Friday night the Riders close out the regular as we the
fans kickoff another year at Mosaic (err… old Mosaic… Mosaic Classic... New
Mosaic’s less attractive older sister… they need to come up with something to
make this easier for me). The hated Stampeders are in town, it’s a Friday night
game, and it’s a preseason game… I have a sneaking suspicious levels of
inebriation will be quite high. Not that I would know anything about that.
Unlike the first game which was primarily about evaluation,
this game will mostly be about ensuring the starters are in synch and ready to
go next week. But fear not, for those of you who enjoy seeing the exact moment
someone seals their fate as a cut, the 4th quarter will feature a
lot of players on the bubble. Time you drinking intake well so that by the 4th
quarter you can find the drop in playing level entertaining as opposed to
depressing.
The first game answered some questions (such as: Was Tino
the problem or Cortez?) but there are many more that will need to be answered.
Here is what I will be looking for:
- Also
hoping we can prove we have a solitary O-lineman outside the starting 5 that is
worthy of even being on a roster. No way we get through a full season without a
starter missing some time. It would ease my mind to see at least one guy show
he can hold his own if thrust into action… especially at tackle. We looked like
a hot mess last game so hopefully we can settle down a bit and not look
dumfounded every time there is a blitz.
- Tough,
tough decisions to be made at import receiver. Dressler is a lock. After that
there are 2 starting spots and 1 (maybe 2) back-up spots and Taj, Richardson,
Hardin, Roosevelt, Ryan Smith. Taj and Richardson are pencilled in as starters
but aren’t locks just yet (especially Richardson… but by now you know my
thoughts on that)
- If the
season started today it sounds like Telvion Clark, Emry and Macho would be the
LBs. Doughty, Knox and Steward are still in the mix too. Performance on Friday
will be key for the future of the new guys.
- Starting
DBs sound like Green, Maze, Brack, Brown and Jackson but Hollins is making a
push for a starting role too. Brack sounds on track to be healthy for Game 1
but a strong showing by MacDougall and Webster in this game will really give me
confidence in our depth there.
- I
still think Milo will be our kicker with Early punting but other possibilities
include Early doing all 3 jobs or O’Neil replacing one of those. Chamblin
want’s consistency so anyone who wants to stick on or roster as a kicker had
better not screw up on Friday (kicking out of bounds:
that’s a cutting, bouncing it off the uprights: that’s a cutting, cutting in
line: you better believe that's a cutting).
I will
just be happy to be back in the stands, amongst the usual cast of crazies,
cheering. It may only be preseason but I can’t wait for Bring Em Out!
Lastly,
since this is the preseason I will once again be playing the Official Rider
Prophet Preseason Drinking Game and I encourage you to play along… unless you
need to drive or function coherently the next morning. Here are the rules.
Enjoy and see you in the stands!
Rules
1. Every dropped pass or fumbled you drink
2. Every time the announcer screws up drink
3. Drink two if a flag bearer is out of formation during pre-game
4. Every time count, illegal formation, no yards, offside penalty you drink. Two if its on the Riders Double if its too many men.
5. Every TV Timeout you drink. (note: the game is not televised but I realize they have the timeout anyway... but hey this is a drinking game after all)
6. If someone calls for a fair catch you shot-gun a beer
7. If a player who is not dressed gets credit for a stat or penalty you drink.
8. If a cheerleader falls you drink
9. If an O-lineman scores a TD, pound 2 drinks (traditionally this is the Jordan Sisco rule but I had to find a replacement after we mercifully parted ways with him)
1. Every dropped pass or fumbled you drink
2. Every time the announcer screws up drink
3. Drink two if a flag bearer is out of formation during pre-game
4. Every time count, illegal formation, no yards, offside penalty you drink. Two if its on the Riders Double if its too many men.
5. Every TV Timeout you drink. (note: the game is not televised but I realize they have the timeout anyway... but hey this is a drinking game after all)
6. If someone calls for a fair catch you shot-gun a beer
7. If a player who is not dressed gets credit for a stat or penalty you drink.
8. If a cheerleader falls you drink
9. If an O-lineman scores a TD, pound 2 drinks (traditionally this is the Jordan Sisco rule but I had to find a replacement after we mercifully parted ways with him)
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