My aluminum pole is ready, I am all
stretched and ready for the feats of strength but first its time for the best
part of Festivus… the airing of grievances. As it has been said many times over
the years, “I got a lotta
problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it!”. This mostly
CFL related grievances but some of my own petty annoyances are sprinkled in the
there as well.
-The fact that despite a history of fines for illegal
hits so long it now needsa second page, the league has yet to see fit to suspend Micah Awe continues to flabbergast and
enrage me. Based on tangible evidence he is the most dangerous player in the
CFL and no one seems to care.
-Nelson Lokombo…. That's the grievance.
-CFL Command Centre actually intervened to overturn the
result of a game that had finished… still find that hard to fathom.
-The Riders proudly announced the return of $5 pre-game
beer only to drastically reduce where and for how long you can get it.
-Speaking of the Riders if you look up the exact same
merchandise on opposing team websites you will find that the Riders charge way
more than other teams. I’m sure they only gouge out of love.
-People who spend a long time in line at a coffee or
fast food place only to get to the front of the line and have no clue what they
are going to order. We need a coffee shop equivalent of the Soup Nazi. “Large,
coffee, black”… any more words than that and “No coffee for you!”
-If you wait in line for a free sample at Costco,
blocking the aisles in the process, know that I hate you and wish ill upon you
and your family.
-How painfully slow the process of ordering a drink at
the Rider games is. I’m paying a week’s wages for this drink the least you
could do is not also take a week to get it to me.
-Tied to that is my repeated call to bring back the
beer tokens and 4 drink options. This isn’t a high class affair. Beer, pink
drink, rye or rum. If you want a drink badly enough one of those will do.
-The wave on offense. Pretty good year for that overall
but I know it lies lurking in the shadows just waiting to jump out and annoy me
at any time.
-Video replays or penalty calls that take forever.
There needs to be a time limit. If you can’t figure it out quickly then obviously
it wasn’t clear and obvious, move on.
-How little effort the Riders put into theme games or
halftime shows. Can’t wait for Agriculture Appreciation night featuring some
band you have never heard off.
I hope everyone has a Happy Festivus. I also hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwazy Kwanza, a tip-top Tet and a solemn, dignified Ramadan.
With the signing of Trevor Harris
our offense is starting to take shape. With that in mind let’s take a look at
the offense as we head into free agency.
Who’s Signed
Trevor Harris, AJ Oulette, Kian
Schaefer-Baker, Keeshean Johnson, Ajou Ajou, Sam Emilus, Dhonte Myers, Shawn
Bane, Jemarcus Hardrick, Jacob Brammer, Trevor Reid, Zack Fry, Logan Ferland
Who’s Not Signed
Shea Patterson, Ryquell Armstead,
Mitch Picton, Jerreth Sterns, Trevon Tate, Ryan Sceviour, Peter Godber, Philip
Blake
What Looks Good
At This Point
We could build a decent starting
offense with what we already have locked up. There will be lots of continuity
heading into year 2 of Mace/Mueller. With Reid and Brammer we have 2 young quality
import lineman (something we haven’t had in years). Depth at Canadian WR is strong
with Baker, Emilus, Duncan-Busby and Ajou. We also have lots of guys who became
first time starters in 2023 and held their own. Could see some real growth in
them in year 2. Guys like: Johnson, Myers, Ajou, Duncan-Busby, Reid, Brammer
and Fry.
What Still Needs
Work
When I look at our pending offensive
FAs one name jumps out… Peter Godber. Yes we survived without him but if we
want to thrive he is a key piece to solidify that line. Depth at Canadian OL is
also next to non-existent at this point.
We also need a back-up QB. The
organization is very high on Jack Coan. I’m honestly 50/50 on whether they
bring Patterson back. But regardless there needs to be a legit competition
behind Harris come May.
The big news in Riderville this
week was also the leats surprising news. Trevor Harris was signed to a one year
extension. If you were surprised by this move you either haven’t been paying
attention or have been willfully deluding yourself. Given Harris’ age, for him,
any extension that doesn’t require the assistance of pharmaceuticals is a win.
There are a number of reasons why
this happened (listed in order of importance):
1 – Trevor
Harris Is Good
When healthy he was damn good in 2024.
Obviously the first 2 words of that line impose a massive caveat but Harris
threw 3200 yards and 20 TDs (compared to just 9 INTs) in 12 games. Over an 18
game season that would be 4800 yards and 30 TDs. He started in 7 of our 9 wins.
He proved he is still a starting caliber QB.
2 – Stability
and Consistency
2024 was a season of change.
Purging all the stench of failure from the Dickenson era. New offensive
philosophy. New defensive philosophy. New leadership amongst the players. It
worked. We improved from a team that could not find the playoffs even if someone
hid them in a bowling alley to hosting and winning a home playoff game and
finishing as a top 4 team. The changes worked. We want to continue to build on
that foundation not seek our more massive changes. A new QB is a massive change
that has potential to disrupt our upward momentum.
3 – Leadership
Harris is a true professional and
an unquestioned leader in that locker room. He sets a high standard on and off
the field. He embodies what Coach Mace wants to see in this team. Leaders like
Harris help set the culture for the team and while intangible its important to
winning franchises.
4 – What else
were they going to do?
Adams was off the market. Despite
everyone’s pipe dreams Tre Ford was never leaving Edmonton. That left Harris as
far and away the best free agent QB on the market. The only other starting
options were old man Bethel-Thompson (swapping one old man for a worse old man
makes no sense) and Maier (back-up maybe, starter, please no).
There is also Cody Fajardo but that would require a trade with
Montreal and is not guaranteed. The irony of a fan base that was all to happy
to see Fajardo go 2 years ago pinning for him to return is not lost on me. Also,
if we want to knock of Harris’ durability consider that Fajardo played just one
more game in 2024.
I fully support keeping Harris.
With two conditions: 1 – I am assuming his contract has a lower base salary and
is more incentive based. If he can play 18 games then he deserves to be paid
like a top 3 QB… but given that he hasn’t played 18 games in a season since
2015, it’s a pretty big risk to assume that will happen and pay him big
guarantees. 2 – we need a quality back-up. At a minimum I expect whoever is #2
to start 2 games in 2025, maybe more.I
still believe that Patterson has more upside (how quick we are to forget how
banged up we were during his starts and how many beautifully thrown balls our
receivers ineptly dropped for him). But his progression is slow enough that you
may want to look at other options.
In other Rider news…
LB Coach JC Sherritt is headed back
to Edmonton to be the DC. Sucks to lose a talented coach but that’s the price
you pay for employing quality people. No one was lining up to poach the likes
of Kelly Jeffrey… is that the quality of staff you want instead?
Last but not least DL Charbel
Dabire also signed an extension. This signing will not get a ton of hype but it
should. I have been on the Charbel Dabire hype train since his rookie season.
He is a quality Canadian player that can make an impact along the D-line when
called upon. He had 2 sacks in 4 games in 2024 before succumbing to injury.
Happy to have him continue his career in Saskatchewan.
It’s
the season of holidays and tradition. American Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Grey
Cup ending in Bomber tears and the Rider Prophet Award. Unlike other family
traditions this one has no risk of awkward political conversations, drunk
uncles or high credit card bills.
Every
year we end the CFL season by honouring all things that I unilaterally deem
noteworthy. This year’s award winners will receive an interception delivered by
Zach Collaros (I know, it seems everyone has one of those but in this economy its
all I can afford).
Let’s
get to the awards.
Best Player Name
I
debated long and hard about this one but in the end there really was no other option.
A younger, less mature (relatively speaking) Prophet would have awarded this
name out of principle. But the older more mature (relatively speaking) Prophet is
awarding this namenot because I think
there is anything inherently funny about the name but because of how nervous the prospect
of him making the active roster and how possible a career ending Freudian-slip happening to
an announcer was. The winner… Diego Fagot.
Referee
Ben Major has always been a beloved CFL figure. Solid at his job, tough as they
come, all around good guy. Well this year he added one the of the CFL’s most quotable
figures to his resume.
At
a game in BC Place a punt hit the jumbotron. Major proceeded to make the call
of the year. “The kick hit the scoreboard…which is pretty odd. We’re going to
redo everything.” . That alone wins him the award. But then it happened again later in the season and the camera panned to Major with great anticipation for his call… he just
laughed and said “The kick hit the scoreboard… again”.
Previous Winners: Craig Dickenson x2, Tom
Velessi,Cody Fajardo, Dave Dickenson,Kavis
Reed/Jacques Chapdelaine, Greg Quick,Solomon Elimimian, Ed Hervey,
Joe Mack, Henry Burris, Eddie Johnson, Jason Clermont, Mike Abou-Mechrek x2
Play of the Year
Ben
Major is so good at life he’s going to become a double award winner and the
first non-football play to win this award.
The
Grey Cup is the biggest sporting event in Canada. It usually starts with a very
routine coin toss. But this time around Major handed the coin to the tosser
before actually getting the call from the players and had to abort the coin
toss mid toss and try again. In true Ben Major fashion, he handled it like a
pro.
Botched Call of the Year
As
much as we like to rag on them, the CFL refs do a damn good job of a very
difficult task most of the time. All the controversy that erupted this year over
the CFL Command Centre, just makes me more and more of the opinion that we just
leave things to the refs actually on the field. They may not be perfect but
honestly despite all their human limitations they are more consistent (and
correct) usually than the Command Centre.
That
brings us to the botched call of the year. It will come as no surprise to Rider
fans that the Ottawa game that was over before the Command Centre inexplicably
decided they needed to intervene to assess a penalty that never should have
been assessed (just ask the onfield refs that got it right). It’s kinds like when
you think you should do home plumbing renos by yourself. You shouldn’t be in that situation.
You are probably going to screw it up and everyone will be worse for your efforts….
That the 2024 Command Centre.
Most Insulted Sports Figure
Going
to cut right to the chase and add one more insult to the year’s tally… Nelson
Lokombo sucks. The only things he excelled at were arriving late to a play,
leaving the middle wide open, and managing to have the least impact of anyone I’ve
seen despite being a fulltime starter. I spent the season airing my grievances
and will continue to do so should he be back as starting safety in 2025.
Previous Winners: Craig Dickenson, Riders O-line, Riders Offensive Tackles,
John Ryan, Brandon Bridge, Steve McAdoo, The Riders Secondary, Any Rider QB not
named Durant, Pat Neufeld, Chris Getzlaf, Ryan Dinwiddie, Jim Daley, Michael
Bishop x 2, Marcel Bellefeuille
Fans’ Choice Douchebag of the Year
This
is one of my favourite annual traditions on this blog. First of all an award
for being a douchebag is just such a great concept. Second, I love that it’s
100% voted on by the fans. This season with a strong 60% majority, your Douchebag
of the Year is Chad Kelly. To be suspended at all in the CFL means you done
real bad (that or you did something marginal but you’re a Rider and there were
too much online outrage for the CFL to ignore, but I digress). Kelly earned himself
a 9 game suspension and lawsuit because he was a uber douchebag towards a
female member of the Als’ staff. I still don’t know how the front office
(Pinball, John Murphy etc…) that knew about the bad behaviour and actively threw
their support behind the perpetrator as opposed to the victim have avoided any
kind of consequence but Kelly is definitely a douche and worthy of the honour
you have bestowed on him.
Previous Winners: Craig Reynolds/Jeremy O’Day/Craig Dickenson Garett
Marino, Andrew
Harris, Simoni Lawrence, Jason Maas x2, Cory Chamblin, Chris Jones, Jon Cornish
x2, Henry Burris, Dwight Anderson, Mike Kelly, Jason Jimenez, Rob Murphy
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