive that should have ended
in a punt. Unlike the Als coaching staff that got called out by a very grumpy
old man, full credit to our coaches for a solid game.
Bottom
line is we went toe to toe with one of better teams in the league this year and
won in convincing fashion. It’s still early but you gotta be happy with what we
have seen so far.
A
few other random thoughts:
- Ricky
Foley showed some impressive speed on that play where he ran down Tate
- I
would have been happy with shutting down one of Hughes, Lewis or Cornish. To
nail the trifecta is outstanding
- Macho
Harris will have many more INTs this season. Really like his play.
- It’s
only been 2 games but the Cortez offense comes as potent as advertised.
- Especially
loved the balls shown in going for 2 point converts twice. Both were the
correct call, you just don’t often see it.
- Offensive
performance could have even been better if Riley hadn’t negated a tremendous
Taj Smith TD grab.
- Ricky
Schmitt is one hell of a kicker
- People
need to stop hyping Hefney… he gets so many tackles because he is in the trail
position constantly. We wisely picked on him throughout the game.
- Milo
is perfect, Getzlaf is consistent, Durant has no turnovers… what kind of
bizzaro world have we entered?
- Veterans
should not be allowed to change numbers… it’s too confusing for guys like me. I’m
talking to you Huclack and you Clark.
Bring
on the Argos.
5 comments:
What? You mean you didn't enjoy the well-groomed young go-getters of 'Hooray for Everything'b
I agree with almost everything you said. That Saskatchewan Express thing was absolutely stupid and I hope we are never subjected to such nonsensical idiocy EVER again! Bang on Prophet .. "who approves this crap". Great game. One of the best 2nd halfs the Riders have had in a season or two. (You will notice that my predicts are 0/4 for the week ..)
I really like the Saskatchewan Express but didn't think much of their song selection. Who cares about Montreal's fight song!
Dog shows SUCK! Children playing football suck. Children playing cheerleader suck. Tae Kwon Do sucks. I'll take a singer any day.
The crowd did seem to be into it though.
Can you tell me who keeps track of the designated imports during the game? Who watches when a designated import goes into a game to see if another import comes out? etc. etc.
Brent - Hooray for Everything and a tribute to the dancingest hemisphere would have been a step up
Jim - I (and many more) were with you in having a back week of picks... but I wasn't as bad as you :)
Ronbo - They should have given Sask Express next game as its Sunday afternoon and slightly less drunk and rowdy.
BDS - The sidelines refs have a list of the designated imports and DIs must check in with them before going in to play. The linesman then presumably checks that an import starter has gone off. For as much screws ups go on in your average game this is one aspect that almost never comes up. Some coaches can't count but import ratios are no problem.
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