Blood Moon Gives Riders New Hope

The Riders go to BC this week while Winnipeg has a bye. Then the Riders go to Hamilton, Edmonton comes here, then the Riders wind up on the road with Calgary and end the season in Montreal.

I would expect the Riders to beat BC this week while Montreal is going on a short week into Ottawa, who lost to Toronto – perhaps a victim of overconfidence after winning three games in a row. It will be interesting to see how Hamilton does against Calgary without Zach Collaros. There was talk the Riders might trade Kevin Glenn to Hamilton, but with the Rider season still alive, and Hamilton likely unwilling to pay a price for Glenn, if Jeff Matthews sucks as Collaros’ back-up, then the Riders might have a shot against Hamilton.

Edmonton has Mike Reilly in a knee brace who doesn’t look that sharp. Put him in front of a Rider home crowd with playoff fever, a win here is not out of the question. A game in Calgary is essentially a home game for Saskatchewan and Montreal is tough for the Riders to win in, but not impossible.

So it is possible, but it will be difficult for the Riders to run the table for a 7-11 record that might clinch a play-off spot. With the Riders being aggressive in all phases of their game, sustaining that for five more games is asking a lot, but momentum is a funny thing and when you see how bad Winnipeg and BC are, and Montreal is looking to implode, then anything is possible.

First let’s talk the BC game. The first two games against BC were close but Travis Lulay was at the controls. It looks like John Jennings or whatever the BC third stringer is calling himself these days is at the controls. Andrew Harris may be out with broken ribs but the Lions have helped themselves at defense with Rennie Curran being added and likely more comfortable with the defense and their special teams have been bailing the offense out.

The Riders can expect an all-out attack from the Lion defence and every effort to spring their special teams to score touchdowns their offense is probably incapable of. Even if the Lions get ahead, they give up leads easily, much as we do, so it comes down to which team is mentally and emotionally tougher. If the Riders put pressure on the Lions and keep in the game, the more I see us moving within a game of third place in the west.

That may be as close as we get, but it will be nice to dream this week for a change eh? The Riders are caught between wanting to try out some youngsters, and yet are still alive in the playoff chase. The coaching staff has responded by ensuring everyone is taking part in the walk through, shows up for practice, building a team atmosphere that was lacking under the fear laid down by former Rider Coach Cory Chamblin.

The rumor mill continues this week with news that former Montreal head coach Tom Higgins has applied to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Higgins did a not bad job in Montreal, but he may not be the sexy purchase some Rider fans might want. A fair number of Rider fans were monitoring the Baltimore Ravens game and wondering if Marc Trestman might shake loose if the Ravens continue to lose. Then again, there is talk of Eric Tillman coming back.

In the words of the immortal Bill Murray who celebrated his 65th birthday this past week from his first hit Meatballs – It Just Doesn’t Matter. What matters is we won’t share the record with Hamilton for worst regular season record, although the Rider record is still on the table.

It was interesting that John Chick addressed the players before the game and told them they could write perhaps the greatest football story in recent memory. It may well be too little too late and the odds may seem against the Riders, but the Riders have managed to limp into the playoffs before and made some damage. The question with this team is that it plays better than a 2-11 team but it seems many in the CFL aren’t seeing past the record.

Consider this comment by Jacques Dussault, the colour commentator of the Montreal Allouettes. He said prior to the game he hoped the Riders could give his team a good game. If other teams are thinking the same way, then the Riders could make a push.

So while we can thank the Blood Moon for bring the Riders victory, let’s how things shape up for this week.

On Thursday Montreal goes to Ottawa and on paper Montreal has the better defense. But Montreal is playing on a short week and considering how Ottawa choked against Toronto, they will be looking for redemption. I consider Jim Popp to be a good GM but a lousy coach after two earlier efforts in the position. I expect him to continue that tradition even though Montreal seems to be an early favorite – Ottawa 23-21.

We have an interesting game on Friday and you could say it’s a Grey Cup preview, but that was before Zach Collaros went down in action. No one knows how Hamilton will respond; will Jeff Matthews be able to respond like Kent Austin wants? The pressure is on Hamilton’s defense and special teams, and the psychological hold Tim Hortons Field had on opponents is gone. I’m going out on a limb because Hamilton’s defense and special teams are that good – Hamilton 27-23.

Edmonton goes into Winnipeg and while Winnipeg gave a good accounting of itself and probably should have sent the game into overtime against Calgary if not for a sideline official having a brain fart, they are crumbling fast. Edmonton had a spirited comeback against BC after spotting them points and Mike Reilly in a knee brace has lost the scrambling that made him dangerous. That makes him easier to hit. But Winnipeg is still the weaker team – Edmonton 27-18.

Finally we go to BC and after giving up a big lead against Edmonton, BC folded like a cheap suit. Their quarterbacking does not inspire confidence and if the renewed Rider pass rush gets revved up, the Riders will atone for two earlier losses to BC and win 25-24.

by Riderville

Blood Moon Gives Riders New Hope

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