Riders Got Diapers Checked Against Eskimos

It was a game that was at times brutal to watch, with more flags than at a Putin takeover of an eastern European country.

The Riders 31-24 game was interesting for the novelty value of the first exhibition game and the novelty of seeing the game played in Fort MacMurray in a 15,000 seat high school stadium.  It was also interesting for the comment from Rider Coach Cory Chamblin, which may set some kind of weird standard for the 2015 season.

Chamblin said some players were “filling their diapers” in that first exhibition game, which is not a picture you want to dwell on, but wonder if it will be applicable to the team later on in the season or even the head coach and his staff.

The cuts the next day made it somewhat clear where the club is going. The first and biggest name was backup quarterback Tino Sunseri who looked like a Fort Mac deer caught in the headlights of an oil company tanker coming down the highway. Now to be fair to Sunseri, by the time he took the field in the fourth quarter, the Riders were putting in back-ups while the Godless Edmonton Eskimos has their first string defense in, looking to set a new record for being jerks.

In contrast to quarterback Brent Smith, who improvised a touchdown in the third quarter that was quite pretty to watch, Sunseri did not show that after three years, he had been able to read defenses any better than when he had started.  When your offensive coordinator is seen on camera on the sideline saying you have to be faster, it was pretty much the final nails in Sunseri’s Rider career coffin.

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Overall, the offensive line has some work to do. The main focus before the game was the battle at centre between Cory Watman and Dan Clark. Apparently Clark did well, but it was hard to tell from the number of Eskimos getting into the Rider backfield. Of more concern was the play of the American tackles.

This is where the loss of Ben Heenan comes to bit us in the rear end. Heenan helped with the roster numbers, but he was also familiar with the Canadian game. The plan to play two American tackles looks good on paper, but only if they are as good as Heenan. So far the jury is out on that one and Calgary is in town on Friday.

Eltoro Freeman was a name I wasn’t expecting to pop up in the cuts, nor was Ryan Wellman. Freeman was around the ball a lot but hadn’t been around football for a few years, so time caught up with him. Wellman is 6’6” and had a pass knockdown against Edmonton, but despite putting on extra weight to handle the line or linebacker duties, did not apparently pick up the speed that was needed with it.

The Riders have some interesting questions regarding Steven Miller, their projected slash running back who did not show much against Edmonton. While the Riders will likely give Miller another shot, it should be noted that Jock Saunders was cut by Calgary for supposedly refusing to go into Calgary’s first exhibition game. The Stamps overpaid for Saunders, but if he has ended his habit of putting the football on the turf in the most crucial moments, Saunders would be a good add at a reduced salary to the Riders.

In terms of receivers, Naaman Roosevelt and Greg Hardin showed up well, creating room with their speed. That leaves the question of what do the Riders do with Jamal Richardson? The team seems eager to provide him with a chance to make the team, maybe in fourth to sixth receiver spot, but you have to be impressed with how the kids are doing and ask exactly what we are getting with Richardson.

The release of Wellman, who physically always struck me as an idea outside linebacker or a down lineman, means Rider draft pick and son of former CFL hall of famer Rod Connop, Ron Connop, is closer to making the team. Connop is one of those with great football instincts if not quite the body to act on them. If Connop can work out and fill out and still be able to use those instincts, then the Riders will be looking good in terms of a Canadian starter on the defensive line and a back-up.

The line-backing situation seems to be okay with Shea Emry in the middle. What is making things complicated is the injury to Tyrone Brackenridge. Brackenridge can and has flipped between linebacker and safety, but if the Riders see a Canadian safety worth cultivating, it would bring Brackenridge down to create havoc along the line of scrimmage. It is sort of an interesting problem to have, and there is no sign that Brackenridge will be ready Friday against Calgary.

What may be settled is the kicking situation, which hasn’t been settled yet. The Riders indicated Tuesday they would like either one guy to handle field goals, punts and kick offs or two guys to handle the three jobs, but show a lot of consistency. Apparently that hasn’t happened yet, although the word is Ray Early is the guy to watch as a deep punter and hopefully good kick off guy.

So with the offensive line yet to be settled, the running back situation less than inspiring and the defensive backfield in a state of flux, not including the kicking conundrums, you would have to make Calgary the early favorite Friday in a game not to be televised.  It all depends on how much Chamblin wants to emulate Chris Jones and go for the win and how back the Riders soil their diapers for this game.