Hey Rider Fans, There is Still Half a Season to Play Here

The bad was the inevitable Darian Durant injury, this time taking him out of the second half and leaving Tino Sunseri in the position of a lifetime. The Riders got their running game going, got a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown and got a punt return touchdown by Weston Dressler to put the Bumblers tentatively into next year country.

It may seem to be a broken record to call this a team victory, but the Riders 2014 version is very much the ideal of a team come to life.

There isn’t the whining you hear from Calgary with how they are unrecognized, the whining you hear from Loserpeg about how the refs favor you more than other teams. This edition of the Riders had the look going into Banjo Bowl of a team that was balanced enough to be a Grey Cup contender.

With the injury to Durant, the other teams have started to post obits on the Riders 2014 season. This is both frustrating and hilarious because the Riders are more than any one player on the roster. Durant ranks sixth overall in league passing, and his quarterback rating is barely ahead of Sunseri’s. What Durant brings to the table is leadership, and leadership is often demonstrated in action.

Indeed, I have no intention of moving off my prediction of Riders hoisting the Grey Cup for a second straight time in 2014 (and let’s be honest, I also see the Riders completing the hat trick in Loserpeg in 2015 – how is that for cocky?) and the Riders system will help Sunseri make that leap from back-up to starter.

If Durant has been asked to be a game manager this season and not do anything to turn the ball over either via fumble or interception, then Sunseri will be told he can do exactly the same. Sunseri will be told to rely on his players, in particular the offensive line and running backs to move the defense and reduce the Riders reliance on a passing game that has yet to take off.

With that being said, Sunseri will have to start doing extra film and throwing with his receivers to break that problem. If the Riders opponents get the idea all they have to do is stuff the box with players to stop the running game because Sunseri will not throw against them, then the Riders will run into problems and opportunities. What I like here is George Cortez will know what he is working with and having developed other quarterbacks like Dave Dickenson and Jeff Garcia, will take Sunseri down the steps he needs to take to be a better quarterback.

There was a third down gamble in the first quarter of the Banjo Bowl where Sunseri fumbled on a third down keep because he was trying hard to get a first down and forgot about ball security. Ball security will be something he will be told so much from here to the Grey Cup that if he will say Ball Security if he gets woken up in the middle of the night.

This is where things get interesting Rider fans, where we move forward on the basis of faith, and probably no small part prayer, but also an intelligent look at how the season has gone so far, and how far the Riders need to go to make this a most amazing season.

The Riders are lucky their next two opponents are eastern teams in Hamilton and Ottawa so Sunseri will not have to face a major defense problem. Hamilton has the better defense, and will blitz and do whatever they need to stop the running game, but they don’t have the players who have the ability to carry that out.
The Rider running game will continue to shine with their three headed monster and the most interesting player will be Jerome Messam.

When Neal Hughes returns from the injury list, he will take on the majority of the blocking and special teams responsibilities, but Messam has been moved out to a tight end position where his size reminds me of Ray Elgaard when he got the ball and turned up field to look for a defensive back to hit. Whether it is running or catching the ball, Messam may be the key to a rejuvenated Rider offense.

Dressler will continue to spark the offense and if Getzlaf gets off the injured list, the receiving corps could enjoy some consistency, but then again, Sunseri may find the guys he is comfortable with. If the Riders continue preaching and practicing ball security, then the defense and special teams will be able to contribute with touchdowns on their own, whether on returns, blocks, fumbles or interceptions.

The Riders will become even more of a team. Calgary will finish first, but the Riders are now focused on the only game that matters right now – the western final. Everything they do from here on in is predicated on doing their best on the western final to destroy the Calgary offense and frustrate their defense. Considering how Calgary is nothing but hot air, I can see this working.

So Rider fans, in short, while I have enjoyed watching the maturing of Darian Durant, this injury is another stage of an exceptional season and we are not done with Durant or the season. Durant may be available for the Grey Cup, and if he is, I wouldn’t say he would start, but if he is dressed, that would be a major psychological uplift for a team that quite frankly have been finding their inspiration from each other this season.

Sunseri or some combination of quarterbacks will be asked to bring us home. It is not going to be a walk in the park, but I’ll be honest, I’ll be shaking a bit with pride as I watch these guys play for each other and for us, the fans. From watching these guys in everything from practice to games to that god forsaken wilderness that was Winnipeg, I have seen them develop into the type of team that wins championships. I see no reason to back off from that now.

So this week let’s look at games that will take on more importance as the season heads into the second half.

Montreal goes to Edmonton and while Montreal had a great second half against Hamilton, I think that Edmonton is a better defense, even if slightly over-rated, and less likely to fold like Hamilton did like a cheap suit. Edmonton needs this one more.

Toronto at Calgary – Toronto is sharing first place, and will continue to share first place with Montreal as both teams stumble towards the eastern division title. Calgary is feeling very good about itself as it swept Edmonton and it wants to put some distance between itself and we in Saskatchewan. Let Calgary have this one because like we have seen, the only game that matters now is the next to last in November.

Winnipeg at BC – Winnipeg now feels its playoff chances have improved due to injuries to Darian Durant and Travis Lulay, the Lions QB whose return was botched by BC with another shoulder injury. BC is somewhat better positioned at back up with Kevin Glenn and I am sure that BC has photocopied the Winnipeg story and pasted it around the locker room. BC is the better if more inconsistent team and the Lions need to win to help keep their dream of a home Grey Cup berth alive. I pick BC by a field goal.

Saskatchewan at Hamilton – The Riders will continue to roll over their opposition, and I will say this team will be seriously pissed off at recent events in Winnipeg. The Riders will be doing what they can to ensure Sunseri is comfortable with the offense and will be taking notes to see what else he brings to the game. If the Riders get up far enough, look for Seth Dogge, the Riders new back-up, to see some action.

After Sunseri, there is no one currently on the roster who has thrown a pass and the Riders need to limit the exposure of their quarterbacks to injury and ensure they get the game action they need.

The Rider defense and special teams I would expect to contribute a touchdown or two, as the message is out the team needs everyone to contribute and if you get a change to make a play and take it to the house, do it because the team needs everyone to step forward.

I keep saying the Riders are a team of character and in this game we will start to see what kind of character they have.

by Riderville

Hey Rider Fans, There is Still Half a Season to Play Here

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