Riders play almost complete game to head into bye week
So the Riders go into the bye week with a 37-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats which raised the question of whether or not Hamilton Head Coach and GM Kent Austin has lost his locker room.
Normally that might be a question that would be directed towards the Riders after linebacker Jonathon Newsome was released following a “difference of opinion” with Chris Jones. Newsome was picked up by Ottawa and apparently the difference was over some comment Newsome posted about a Chris Jones impersonator on Youtube.
I met Newsome during the preseason tour of the Riders new digs and he and former Rider Jarriel King sat down for a Q and A. They were both personable, but they are no longer with the team and maybe part of Newsome’s problem was a tendency to wind up injured and not really contributing with say, two quarterback sacks in about a year.
While Jones was crucified for his three man rush against Winnipeg that even with extra guys in coverage couldn’t handle Weston Dressler, this time he went with a four man rush that spelled trouble for Zach Collaros of Hamilton.